Just under two years since the D200 Nikon reveals the D300, the range of changes is so significant that it wouldn’t be inappropriate to call it a ‘compact D3‘ (less the full-frame sensor of course). From the top there’s a new CMOS sensor with twelve megapixels, a new auto-focus sensor with 51-points (15 of which are cross-type sensitive), there’s focus tracking by color, scene recognition, Picture Control presets, six frames per second continuous shooting (or eight frames per second with a battery pack), Compact Flash UDMA support, Live View (with contrast detect AF) and the mighty impressive 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (oh and HDMI video output). It’s an impressive list, the D200 was a fair step up from the D100, the D300 can be seen as just as big a step, certainly more than enough to make the competition sweat.
Nikon D300 Key Features
- 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor
- Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
- ISO 200 – 3200 (6400 with boost)
- 14-bit A/D conversion
- Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
- Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, black-out 100 ms)
- Shutter life 150,000 exposures
- New Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
- Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
- Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
- Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
- Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)
- Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
- Six frames per second continuous shooting (eight frames per second with battery pack)
- Compact Flash UDMA support
- 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
- Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
- HDMI HD video output
- ‘Active D-Lighting’ (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
- Detailed ‘Control Panel’ type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
- New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible
- Buttons sealed against moisture
| Price |
$1,889.95(DEC 2007) |
| Sensor |
• 12.3 million effective pixel CMOS •
DX format |
| A/D converter |
14-bit |
| Image processor |
Nikon EXPEED |
| Image sizes |
• 4288 x 2848 • 3216 x 2136 • 2144 x 1424 |
| RAW files |
NEF / Compressed NEF 14-bit |
| TIFF files |
Yes |
| Dust reduction |
Self-cleaning sensor unit |
| Auto focus |
• 51-point Multi-CAM 3500DX • 15 cross-type sensors •
Contrast detect in Live View mode |
| Focus tracking by color |
Yes |
| AF area mode |
• Single point AF • Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points,
51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)] • Automatic-area AF |
| Sensitivity |
• Default: ISO 200 – 3200 • Boost: ISO 100 – 6400 • 1/3,
1/2 or 1.0 EV steps |
| Continuous shooting |
• With built-in battery: up to 6 fps • With AC adapter
or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e: up to 8 fps |
| Image Parameters |
• Picture Control (4 presets) • Sharpening • Contrast
• Brightness • Saturation • Hue |
| Active D-Lighting |
Yes (also adjusts exposure) |
| Viewfinder |
100% frame coverage |
| LCD monitor |
• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 922,000 pixels |
| LCD Live View |
• Handheld mode (phase detect AF) • Tripod mode (contrast
detect AF) |
| Compact Flash |
Type I / II (UDMA support) |
| Vertical grip |
MB-D10 |
| Video output |
HDMI (HD) |
| Menu languages |
14 |
| Dimensions |
147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight (no batt) |
825 g (1.82 lb) |
The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon ‘prosumer’ digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we’ve come. It’s been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there’s a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 40D an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0″) and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps). 