The Nikon D300s adds 720p video and dual-memory recording to last year's D300. See what else is new in our full scoop.
The green light has finally been illuminated for Nikon's new D300s, one of the most highly anticipated DSLRs of the summer, and though the upgrades are not particularly plentiful, the camera has taken a profound leap within the realm of versatility. The two primary features will be the Nikon D300s's 24fps 720p HD video and dual memory card slots—one for CF cards and the other for SD/SDHC cards. This means shooters will be able to designate their preferred media as the primary recording source and allow the other form of media to act as a bucket to pick up overspill when the former has reached maximum capacity. Cards can also be assigned specifically to RAW or JPEG recording, and transfer of images between cards is possible.
The Nikon D300s inherits the D5000's D-Movie mode, and both formats seem to be identical. We were impressed with the Nikon D5000's video performance, so we can expect the same with the new Nikon D300s. We get three resolutions to choose from: 1,280 x 720/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 fps, 320 x 216/24 fps, and videos will be recorded in the Motion JPEG AVI format. We'll be able to contrast-detect Auto Focus in D-Movie mode, and sound will be able to be recorded via the built-in or optional external microphone with the ability to adjust mic sensitivity. Thus, the Nikon D300s receives a 3.5mm Stereo in jack to accommodate external microphones. Videos can be trimmed on the fly, and the microphone can be used to record sound separately if needed. Picture Controls can also be applied in video mode, allowing shooters to adjust the saturation, sharpness, contrast and more.
A few other odds and ends have been tossed into the light, including the Nikon D300s's new 7 frame-per-second continuous mode and 8 frame-per-second continuous performance with the optional MB-D10 rechargeable battery grip. The Nikon D300 has a max performance of 6 frames-per-second, so we can definitely expect a little more speed out of the new Nikon D300s. We also get a Quiet Shutter release mode, just like on the Nikon D5000, which is a shooting mode that delays the mirror-down action until the shutter release button is fully disengaged. Active D-Lighting has been expanded by two options, Auto and Extra High, to join High, Normal, Low or Off. We're curious to see how the Extra High setting will effect dynamic range, in addition to the camera's ability to automatically select a particular intensity based on the immediate shooting environment.
The Nikon D300s weighs just seven ounces more than the Nikon D300, which tips the scale at 29.3 ounces, so we can expect the same mediocre heft while aiming and firing. Construction-wise, both the Nikon D300s and Nikon D300 share many similarities in terms of interface and control layout. We get the same 3-inch 920,000-pixel LCD in back with 170-degree viewing angle, eight-way directional pad with diagonal scrolling in playback and the Main and Sub Control dials. The Nikon D300s's Multi-CAM 3500DX AF module uses cross type sensors to achieve a 51-point AF field, and we also get a Face Detection feature this time around. Nikon also promises the same impressive low-noise, high-resolution images we saw from the Nikon D300, and both cameras share the same 12-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor. Since the Nikon D300s is unchanged when it comes to its image capture device, that means we're still in the DX playing field and DX lenses will have to be used.
The Nikon D300s camera body will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers in late August 2009, for $1800.
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