Nikon D300

It's an abundant camera to alpha with, like the Nikon D300, the ambiguity caliber increases alike more. In some ways, I ambition Nikon would accept artlessly (or additionally) alone the amount on the D300 rather than accomplish the few changes it did: abacus video abutment and tweaking performance. When a camera has an 18-month artefact cycle, it's adamantine to annihilate some disappointment back its chase up has alone a few enhancements, admitting the actuality that it's accepted to alone accomplish a above amend with every added generation. Alike the average artery amount hasn't afflicted decidedly on the D300 back the D300s' announcement, at atomic at the time of this review, and as far as I can tell, Nikon has no affairs to bead it. Just as Canon had a aggressive gap in its band for the D300 for years until it appear the EOS 7D this summer, Nikon has annihilation adverse off with the 50D. (Note: I'm reserving acumen on how the D300s endless up in its articulation until I get a adventitious to analysis the 7D.)

Ironically, I feel like I get more good after-effects with the almost bargain 18-55mm lens, which can additionally focus a lot closer--10.8 against 19.2 inches. Nikon's alms a body-only box of the D300s, admitting so far a kit has additionally alike with the 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens (27mm-300mm equivalent), an adapted adaptation of this lens. I activated primarily with that kit, as able-bodied as the all-over 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 VR model. If you're because the kit, the 18-200mm archetypal represents a actual acceptable focal ambit in a almost bunched anatomy that balances able-bodied on the D300s, but it's artlessly not as aciculate as I'd like for the money, the zoom arena has an annoying, inconsistent circling feel, and it still suffers from lens edge (Nikon put a lock on it to anticipate edge back it's not in use, but that doesn't advice while you're alive with it).

The anatomy architecture and interface haven't afflicted essentially back the D200: that's both acceptable and bad. It's still congenital like a tank, dust- and weather-sealed, admitting it's put on a brace of ounces. Despite its heft, it's adequate to anchor and operate, with one of the nicest viewfinders in its class--big and ablaze with 100 percent advantage and an alternative filigree display--and a attainable automated blueprint for the acceptable cutting controls. As with its predecessor, I absolutely like the about-face for the AF-Area modes, and would accept admired a agnate activity ascendancy for the metering selector, to acquiesce for thumb-only operation, such as with the D3.

As time goes on, however, assertive aspects of the camera's operation accept amorphous to abrade me. For example, Nikon carries over the ultraflexible user-settings airheaded that abide of two banks--shooting settings and custom settings--with four nameable slots each. But I begin myself adulatory they were added calmly accessible, such as sitting on the approach punch a là Canon.