In Detail:
Image Quality: 5 star +
In a word, terrific (depending on the lens)! The visual impression: knackscharf, color and contrast. Image noise is sensational low even at high ISO values. Even without flash in low light conditions succeed quite sharp and colorful pictures even. In that regard, the photo service covers very clearly, but here in the metal dress of a professional model with the sister model of the D90. The in-camera flash unit and their technical characteristics correspond largely also those of D90. In larger rooms, etc. you need of course an extra flash.
The white balance (auto) works pretty neat, manual corrections are rarely necessary. But you can make numerous individual settings in this area and, inter alia, changing the color temperature.
The noise values namely competition from the home Canon's quite early in the knee. The advantage for Nikon is due to the slightly larger pixel size, which at the same time promises advantages in texture impending losses with increasing ISO values. Less can sometimes just be more. I have found in my test shots only a minimal loss of texture at high ISO values - absolute top class!
For people who work a lot with external flash units, this circumstance is, however, negligible as far as pulling the imaging performance eg with the Canon 7D (18 million pixels) equal! In ISO 200 range is Nikon and Canon give namely nothing.
Basically, however, one can say that the D 300S is superior in all ISO-areas in terms of color neutrality and noise, many other competitors. Luckily for me - that goes for the much cheaper D90! The plus in my star scale has the D 300s and D 90 earned - they show themselves most recent generations of cameras made by Canon (Canon 550 D, Canon 7D and Canon 50 D) defies or perhaps because of their smaller number of pixels in terms of image quality, where the rubber meets the road.
Ease of Use: 5 stars
The user menu is different from Canon. Once attuned to Nikon the operating concept is very logical.
This concept runs through almost all Nikons. So much of my purchase decision Umschwenk on the D90 very easy, it's almost all the same.
The dials (aperture + exposure time) are located right on the handle. With your thumb and forefinger you can intuitively adjust everything succeeds super fast and easily. Advocates the setting wheel - like Canon have the thumb bend a little more. But also has benefits in other respects. The function key on the front panel with the "Auto focus area selection mode" and is already one can in conjunction with one of the adjuster to select the individual (51) measuring areas of the autofocus extremely fast and easily.
Commissioning a dream: right hand on the camera - selector lever is turned on and immediately release button (not even 1 second turn-on time) losknipsen! , Of right hand in the pocket photo camera, turn on the same handle and press trigger: Speak in everyday life. The left hand, the Weil ever dig out the next objective.
In addition to RAW files can also be JPEG files, or if you desire has both saved simultaneously in different levels of quality. But there are two memory locations are available, more on that later. The RAW files are saved with a 14bit color depth conversion - professional justice, so to speak. Canon has in its higher models still to an additional size grading of RAW files.
What should be mentioned is the Active D-Lighting, thus succeed without finishing (instead of D-Lighting in Bildbearbeitungsporgramm) high-contrast images (cloudy in the shadows) - big cinema!
The D300s is working for a big 1005 pixel RGB metering sensor in the D90 'only' a 420 pixel RGB sensor. But I could not find differences in the results, though from a technical perspective, the measurements at the D300s should be more specific. As I said, in practice, no differences can be seen.
Unfortunately / fortunately for some / the D300s has no automatic function and / or scene modes, the target direction is very much focused here on the professional. But at least one program selection function is available. Basically, you also needed so no scene modes. But for amateurs and beginners, these quick access to ordinary image services. Advantages, there are also, if it needs to go fast times or has to step in a photo technically inexperienced from the family. However, the pro knows exactly usually what he wants to as hold on the image. The intuitive operating concept it is to do its essentials setting quickly and directly.
What the D90 has not, however, provides the D300 to its users, namely a "soft release", which has great advantages in wildlife photography etc..
In addition, the D300s for better image registration has a einblendbares grid in the viewfinder, or an artificial horizon imposable during Live View operation.
The video section I took not, but this is essentially identical to the D90, but it has a little more adjusted autofocus system. The 50 D Canon brings example only with no such function. Those who want to can attach an external microphone to the D300s, as I said it did not use.
Subject continuous shooting speed, almost always a hobby of Canons. But those days are gone. The D300s offers with its standard 7 frames / sec a great result. If you look at the additional handle MB-D10 battery pack with EN-EL4a begrudge, this rises to an extremely sporty 8 frames / sec. Thus it outclasses most competing products. Canon now has to look a real opponent in the eye here. Thus, the D300s presents a pace that does not reach the D 90 in the sum with its 4.5 images / sec. But everyone should consider whether it really matters? For the amateur field values are from 4 frames / sec top. The shutter speed of the D300s with 1 / 8000sec is also very sporty but typical in this model class.
The autofocus of the Nikon takes - depending on the setting - up to a total of 51 measuring fields and gigantic equal to 15 cross-type sensors back and working in accordance with the lens used rapidly and safely. With the D90 you have to make do with 11 measuring fields and a cross-type sensor. In practice, an amateur, as to which I also count myself, this circumstance is rather negligible. The D300s offers as already the D90 also, its users a 3D tracking mode in Autofocus mode, so that at fast moving targets, the focus is automatically adjusted. Therefore, even sports photography succeed excellently. At most, in Live View mode, it can be much more time, but has a face detection (up to 5 faces) - D90 as equal. I myself am a "seeker-child" and I do not think anyone's quite heavy D300s (840 grams only the housing) with a large lens long with his arms stretched out on its own to use the Live View. I use Live View Max. on the tripod.
The Nikon D300s is recommended because of its speed and the massive measuring field density + the large RGB sensor for marked sports and press photographers.
Housing - haptic: 5 stars
A really high-quality housing made of a magnesium alloy woos the photographers hand. The housing format is already rather for professional use and fits very well to large hands. Especially the weight class is different from the example of the Nikon D 90. The handle is well formed and provides a secure grip. The handling is top notch! Of course, a real glass prism is installed at this price. Viewfinder picture is bright and clear and has fantastic 100% of the image area - as well as the Canon 7D.
Workmanship and finish: 5 star +
The D300s is fantastically solid processed and protected in all the major points against dust and moisture. The rubber coating is applied very clean. The D 300S looks classy and high quality.
Image editing functions: 4 stars
The D300s offers its users full manual correction options, such as the aforementioned D-Lighting, various filters, red-eye correction (which is very effective and works naturally), RAW to JPEG conversion (with all the possibilities of image processing). However, vignetting correction, horizon straightening or fisheye filter effects etc. as in the D90 are nowhere. In that regard, there is a point deduction. Because the electronic parameters and components are almost the same with the D90.
The engineers were thus able to maintain the calm and diverse image processing options. If the image has been processed in the camera, the modified version is stored alongside the original. So nothing is lost and you can, if you want the PC again reprocess everything - but the results are most so good that there is no need for this effort. Those who want to bring very quickly well-made recordings on paper is very well served by the D300. Especially as an image transfer via WiFi should be for press photographers of the Pops, which more below.
In addition, the D300s offers a so-called (NIKON) Picture Control System, ie on 9 separate places you can save quite individual image parameters for recordings and transfer them to your PC or even in other Nikons via memory card! For professionals with more housings a compelling argument. Exactly the same also has been the D90. The selection of these parameters can be your own special menu or via the monitor with the Info button easily. So what in the way that Canon has, but without transfer function.
Like the D90 also offers the D300s a very smart flash control, whereby the housing flash can be used as the master flash. For the professional with external flash devices quickly drive a studio complex.
In general we can customize almost all the features of the D300. If all "beside it", simply press the reset key combination and you get back to factory default!
Practicality (battery life - image transfer functions): 5 Stars +
Thanks to camera-internal energy saving stingy D 300s outright with the flow. Thus, with a single Nikon EN - EL3e (as with the D90) battery pack rekordverdächte 2000 pictures in it, provided you avoid Flash and Live View.
With additional battery grip MB-D10 (fits 1x EN-EL4e) this mileage and even the continuous shooting speed (as described) increased considerably. That means even on long photo day, energy without end.
As mentioned above, has the D300s about the possibility via FTP transmission protocol and the optional WLAN adapter Wt-4a, and then transfer the finished pictures directly to a laptop or as a mobile phone wirelessly to the editor - quickly one no longer gets her photos to the man / woman or in the newspaper.
True geeks will still attach an appropriate GPS module for "picture-site determination documentation" - this also offers the D90!
Last but not least the possibility of two different types of memory cards either CF and / or to use SDHC into two separate slots simultaneously, the photo sweeten everyday. You can control each memory card separately, use as an overflow or together as a large memory for data backup or to copy the data between the card, as you desire. Unfortunately, I lack in my D90, it offers only a SDHC card storage compartment. Of the other features to mention.
So many choices of individual and suitable for everyday use parameters offer a few other products.
Set Lens: 4 stars
The large zoom VR (FX) 70-200 mm in metal design has a good feel and has very decent optical performance. The recordings are still a tad sharper than the small set zoom (16-85 mm). The ultrasonic motor is working quite soundproof. The vignetting is in the lower and upper third distinct, but typical for a zoom this class. Good 4 stars for it.
The fewest but order the large set and to buy more appropriate lenses to their own taste.
Price performance: 4 stars
The case is currently clearly have below market price.
End Result: 4.6 stars and three times an extra "+" = very good 5 stars
As a result, we can say that noble housing, processed very clean and great feel. The picture quality is defying or perhaps because of the supposedly lesser number of pixels (12.3 million instead of Canon 7 D with 18 million pixels) fantastic, the noise performance in all ISO areas sensationally low. Even the texture loss with increasing ISO number is at a high level. The sharpness and detail of the images, even at high ISO values are for real professionals - especially certain press photographers a weighty purchasing argument. The quite ordinary - in-camera - image post-processing options also give the amateur good tools with which, although considerably cheaper D90 offers more here. Enormous battery life also secure long photo sessions from excellent.
I have decided personally for a D90. This is significantly cheaper, even though the body of the D90 does not have the quality of a D 300s. But basically obtained with the D90 the same image parameters identical super image quality and features - not only for the Lend - useful scene modes, the 300s completely missing the D. If one were to contemplate reduce everything only on the image quality, so would the value for money the D90 alone on the podium. The 300 series of Nikon defines itself already as a professional model. That alone justifies the Gehäusmaterial but juicy charge for D90. The slightly better exposure, auto focus area sensors and higher burst speed etc. document additionally the desired distance from the Nikon D90.
Allen ambitionieren amateurs with the wherewithal and professionals I can therefore highly recommend purchasing. More does not need even a thoroughbred photographer, unless he requires full formats or view cameras for his job. The follow-up costs for suitable full-frame lenses sector often beyond the scope of what is reasonable. But perhaps complements D 300s also the existing "Fleet" as it is significantly easier to handle and less, than about the D700 or D3. The enormous speed, high profi just 14 bit color depth RAW conversion and advanced image transfer options via WLan predestine this camera for tough sports press use. Earned 5 stars for the Nikon D 300S a real professional camera in handy APS-C segment!
PS Even the new Nikon D 7000 (in spite of its 16 MP), the D 300s neither when it comes to housing, still picture quality hold a candle - Keyword texture loss at high ISO numbers (own test). For details, see below - comments. Related picture material I have now also adjusted (see above - with photos). 17.01.2011
