Just joined the D300 cult!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Oh, another thing. I really loved how the image preview worked on the D200 with the command dial. Now, the D300 zooms in and out with two different buttons... like the Canons do (if memory serves).

- Wil

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

Mike:

Ok... here goes.

1. I hate the MB-D10 setup requires you to take the entire thing off of the camera body to remove the 2nd battery (from inside the body). The D200 had both batteries inside the MB-D200 vertical grip for quick and easy access.

I really don't see needing to access the battery in the camera except very rarely. With the D300 you can configure it to exaust the grip battery before using the camera battery, so my plan is to treat the camera battery as a backup in case the grip battery runs out and I don't have a spare. The MB-D10 has some advantages though. For one, it can use an EL4a battery. Also, it doesn't require removal of the camera's battery door so removing the grip to shoot without it is quick and easy, and doesn't require keeping track of the battery door.

2. They removed the Group Dynamic AF mode which I liked and used frequently.
3. I had trouble with the autofocus on the D300 (for some reason currently unknown to me). A few of the shots that were typical "point and shoot" reception shots were not in focus or the D300 would take 2 to 5 seconds to actually find focus. Again, this could be user error caused by unfamiliarity.

Give it some time to get used to the new AF and I bet you'll like it. It's a far superior AF system, most agree it's better than than D2 series which is saying quite a lot. About the misfocusing/hunting. It could be a defective camea, or you might want to check that contacts on both the lens and the camera are clean[/quote]

4. For another unkown reason, the D300 wouldn't work with SC-29 cable... of course, that's probably not the D300's fault.

I haven't tried my sync cable yet, I'll check this. I have used the SU-800 without problem.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I agree Jeff... and I wasn't aware of the ability to take an EL4a battery. Must've missed that in the manual.

Thanks for everyone's responses... I'm sure I'll probably keep it... besides, my wife told me last night that it was hers now. So, I guess a D3 will have to be in the cards soon too.

BTW, the SB-800 worked fine with the D300. I think there may be a problem with my SC-29 cable. I only use it at weddings and "party pic" events so it doesn't get used too often.

- Wil

[nikondude24]

Yep, it tough to overcome. I'm taking my D200 to my local camera shop to see what they'll give towards the D300. I've only had the D200 for less than a week! Now the lens lust is pretty bad for me also, I want that 17-55mm 2.8.

[Debbi]

I still don't have pics to post yet for comparison (my internet sucks) but I am quite impressed so far. I took about 200 pics yesterday and had the camera on AWB and matrix metering. I was using my 18-200 VR lens on auto focus. I still haven't read the manual but I wanted to see how intuitive the controls were compared to the D200. Every single shot was in perfect focus (and I was shooting moving kiddos). The white balance and exposure was perfect (even outside). One big plus for me - on the D200 the RAW image was pretty washed out. On the D300, I had to lower the saturation on a few pics. I breezed thru 200 pics and for the most part, only had to resize for the web and use a slight USM, convert the profile and save. After going thru several, I did an action for it and went thru approximately 150 pics in about 5 minutes. These will need very little processing other than getting rid of stray people who showed up in the back of the image. The LCD is great. Very bright and the extra 1/2 inch makes a huge difference. Like Wil said, being able to quickly zoom on the LCD is great. This is not a purchase I will regret and the D200/grip is going on the auction block soon.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

I agree Jeff... and I wasn't aware of the ability to take an EL4a battery. Must've missed that in the manual.

Thanks for everyone's responses... I'm sure I'll probably keep it... besides, my wife told me last night that it was hers now. So, I guess a D3 will have to be in the cards soon too.

BTW, the SB-800 worked fine with the D300. I think there may be a problem with my SC-29 cable. I only use it at weddings and "party pic" events so it doesn't get used too often.

- Wil

I think you'll come around. I've had mine only a couple of hours longer than you, and am really liking the changes--especially the new grip. It's a vast improvement over the old one IMO.

Still waiting to see those wedding shots in that dim church we spoke about!

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Debbi

I still don't have pics to post yet for comparison (my internet sucks) but I am quite impressed so far.

I posted some here (200 vs 300).

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by BigEasy

I'll bet you will quickly feel good about your choice to move up to the D300.

I love saying ... "I told you so". Love to see some shots Debbi.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

About the misfocusing/hunting. It could be a defective camea, or you might want to check that contacts on both the lens and the camera are clean

Oh no, are we going to start seeing fuzzy Nikon logos floating around the "I like gear more than actually shooting" forums soon? LOL

I B A Kiddn

[Debbi]

Those are great Tom. I'll post some as soon as my internet stops messing up. It took almost 3 hours to post 20 low res images from one of the portrait sessions yesterday. The biggest downfall to living "in the middle of nowhere" is you are very limited to ISP's, if you can find one at all. I did not take any high ISO shot comparisons as I don't really like shooting weddings, or anything dimly lit for that matter. The biggest difference I saw was the color saturation SOC.

I'm not sure I will even buy a grip. I only did for the D200 was for battery life. After 200 pics yesterday, I didn't even lose a bar. I've never used the controls on the D200 grip because back in my film days, if I wanted to shoot vertically, I turned the camera from left to right. With the 200, the controls are on the bottom. Just a habit I never corrected. I also love how the shutter sounds - very sharp.

[Debbi]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Oh no, are we going to start seeing fuzzy Nikon logos floating around the "I like gear more than actually shooting" forums soon? LOL

I B A Kiddn

lol

[BigEasy]

Here are a few collected from my last 2 weeks of shooting, learning, adjusting, putz'n around with the D300. They are pretty much all JPEGs not Raw converted. For the most part I think it will be a great shooter for what I need.

Some tests shots

[texxter]

Good luck with your D300, it promises to be a great camera. If I didn't have a D200, I would definitely consider it - it's a good replacement for a D2X.

I am staying put with my D200 - it does a great job for me, and I know its capabilities inside and out - I could use better high ISO, but I am not a wedding photographer and don't need it that much. I bought the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens instead, which I think will be with me for years to come. I will buy a D3 type of camera in 2008 and keep my D200 as my second camera. Having two cameras, one with DX and one with FX sensor makes good sense to me. I don't use DX lenses, with the exception of a Tokina 12-24mm, which I will replace with the new Nikkor 14-24mm in a few months.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

BTW... sold the D200 tonight so I'm stuck (in a good way) with the D300. Now, if I can just find the D3 in stock somewhere!

- Wil