Nikon D300S

63

"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
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Pentaprism
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
Many cross-type focus points
15
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Nikon D5100

62

"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 70.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
The D5100 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 560 g vs 938 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Lowest price Cheaper $499.99 vs $1,690.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,190 cheaper (3.4x less)
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.51x
Help
Around 50% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4 fps
Help
Around 80% faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 225 ms vs 273 ms
Help
Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 660 shots
Help
More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
40% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
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 DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
62 vs 63
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro DSLR.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D5100 or the D300S,
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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

1
votes
by TheRylander last month
Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D300S

Hi, I am looking for advice on the best camera to take travelling on a Round the World trip. I cur...

0
votes
by Myllyne-Santa-Maria last month
Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D300S

Hi! I'm planning to buy my first SLR camera and I want to use it mainly for street and macro ph...

1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."

0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."

0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D5100:6,400 ISO
D300S:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5100.

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon D300S
Nikon D5100 Nikon D300S
Nikon D5100 Nikon D300S

discussion

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