Just joined the D300 cult!

[Debbi]

Is there such a thing as Cameras Anonymous or Nikon Anonymous? I seriously need to go. I have a perfectly good D200. No need for a new camera - but - I could no longer resist. The funniest thing of all (or odd) is that after calling all the local camera shops where I thought I might find one, the only place locally that had one - and would sell one to me - was Wolf Camera! The two FTW area main camera shops had them but I wasn't "on the list" so no go. Anyway, too much fun this weekend!

[CaptainTom]

Resistance is FUT-ILE.

Bjorn the Borg

[BigEasy]

Welcome to the club! There goes your weekend. Just over two weeks ownership here and I'm still spending a few hours a day reading all I can on it. Don't know how you reacted to the D200 when it was new ( I was less than enthusiastic) but I'll bet you will quickly feel good about your choice to move up to the D300.

[ElanR]

Welcome to the noise-free sensor, 3" miracle screen, 8FPS magic 14-bit camera cult Debbi! Of course, after spending the $1,800 entry fee, you'll find out that the noise is processed out, 8FPS is of little practical use and that the screen is, well, just a screen. I should know, I've been a cult member for a little over a week now.

Once you leave the hype behind, you'll discover that the D300 is an no more than an incremental improvement over the D200 feature wise, and provides about the same image quality. You might be able to extend the hype a bit (pun intended) by joining one of the heated 12-bit vs. 14-bit discussions, carried out by folks who view the images on an 8-bit screen, convert them to 8-bit JPEGs and print them on printers who can only print in 8-bit (that would be all printers and photo-labs btw). So there, I may be delegated to the position of black sheep of the cult after this post, but I'll be an honest black sheep :-)

And yes, it's a very nice camera. But you can just as well stick with the D200 and get yourself something in the order of the 85/1.4 with the difference. Your images will improve a lot more this way.

[trek737]

Congratulations on your new camera. I plan on buying one next month and sell my D200. If you can post some pictures and let us know how you like it compared to the D200. I would like to find out all I can before making the trade up.

Thanks, Jim

[pepper52]

I'm on the waiting list for the D300. I have my fingers crossed for a delivery within the next two weeks. Just in time for Christmas.

[Debbi]

I've only taken a few "test" shots but am impressed so far. I have two portrait shoots tomorrow and all of the pics will be taken with the D200 and D300 so I will definitely have some comparisons. I'll post "real life" stuff by tne end of the weekend.

[Roy]

Congrats Debbi!

[MRCPix]

congrats Debbi. please share soon.

[Murph]

I got to play with a D300 at the Camera Exchange in San Antonio, wow, what a nice camera. It felt really good, and the viewfinder was excellent, much better than the D80, and about as nice as the D2X.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I bought one yesterday afternoon at Competitive Camera and used it at a wedding last night. I'm not really that impressed... and will probably just sell it. And I miss the Group Dynamic AF mode that the D200 has.

- Wil

[MRCPix]

Wil you have to explain why you were not that impressed.

[robert guillemette]

Got mine on Wednesday but in keeping with the wifes wish I cant open it till Christmas but the wait will be worth it

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by robert guillemette

Got mine on Wednesday but in keeping with the wifes wish I cant open it till Christmas but the wait will be worth it

But Honey, I have to open it now, so I can get it all fine tuned in time to take pictures of you and the family on Christmas.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

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

The high ISO performance does seem to be quite impressive though as compared to the D200. That is definitely a major plus!

FOR ME, the ONLY attraction that I've personally seen as compared to the D200... after 24 hours of use... is the low noise at high ISOs.

I guess I'm more disappointed that I didn't just wait for a D3 to become available and I'm projecting negatively on the D300. Since I already have a D200, it didn't really do much for me.

If I didn't already own a D200, I would be extremely happy with my purchase.

- Wil