Nikon D300
Competitors

As well as being compared against other pro DSLRs, the Nikon D300 is also often compared to entry-level DSLRs. The Nikon D300's top rivals come from Nikon (such as the D7000 and the D90) and Canon (such as the EOS 7D and the EOS 60D)

Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D300 compared to other pro DSLR competitors include: it lets you preview your photos on the screen, has slightly more focus points (51 vs 19), slightly better viewfinder coverage (100% vs 96%), has a self cleaning sensor and has a CMOS-family sensor (CMOS vs CCD).

However, on average it is slightly more noisy at high ISO (679 ISO vs 2,303 ISO), has slightly lower image quality (67.0 vs 80.0), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 30fps), has slightly less color depth (22.1 bits vs 23.5 bits) and takes slightly lower resolution photos (12.2 MP vs 17.9 MP).

Nikon D300S 1 year newer $1,690 - $1,700 (body only) $2,547 - $4,295 18-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D300S (vs the D300) Has more storage slots: 2 vs 1 Significant disadvantages of the D300S (vs the D300) None found common strengths of the D300S and D300 Minimal startup delay: 300 ms vs 300 ms Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 169 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 147x114x74 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm
	Compare the D300S vs the D300
Canon EOS 7D 2 years newer $1,549 - $1,821 (body only) $1,590 - $1,849 18-135mm lens	Significant advantages of the 7D (vs the D300) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significantly higher true resolution: 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP Less shutter lag: 131 ms vs 227 ms Significant disadvantages of the 7D (vs the D300) Significantly fewer focus points: 19 vs 51 common strengths of the 7D and D300 Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 169 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 148x111x74 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Supports RAW
	Compare the Canon EOS 7D vs the Nikon D300
Canon EOS 60D 3 years newer $848 - $1,304 (body only) $1,177 - $1,342 18-135mm lens	Significant advantages of the 60D (vs the D300) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Has a flip-out screen Significantly higher true resolution: 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP Significant disadvantages of the 60D (vs the D300) Less dynamic range: 11.5 EV vs 12 EV Many fewer focus points: 9 vs 51 No weather sealing common strengths of the 60D and D300 Many lenses available: 162 lenses vs 169 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 145x106x79 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Supports RAW
	Compare the Canon EOS 60D vs the Nikon D300
Nikon D800 4 years newer $2,999 - $3,000 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D800 (vs the D300) Much lower noise at high ISO: 2,853 ISO vs 679 ISO Much better image quality: 95.0 vs 67.0 Better color depth: 25.3 bits vs 22.1 bits Significant disadvantages of the D800 (vs the D300) Significantly fewer lenses available: 121 lenses vs 169 lenses Significantly thicker: 3.2" vs 2.9" common strengths of the D800 and D300 Minimal startup delay: 120 ms vs 300 ms Fairly small: Large 146x123x82 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Supports RAW
	Compare the D800 vs the D300
Nikon D200 1 year older $1,300 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D200 (vs the D300) None found Significant disadvantages of the D200 (vs the D300) Much smaller screen: 2.5" vs 3.0" Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 922k dots No live view common strengths of the D200 and D300 Minimal startup delay: 200 ms vs 300 ms Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 169 lenses Fairly small: Professional size 147x113x74 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm
	Compare the D200 vs the D300
Nikon D700 10 months newer $2,949 (body only)	Significant advantages of the D700 (vs the D300) Much lower noise at high ISO: 2,303 ISO vs 679 ISO Significantly better image quality: 80.0 vs 67.0 Better color depth: 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits Significant disadvantages of the D700 (vs the D300) Significantly fewer lenses available: 121 lenses vs 169 lenses Much less viewfinder coverage: 95% vs 100% common strengths of the D700 and D300 Fairly small: Large 147x123x77 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Supports RAW Thin: 3" vs 2.9"
	Compare the D700 vs the D300

Generally, some of the advantages of the Nikon D300 compared to entry-level DSLR competitors include: it slightly larger viewfinder (0.62x vs 0.54x), has a weather sealed body, shoots faster continuously (6 fps vs 4 fps), has a significantly longer battery life (1000 shots vs 660 shots) and has much more focus points (51 vs 11).

However, on average it is significantly more noisy at high ISO (679 ISO vs 1,167 ISO), has slightly lower image quality (67.0 vs 80.0), doesn't record movies (none vs 1080p @ 24fps), has slightly less color depth (22.1 bits vs 23.5 bits) and takes significantly lower resolution photos (12.2 MP vs 17.9 MP).

Nikon D7000 3 years newer $1,000 - $1,197 (body only) $1,100 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D7000 (vs the D300) Much lower noise at high ISO: 1,167 ISO vs 679 ISO Significantly better image quality: 80.0 vs 67.0 Shoots movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the D7000 (vs the D300) Significantly fewer focus points: 39 vs 51 Significantly fewer cross-type focus points: 9 vs 15 common strengths of the D7000 and D300 High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 922k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Above average viewfinder size: 0.62x vs 0.62x
	Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Nikon D90 1 year newer $830 - $897 (body only) $1,047 55-200mm lens	Significant advantages of the D90 (vs the D300) Significantly lower noise at high ISO: 977 ISO vs 679 ISO Shoots movies: 720p @ 24fps vs None Significantly smaller: Professional size 132x103x77 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Significant disadvantages of the D90 (vs the D300) Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 51 Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 15 No weather sealing common strengths of the D90 and D300 High resolution screens: 930k dots vs 922k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Above average viewfinder size: 0.63x vs 0.62x
	Compare the D90 vs the D300
Nikon D5100 3 years newer $500 - $597 (body only) $600 - $697 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D5100 (vs the D300) Much lower noise at high ISO: 1,183 ISO vs 679 ISO Significantly better image quality: 80.0 vs 67.0 Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significant disadvantages of the D5100 (vs the D300) Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 51 Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 15 No weather sealing common strengths of the D5100 and D300 High resolution screens: 920k dots vs 922k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 500 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Nikon D3100 3 years newer $500 - $547 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D3100 (vs the D300) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 24fps vs None Lower noise at high ISO: 919 ISO vs 679 ISO Much smaller: Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Significant disadvantages of the D3100 (vs the D300) Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 51 Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 15 Much lower resolution screen: 230k dots vs 922k dots common strengths of the D3100 and D300 Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 400 ms vs 300 ms Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 169 lenses
	Compare the D3100 vs the D300
Canon Rebel T2i 2 years newer $544 - $949 (body only) $649 - $867 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the T2i (vs the D300) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Significantly higher true resolution: 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP Much smaller: Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Significant disadvantages of the T2i (vs the D300) Many fewer focus points: 9 vs 51 Many fewer cross-type focus points: 1 vs 15 No weather sealing common strengths of the T2i and D300 High resolution screens: 1,040k dots vs 922k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Minimal startup delay: 400 ms vs 300 ms
	Compare the Canon EOS Rebel T2i vs the Nikon D300
Nikon D3200 4 years newer $699 - $700 18-55mm lens	Significant advantages of the D3200 (vs the D300) Shoots movies: 1080p @ 30fps vs None Much higher true resolution: 24.1 MP vs 12.2 MP Much smaller: Prosumer size 125x96x76 mm vs Professional size 147x114x74 mm Significant disadvantages of the D3200 (vs the D300) Many fewer focus points: 11 vs 51 No weather sealing Significantly smaller viewfinder: 0.50x vs 0.62x common strengths of the D3200 and D300 High resolution screens: 921k dots vs 922k dots Larger than average screens: 3.0" vs 3.0" Many lenses available: 169 lenses vs 169 lenses
	Compare the D3200 vs the D300