Canon EOS
60D
 vs
Nikon
D300S

Nikon D300S

95
"Most high-end DSLRs feature Magnesium alloy construction but the D300 stood out as a particularly weighty and well-constructed example"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's build-quality
"The D300S is not the standout product that its predecessor was and unless you find your clients are clamoring for video footage... that shouldn't take away from an absolutely excellent product - a gently polished and refined update of a product that we considered a benchmark when it was released."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Canon EOS 60D

95
"It may have turned its back on the semi-pro, but the 60D is still a camera that should enthuse the enthusiasts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's overall-performance
"Excellent image quality up to ISO settings unthinkable just one camera generation ago"
dpreview.com | talking about the 60D's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 60D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 60D
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 60D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1100 shots vs 950 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 755 g vs 938 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $898.75 vs $1,699.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $801 cheaper (around 50% less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 60D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 60D Learn more about
the Canon 60D

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Overall image quality Better image quality 70.0 vs 66.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 5.3 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 225 ms vs 253 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 60D Canon EOS 60D
95 vs 95
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 60D
 Canon EOS 60D vs Nikon D300S
NikonD300S
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
42
38
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
29
55
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
38
48
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
29
51
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
49
23
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
41
41
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
35
54
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
60D:162 lenses
D300S:169 lenses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
60D:1,040k dots
D300S:920k dots
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
60D:145x106x79 mm
D300S:147x114x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
60D:$898.75
D300S:$1,699.99
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
60D:12,800 ISO
D300S:6,400 ISO
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
60D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D300S:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
60D:253 ms
D300S:225 ms
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
60D:6,400 ISO
D300S:3,200 ISO
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
60D:0.59x
D300S:0.62x
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
60D:1100 shots
D300S:950 shots
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
60D:813 ISO
D300S:787 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 60D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D300S
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D5100 vs the D300S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 60D
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 60D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 60D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D300S

Canon EOS 60D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 60D.

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300S.

appearance

Canon EOS 60D Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D300S
Canon EOS 60D Nikon D300S

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 1 comments

Roni Ang8 (4:09 AM, September 28, 2011)
d 300 is a top pro camera