D300 Settings and Reviews

[BigEasy]

As the D300 quickly gets into the hands of many, the information on tests of different settings and such will start to appear. I thought it would be good ideas to post these links as thay appear. As with the D200, several people have already started great sites that test the D300 methodically throughout all it's setting options.

Here is a recent update from Ken Rockwell.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300.htm

[johnastovall]

You mean Ken Rockwell is going to test a camera he actually has? That will be change for him.

[BigEasy]

Yea... looks like he got one. Wounder if he bought it?

I'm really waiting for Tom Hogan's guide on the D300. I have several of his books(CDs).

[AndrewCCM]

As a former Nikon user myself, I'll be more than glad to read some additional hands on reviews as time goes on. Ken Rockwell has definitely lost any credibility to me (for various reasons) and I have all but stopped visiting his site.

[Murph]

Ken's review actually was decent. If I had not just had to re-do the tranny in my Durango, I might think about a camera, as it was I had to pass up a lovely 17-35mm. @#*@&! Truck.

[BigEasy]

I think one of the real powers will be the Picture Control Utility software that comes as part of ViewNX. Take a picture under certain conditions (Sunset for example). Use that picture to create custom settings including custom curves, name it "Sunset", and next time you have those conditions... bingo. (well as far as Picture Control settings go)

You can share these custom settings.... how long till we see people posting (or selling) them?

[BigEasy]

D300 Custom Setting Spreadsheet FRom Don McVey. Very Useful


http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/Use...aa3f61ddef.zip

[BigEasy]

UPDATE: More Updated Custom Controls from Nikon


Custom settings via Picture Control Utility

I think this one of the best upgrades in the D300.

Experiment.

1. Took a picture with base settings of camera.
2. Corrected picture with custom “Picture settings” only, in CaptureNX.
3. Copied settings back to camera and re-shot.

Named this one “Incandescent3200” in camera…

Base Setting


Corrected on computer


Re-shot after loading setting from computer

[Vernon Theis]

Nice demo BigEasy.

Which "base setting" did you use....AWB or something else?

Thanks

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by Vernon Theis

Nice demo BigEasy.

Which "base setting" did you use....AWB or something else?

Thanks

Setup: 4 overhead 75watt bulbs in ceiling fan. (Typical indoor room shot)

Base & Re-Shoot were both taken using the Standard Incandescent WB at 1/60, f3.5 at ISO3200, Hi ISO Noise Reduction –on. The white shift is from changing and customizing the Picture Control controls only.

Base:

default Standard Picture Control

Re-take:

Vivid Picture Control
Sharp +6
Contrast -1
Bright -1
Sat -2
Hue 0

Looks even more dramatic at full size.

[BigEasy]

The Image Doctors biweekly Podcast

This weeks Show is mainly on the D300

Download The Image Doctors #55 (NPC-ID-2007-12-06.mp3; 54:40; 12.6MB; MP3 format)

http://www.nikona.org/podcasts/NPC-ID-2007-12-06.mp3

[Daniel Bates]

Not to derail the thread, but I couldn't help excerpting this piece from Ken Rockwell:

Nikon probably did this to prevent pros from melting the pop-up flash from overuse, but Nikon should have fortified the circuitry, not locked us out from using it.

Yeah, I have a big problem with melting the pop-up flashes on my cameras by overusing them.

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

Yeah, I have a big problem with melting the pop-up flashes on my cameras by overusing them.

Didn't read his post... and far be it of me to defend Rockwell. But he may be talking about cranking up the onboard flash past +1.0 ? If that's the case... I know I would be one of those who might melt my pop-up. I wish I could crank mine to +2.0 or more! In some conditions keeping the SB800 mounted is impractical. As described in this thread:

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...81&postcount=5

[RKDauph]

A couple of photos here: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=62882

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by RKDauph

A couple of photos here: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=62882

Yea..2nd one looks like his settings... he likes stuff with a lot of saturation. What setting did you end up keeping as your standard settings Ray? Here is what I've been using.

Outside:
Vivid base set customized to: Sharp@6, -2 Sat, 0 Hue, Active-D@ Norm.

Inside Tungsten, available light at iso1600 or above:
Vivid base set customized to: Sharp@6, -1 Contrast, -1 Brightness -2 Sat, 0 Hue, Active-D@ off