One of my favorite sites for Professional and Consumer DSLR camera reviews is Digital Photography Review. They have just posted a hands-on preview of Nikon’s upcoming D200 successor, the D300.
“Our preview covers the design of the camera, control layout, operation use, displays and menus. Also included is a closer look at the D300 implementation of live view including videos of it in use. We’ve also explored HDMI output and included a couple of 720p video clips to give you an idea of how high definition may change the way we use video output on digital cameras.”
I’ve shot several events this year with a Nikon D200. It’s a fantastic DSLR that produces remarkable images. It’s also an absolute joy to use. However I’m very excited about the new D300 for several reasons.
One of my pet peeves on the D200 is that there is no way to use that beautiful LCD screen as a viewfinder. This just seems unnatural to me. With the D300, Nikon offers just that with the introduction of the Live View function. The 3-inch LCD screen is a welcomed addition and is not only bigger than it’s predecessor but also MUCH sharper with 922,000 pixels. Meanwhile the optical viewfinder on the D300 has also received an upgrade and now covers 100% of the frame compared to 95% coverage on the D200. This should give you some serious viewing power.
The other big selling point for me is the addition of HDMI digital high definition video output. The D300 is capable of outputting HD video in the following formats: Auto, 480p, 576p, 720p and 1080i. This really opens new possibilities and uses for DSLR cameras. Equipped with a professional lens you could practically shoot your next feature film with the D300. As a Digital Artist I find the merging of the photo and video worlds very exciting.
The Nikon D300 will be available in Canada from Nikon Authorized Retailers in December 2007. In the meantime check out Nikon’s own page on the D300.
