Nikon
D300
 vs
Nikon
D3000

Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Nikon D300 vs Nikon D3100

Nikon D300

55

  
Nikon D3000

36

  
Winner

Nikon D300

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
922k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
 
Runner-up

Nikon D3000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.52x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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 6 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 1000 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 80% more shots per battery charge
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 679 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The D300 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 227 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D300's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Color depth Better color depth 22.3 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Size Smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 536 g vs 925 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $435.54 vs $1,763.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,328 cheaper (4.1x less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D300 Nikon D300
55 vs 36
Explain scores
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
D300:2.9"
D3000:2.5"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D300:12.2 MP
D3000:10 MP
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D300:6,400 ISO
D3000:3,200 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D300:3,200 ISO
D3000:1,600 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
D300:67.0
D3000:62.0
Color depth Poor color depth Help
D300:22.1 bits
D3000:22.3 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
D300:679 ISO
D3000:563 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the D300
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Compare the D7000 vs the D3000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D300
Compare the D90 vs the D3000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 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 D300
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D300
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3000
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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 D3200 vs the D300
Compare the D3200 vs the D3000
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D200 vs the D300
Compare the D200 vs the D3000

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,200 - $1,697 body only

$2,227 with 85mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Thickness Thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the D300

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$425 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Has live view
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the D3000
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the D60 vs the D3000

appearance

Nikon D300 Nikon D3000
Nikon D300 Nikon D3000
Nikon D300 Nikon D3000

discussion

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