Nikon
D300S
 vs
Nikon
D5000

Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D300S

63
Winner

Nikon D300S
"Although the fine detail of ergonomics can come down to personal preference and hand shape/size, the basics are universal"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's feel
"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
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
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 D5000

43
Runner-up

Nikon D5000
"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Weight
 Light-weight
590 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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 276 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Battery life Longer battery life 950 shots vs 510 shots
Help
 Around 90% more shots per battery charge
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S

Advantages of the Nikon D5000
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 72.0 vs 70.0
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
 The D5000 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Weight Significantly lighter 590 g vs 938 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Size Smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $879.95 vs $1,690.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $810 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
63 vs 43
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D300S. 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.

advice

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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...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" 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 ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"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"
0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."
0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

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
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
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
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Compare the D7000 vs the D5000
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D300S
Compare the D5100 vs the D5000
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
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Compare the D90 vs the D5000
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3100 vs the D300S
Compare the D3100 vs the D5000
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D5000
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D300S
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5000
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only
Weight Is slightly heavier
Movie format Doesn't record movies
Compare the D300 vs the D300S
Compare the D300 vs the D5000

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Battery life Longer battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5000

appearance

Nikon D300S Nikon D5000
Nikon D300S Nikon D5000
Nikon D300S Nikon D5000

discussion

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