Nikon
D3
 vs
Nikon
D300

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D300

Nikon D3

100
Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Nikon D300

79
Runner-up

Nikon D300
"High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR), ISO 6400 usable for small output"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's iso-noise
"The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
15
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The D3 has excellent image quality 1.8 f-stops higher ISO than the D300
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 67.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
 Around 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 227 ms
Help
 2.6x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Size Much smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lowest price Much cheaper $1,672.81 vs $6,682.39
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,010 cheaper (4x less)
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 925 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
100 vs 79
Explain scores
Nikon D300 Nikon D300
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD3
 Nikon D3 vs Nikon D300
NikonD300
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
922k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
15
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3:1,300 g
D300:925 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3:12.1 MP
D300:12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
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

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3:25,600 ISO
D300:6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3:6,400 ISO
D300:3,200 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D90 vs the D3
Compare the D90 vs the D300
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Weight Is slightly heavier
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage
Compare the D700 vs the D3
Compare the D700 vs the D300
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D300S vs the D3
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the D3
Compare the D3100 vs the D300
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D800 vs the D3
Compare the D800 vs the D300

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the D3S vs the D3
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the D3

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300.

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D300
Nikon D3 Nikon D300
Nikon D3 Nikon D300

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?

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