Nikon Announces D300s and D3000

Nikon has announced the update to the D300, by adding an "S", dual card slots (CF and SD) and 720p video and more speed to give us the D300s. The most important thing for manufacturers and underwater shooters alike is that there is a slight change in the back. This is probably to accomodate the new video function and dual card slot:

D300s back

Old D300 back

D300s Specs:

Image Sensor FormatDX

Image Sensor TypeCMOS

Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.8mm

Total Pixels13.1 million

Effective Pixels12.3 million

Image Area (pixels)

DX-format

(L) 4,288x2,848

(M) 3,216x2,136

(S) 2,144x1,424

Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution7 frames per second

Continuous Shooting Options

DX-format

CH: Up to 7 frames per second

CL: Up to 6 frames per second

LCD Monitor Size3 in. diagonal

LCD Monitor TypeSuper Density

LCD Monitor Resolution920,000 Dots

LCD Monitor Angle of View170-degree wide-viewing angle

LCD Monitor AdjustmentsBrightness, 7 levels

Shutter typeElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane

Slowest Shutter Speed30 sec. in steps of 1/3,1/2,1 EV

Fastest Shutter Speed1/8000 sec. in steps of 1/3,1/2,1 EV

Bulb Shutter SettingYes

Mirror Lock UpYes

Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity200 in steps of 1/3,1/2,1 EV

Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity3200 in steps of 1/3,1/2,1 EV

Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options

Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV

Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV

Storage MediaCompactFlash© (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA), SD, SDHC

File FormatUncompressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW)

Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80 percent

JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality

TIFF (RGB)

File SystemCompliant with DCF 2.0

DPOF

EXIF 2.21

Pict Bridge

Exposure ModesProgrammed Auto (P) with Flexible Program

Shutter-Priority Auto (S)

Aperture-Priority Auto (A)

Manual (M)

Exposure Metering System1,005-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II

Variable Center-weighted

Spot

Metering Range1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering); 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F)

Exposure Meter CouplingCPU

AI

Exposure Compensation±5EV in increments of 1/3

1/2

1

Exposure LockYes

Exposure BracketingYes

2-9 frames, in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV

Shutter Release ModesContinuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-7 frames-per-second

1) Single frame mode 2) Continuous low speed [CL] mode: 1 to 7 frames per second (note 1) 3) Continuous high-speed [CH] mode: 8 frames per second (note 1) , 7 frames per second (note 2) 4) LiveView [LV] mode 5) Quiet shutter-release [Q] 6) Self-timer mode 7) Mirror-up [Mup] mode Note 1. When using EH-5a/EH-5 AC Adapter or MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack with batteries other than EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Note 2. When using EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (When shooting in Continuous-servo AF ©, Shutter-Priority Auto or Manual [M] exposure modes, at a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster with other settings at default)

Movie ModesMovie with sound

HD 1280 x 720/24 fps VGA 640 x 424/24 fps QVGA 320 x 216/24 fps

Movie AudioBuilt-in microphone, monaural

Optional external stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter)

Microphone sensitivity can be adjusted

White Balance

Auto (TTL white balance with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor) Seven manual modes with fine-tuning; Sun Shade Fluorescent Incandescent Flash Preset Fine Tune by Kelvin Color temperature setting

White Balance BracketingYes, 2 to 9 exposures, in increments of 1, 2 or 3

On the low end, Nikon also simultaneously released the D3000. Sporting a 10.2 mp DX sensor, the camera comes with a kit 18-55VR lens:

We might see this back change again on the D700.

A few may have been hoping for a high and low body res FF body that would fit in the same housing.

This post seems to have returned! My previous reply managed to get moved to another thread so here it is again: This back change may be seen again with the D700. A few may have been hoping for a high and low body res FF body that would fit in the same housing.

Very interesting pics... Yes, the focus switch has moved, but that's not necessarily a deal killer to using the D300s in a D300 housing. At least in my Ikelite the knob to switch focus might be "tweakable" to work with the new positioning. Of course, if the only way to access video is through the LV button then that won't be available. I wonder if they are going to take LV off the rotating switch on the top left?

At any rate, it could be worse... I'll bet a lot of people end up using the D300s in a D300 housing.

thanks,

JP

This post seems to have returned! My previous reply managed to get moved to another thread so here it is again: This back change may be seen again with the D700. A few may have been hoping for a high and low body res FF body that would fit in the same housing.

Sorry Tom, but while I was messing with this post, you were posting. I've edited your post to remove the quote. I'm sure everyone who reads will understand what you are talking about.

I do not see the problem to put into my nexus d200 housing.

I will add 2 buttons to back window like I did to d700 window.

Sam

Sorry Tom, but while I was messing with this post, you were posting. I've edited your post to remove the quote. I'm sure everyone who reads will understand what you are talking about.

No problem, looks like our electrons were colliding. I made some edits.

I do not see the problem to put into my nexus d200 housing.

I will add 2 buttons to back window like I did to d700 window.

 

Sam

Adaptation may vary by housing. The navigation button has been tweaked as well.

Sam

It's great to be able to reuse the housing but I think for those wanting to use video, the housings with specifically dimensioned D200 LCD window will be a bit too small. Those housings with full plexi backs on the other hand will have happy owners.

I'm a little underwhelmed with this update really. Looks to me this is what the D300 should've been originally. I mean it's only 2 years old. Manufacturers tend to hop along on one foot until the competition comes up with something great. Right now I have to agree with Cor on his rant.

Sam

It's great to be able to reuse the housing but I think for those wanting to use video, the housings with specifically dimensioned D200 LCD window will be a bit too small. Those housings with full plexi backs on the other hand will have happy owners.

I'm a little underwhelmed with this update really. Looks to me this is what the D300 should've been originally. I mean it's only 2 years old. Manufacturers tend to hop along on one foot until the competitor comes up with something great. Right now I have to agree with Cor on his rant.

They have stayed with the same video spec as the D90, no 1080p. Maybe there is to be yet another version in another year or so. Waiting for the next gen of chips, cards, or USB etc.?? This is now their DX 'flagship'.

Well I think it's a lame update... like I thought the 1D2N was for the 1D2. Basically the 1D2N was the camera the 1D2 should've been, minus the issues.

To be fair, I don't think Canon knew the 5D2's video capability would be such a hit. I doubt they were responding to Scarlet but more to just trump the D90. Suddenly their product has found an entire new market. It'll be interesting to see if the Japanese will think "outside the box" more often now. To release a video camera without manual exposure controls was just plain dumb!

Well I think it's a lame update... like I thought the 1D2N was for the 1D2. Basically the 1D2N was the camera the 1D2 should've been, minus the issues.

To be fair, I don't think Canon knew the 5D2's video capability would be such a hit. I doubt they were responding to Scarlet but more to just trump the D90. Suddenly their product has found an entire new market. It'll be interesting to see if the Japanese will think "outside the box" more often now. To release a video camera without manual exposure controls was just plain dumb!

I gather that video in dSLRs is a 'work in progress'. Of course they may be deliberately leaving things out for future updates!

Sam

It's great to be able to reuse the housing but I think for those wanting to use video, the housings with specifically dimensioned D200 LCD window will be a bit too small. Those housings with full plexi backs on the other hand will have happy owners.

I'm a little underwhelmed with this update really. Looks to me this is what the D300 should've been originally. I mean it's only 2 years old. Manufacturers tend to hop along on one foot until the competition comes up with something great. Right now I have to agree with Cor on his rant.

Drew,

I was talking about my'nexus' d200 housing which has full view of d300 LCD.

Subal and other housings are different story.

Sam

Curiously the buttons on the back of the D300s looks more like the back of the D700, than the D300:

D300s

D700

D300

Alex

Ive sanwitched D300 and D300s in photoshop to see the difference, assuming that size stays the same for both.

it is not so bad the difference is mostly in joystick and focusing mode

Curiously the buttons on the back of the D300s looks more like the back of the D700, than the D300:

Yeah looks like there's more than enough space to pop in a Lv button on the D700x without moving anything else.

Drew, is Contrast Detection autofocus in movie mode of any value?

With the range of FX cameras increasing will Canon and Nikon continue development of DX sensors? If so how many megapixels will DX sensors reach in the next 12-18 months?

With the range of FX cameras increasing will Canon and Nikon continue development of DX sensors? If so how many megapixels will DX sensors reach in the next 12-18 months?

I would expect Nikon to release a 15-16MP camera in that period - D400 (with the sensor then handed down through the range). Alex

I wouldn't know Jeff. I don't use AF for video uw. I'm more afraid of the AF going on a hunting spree for contrast than anything else. Bad WB, artifactting etc can be fixed, OOF shots are useless. I'm one of those that prefer manual focus. The problem is too many manufacturers have relied on AF to do the work in DSLR and with VIDSLR, the game has changed YET again. I've been trying to figure which housing is best that I can use a zoom and focus gear at the same time.

When I tried video with my D90, It was producing a good quality

macro video in avi file(easy to see/share) & it will cost me a big

money if I want same quality lens for my video. One thing I missed

was AF & d300s looks like has it.

Local Nikon will release new camera by 27 August and I will post

a sample in few days from it.

Sam