Nikon D300 vs D200
Just 3 days after anouncing brand new Canon D40 new Nikon horse arrive as well. Welcome Nikon D300
successor of the famous Nikon D200. Thats marketing we are not that much interested in. New model
come old become to be a part of history. This is the best time to decide if the older model is
good enough to buy or not since the price of the older one will go down very soon.
Why to buy Nikon D300 now?
Maybe we wanna the best of the best and we want it now. However we should think about the older version Nikon D200 because its price is going down and it could be enough for our needs. Lets have a look on both and try to find difference.
Nikon D300 Key Features
These ones you can not find on Nikon D200...
- 12.3 megapixel CMOS senso (dx format -> crop 1.5x)
- Self-cleaning sensor (vibration agains dust)
- 3.0" LCD monitor (0.9Mpx), can be used as viewfinder!
- Really fast operation (powerup 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, blackout 100 ms)
- Improved autofocus (AF): 51 points, tracking by color, auto-focus calibration up to 20 separate settings by lens
- 6 fps (frame per second - machine gun mode)
- And more...
There is much more I just tried to find the most important features which makes Nikon D300 unique now and especially when we are going to comparte that to Nikon D200.
Nikon D300 vs. D200 main differences
Lets have a look on our difference sheet
| Nikon D300 | Nikon D200 | Nikon D80 | Nikon D40x | Nikon D40 | |
| Sensor (Megapixels) |
12.3 Mpx CMOS | 10 Mpx CCD | 10 Mpx CCD | 10 Mpx CCD | 6 Mpx CCD |
| exposure metering | 1005 seg. RGB (2. generation) |
1005 seg. RGB (2. generation) |
420 seg. RGB (2. generation) |
420 seg. RGB (2. generation) |
420 seg. RGB (2. generation) |
| Shutter time max. time of shutter |
1/8000 | 1/8000 | 1/4000 | 1/4000 | 1/4000 |
| Continuous shooting machinegun mode (frames per second) |
6 fps, up to 8 fps with grip |
5 fps | 3 fps | 3 fps | 2.6 fps |
| Flash X-sync max. time that can be used with flash | 1/250, up to 1/320 with reduced GN (flash power) |
1/250 | 1/200 | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Sensitivity - ISO | 100-1600 (6400) | 100-1600 (3200) | 100-1600 (3200) | 100-3200 | 200-3200 |
| live viewLCD as a viewfinder | Y | N | N | N | N |
| Built-in flash power speedlight, GN ISO 200 |
18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Battery power | 1500 mAh | 1500 mAh | 1500 mAh | 1000 mAh | 1000 mAh |
| Storage type | CF (UDMA) | CF | SD+SDHC | SD+SDHC | SD+SDHC |
| AF lock / no. focus points | Y/51 | Y/11 | Y/11 | N/3 | N/3 |
| Command dials | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| AF mode control switch | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Depth of field preview button | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Remote cord connector | Y | Y | N | N | |
| Wireless Remote Control | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| 2. status LCD | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| Buitt-in flash commander / no. chanels | Y/2 | Y/2 | Y/2 | N | N |
| Non AF-S lens compatibility Old lens full suport |
Y | Y | Y | N | N |
Nikon D300 vs. D200 main differences
From average user pespective there are not many reasons to upgrade from Nikon D200 to D300. For pros (especially press and sport reporters) it could be faster shutter and better watterprofing (not everybody likes to handle bulky Nikon D2xs or D3). Everobody who works in studio enviroment enjoy 2 more megapixels. Better autofocus is good for everyone how ever most of people can stay with "just 11 points". The only real feature is live view which most of people find out to be newbie option. I do not agree at all. There are many situations where this can help a lot. I remember few shots I have made in the past with compat camera and I can not make any more with my DSLR.
So nothing special for 500 USD dont you think? From Nikon D200 the only trouble is its battery life: not everyone know that average D200 can shoot just 300 pictures on battery charge. My old D70 can do 700 more (yes, thats why most of the D200 users buying grip! :) ). Lets hope D300 can do better job. I am pretty shure about.
Result
If you want to have latest thing go for Nikon D300. If value for money is the power for you take Nikon D200 in sale (comming soon i think) or Nikon D80. In most cases you can not be disapointed by them.
Well... what do you think about new D300?