One of the best Digital Photography Cameras
Article by Tom Jacobs
The new Nikon D300s adds video to the already great Nikon D300. This records video at 720p high definition at a rate of 24 frames per second. There is a microphone port if you want to use a microphone to give you stereo sound but there is a mono microphone built into the camera too. You can use auto focus whilst recording and there is a basic option to edit your movies so you can discard any unwanted footage.
Another new feature is the quiet release button which dampens the noise of the mirror as it flips up and down and silences the beeps when it is in focus. Obviously a feature that sits well with the video feature, but also in other situations, when noise can be a problem, like photographing wildlife.
Nikon has increased the frame rate from 6fps to 7fps which can be pushed to 8fps when using the optional MB-D10 battery pack. The shutter speed is an impressive 1/8000 sec making it ideal for sports photography
There is a slot for SD media next to the existing Compact Flash one, when using the two cards the camera can overflow into the secondary card, recording each file to both or effectively making a back up by recording JPEGs to one card and Raw files to the other. You can assign video files to one card and leave the other free for images.
The EXPEED processor produces images that are of unmatched quality and the dust removal feature ensures clear pictures at all times. The D300s has a 1005 pixel metering sensor which works with the screen recognition system to adjust focus, exposure and white balance prior to exposure. The picture control system comprises of Vivid, Natural and Monochrome settings and you can download your own options to create your own profiles.
There is a 3 inch TFT screen that displays images in 920,000 pixel resolution that allows the photographer to set up the photo on the screen using the LiveView function.
The Nikon D300s is a sturdy camera but surprisingly lightweight, it delivers exceptional performance and is truly one of the best Digital Photography Cameras around.
