D90 or D300s - what would you do ?

[SVTGolfer]

Yeah......I am a lurker and dont post much, but I have learned alot from this forum and am looking to get some input.

- I have a buddy that currently has a D70 - he is wanting to upgrade and we are contemplating whether the $800 difference for the body of these cameras is worth it? He is an experienced amateur who likes shooting everything from sports to landscapes and is weighing all the options.........difference in speed, camera build, but most of all price difference? What do you guys think?

I own a D90 - and of course as most D90 owners will say -- I am very pleased with the camera - however, in a way I would love to have the 300s.

[herc182]

If he doesnt mind the extra weight and price, get the D300s.

Faster FPS (for sports) and crucially, better build (waterproofing).
51 focus points too. Thats all i can remember off the top of my head. If I had the choice
thats what i would go for.

[XaiLo]

Well if price holds the biggest wieght then the answer is simple, D90. If he wants to take advantage of all a camera has to offer then it's the D300. Either one will be a significant upgrade in this case. And at this point a good argument could be made for either camera. It's really up to the individual... if the extra features of the D300 outwiegh the increased price tag then that's the way to go. If not then the D90 will deliver comparable image quality with a rich and adequate feature set.

[faisal]

Does he need the extra features of the D300s when he can have the D300 for a lower price....

[SVTGolfer]

he likes the idea of video................ so it will be between the D90 & 300s

[fionndruinne]

Have him handle and use both. The D90 is rather easier to lug around than the D300, isn't it?

[polvadis]

Is the video quality of the D90 comparable to that of D300s?

[SVTGolfer]

That is an interesting point........... I have never held a D300 -- but I dont think the size would bother me so much -- it is something to consider though

[faisal]

I thought the D300 video had auto focus...

[SVTGolfer]

I thought the D300 video had auto focus...

I am not sure.............- can anyone confirm this ?

[K1W1]

I am not sure.............- can anyone confirm this ?

Have you thought about using Google or even doing something more radical and looking at the front page of Dcresource?
This is a camera that nobody here has seen or touched and won't be available to the public for another month at least so you will not get a first hand answer here.

FWIW the answer that you want is very easy to find

[Thronsen]

I absolutely love my D90. That being said, I rarely use it in movie mode. I either lug around my HFS-100 or slip a Flip into my pocket. The reason is the lack of auto-focus, which is especially difficult to overcome in bright light as you need to use the LCD screen.

For the D300s, as others have mentioned if video is something that is important to you I would hold off until you read actual reviews on it. While it does have auto-focus, there is concern that it might be too slow for some uses.

[SVTGolfer]

Have you thought about using Google or even doing something more radical and looking at the front page of Dcresource?
This is a camera that nobody here has seen or touched and won't be available to the public for another month at least so you will not get a first hand answer here.

FWIW the answer that you want is very easy to find


I can assure you I have read most of what is available about the camera - I had not come across this point about autofocus on the movie mode - therefore I thought someone else possibly had --

[accord2003]

I can assure you I have read most of what is available about the camera - I had not come across this point about autofocus on the movie mode - therefore I thought someone else possibly had --

it is listed on the press release.

"Additionally, users can autofocus while recording video, using contrast detect AF, and do so while composing on the D300s’ bright three-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen. "

If the weight is not a problem, I would go for the D300.

[K1W1]

it is listed on the press release.

"Additionally, users can autofocus while recording video, using contrast detect AF, and do so while composing on the D300s’ bright three-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen. "

If the weight is not a problem, I would go for the D300.

There is also a caveat on DPReview. If you want to zoom whilst filming you will need an external microphone fitted otherwise all you will hear will be screeching noises from the lens zoom motors.
It's all getting a bit difficult for Joe Average as far as I can see.

[fionndruinne]

If you wanted a serious film clip, I'd think you would have some kind of exterior mounted mic anyway; sound quality has to be rather atrocious from the on-cam mic.

[RichNY]

Other than video why is he wanting to upgrade? The answer to this will dictate the best option.

[SVTGolfer]

Thanks for the information.............. Honestly - it seems to me the D90 is the camera for him -- much bigger LCD than the D70, faster, better technology - and he will keep $800 for gear. As far as the the comparison -- I have read so much about the D90 being right with the D300 in many areas. Yes - the D300 is a superior camera - but it is not by an overwhelming margin. Just my 2 cents..............Let the D300 guys flame on !!

[XaiLo]

No need for any flaming the D300 or D300s is well worth the money 'if' you need & utilize the added features. Funny thing is it's not until you start telling yourself I wish I could do this or that, is when you finally realize O I should have spent the extra and it would have been worth it.

[herc182]

That is an interesting point........... I have never held a D300 -- but I dont think the size would bother me so much -- it is something to consider though

I thought this camera was for a friend :) :)

[K1W1]

Yes - the D300 is a superior camera - but it is not by an overwhelming margin. Just my 2 cents..............Let the D300 guys flame on !!

Why would anybody do that?
IMO what you say is accurate and I suspect that most people will agree with you.

[XaiLo]

There's something odd about this thread... hmmmmm

[Cyberwlf]

I haven't used the D300s but I will base my experience with D300 to compare with. To me D90 and D300 are very different cameras in terms of handling. For me physically holding one Vs the other the D300 feels like a workhorse / beast, and the D90 feels more plastic. D300 benefits from better weather sealing. D300 has a better AF system (51 vs 11 points). D300 can use faster memory cards (UDMA CF vs SDHC) and D300s can use both. D300 can use a wider variety of lenses. D300 has more of its important functions externally controllable vs dial's and buttons.

Where the D90 does though have the edge over the D300 is in terms of the actual sensor used, with it producing slightly higher in DR images and slightly improved low light abilities, but unlike the D300, it only supports 12bit images (vs D300's 14bit support). If D300s also benefits from the same benefits the D90 got, then this will no longer be an advantage of the D90s. D300(s) supports 1005 Pixel RGB Matrix mode, D90 only supports 420 Pixel RGB Matrix metering. D90 also has manual focus movie mode... where as the D300 didn't (D300 can record MF movies via 3rd party apps though), but D300s can do movies, and supports AF too (I believe..).

Thing is the D90 came a year after the D300, so it benefits from everything Nikon learnt on all that came before it, so it certainly is a stronger/closer competitor than the D80 was to the D300 purely c/o the rules of Moore's Law. The D300s though offers little over the existing D300 though it would seem, so if differences were to be made as being insiginificant i would've compared the 's' vs original versions there.

Don't get me wrong, i have no problems with the D90 and think it a fine dSLR camera, recommended it to people before too, but it still remains in a different class to the D300(s) when it comes to usage of one Vs the other.

[SVTGolfer]

There's something odd about this thread... hmmmmm

Nothing odd............... I am keeping my D90 in case your wondering - He is leaning toward the D300s -- but who knows. thanks for your input

I hope he gets the 300s so I can use it................ and then I will wait till the price drops some so I can get one if it seems like a worthy upgrade.