Nikon D300 Review

Handling & ease of use:
If a photographer's hands could fall in love at first touch with a camera body, my bet is that the Nikon D300 would be the one. It's a very solid and weighty model that oozes class and handling one will inspire confidence in its capabilities to anyone using it. The classic design is one that those used to Nikon SLRs will recognise and admire, with a well-sized rubberised handgrip that offers a very comfortable and secure hold. As you'd expect of a camera with so many features, there are plenty of controls on offer but they've been neatly arranged and well marked. Also, they're all a good size and have a very positive action, which is particularly useful when you're trying to change settings while wearing gloves. It's worth noting as well that the camera is designed to withstand the elements and the various socket covers and compartments are well sealed to stop moisture from getting in.
Anyone wanting to use the D300 will most certainly require some previous knowledge required simply because it has so much to offer, so anyone looking for a well-specified Nikon as their first DSLR would be better off checking out the D40x or D80. Experienced users however shouldn't take long to worth their way around the D300's control system. Ease of use is further enhanced by the superb 3in LCD monitor, which provides a crystal-clear display and various menu options that allow fast access to features (as well as Live View).
The viewfinder is excellent, as you'd expect of a DSLR costing over £1,000. The display is very bright and clear and its possible to adjust what's superimposed on the screen via the menu system, including grid guidelines. The exposure information runs along the bottom and provides literally all the info that you could possibly need.

Features:
The D300 is aimed at high end of the amateur market and also at professionals, so you'd expect it to have a very strong range of features. It certainly doesn't disappoint, especially when you consider that many of them are found on the Nikon D3, which has also just been launched.
The D300 is built around a 13.1-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor with 12.3-million effective pixels, which compares favourably with its nearest rivals, particularly the 10.1-megapixel Canon EOS 40D.  A new image processor, called EXPEED, has been developed to handle the larger files and the D300 can shoot at up to six frames-per-second (up to 8fps with the optional MB-D10 battery pack), which is impressive.
What's even more notable is the autofocus system, boasting no less than 51 AF points, which along with the Nikon D3, is the most found in any SLR. It covers a very wide area of the frame and offers a multitude of AF options to suit all types of photographer. This includes Dynamic-area AF that provides multi-point AF that uses either nine, 21 or 51 AF points.
The exposure system is much like the D200 before, the core four exposure modes are available and backed up by 3D Matrix, spot and centre-weighted metering patterns, and there are numerous overrides for ambient and flash exposures. It's worth noting that the 1005-pixel RGB sensor used in the D300 to calculate exposures has been improved over previous generations to offer what's called the Scene Recognition System. This uses information from the scene to improve the performance of the AF, White Balance and exposure systems.
Other features of note are as follows: The sensor's sensitivity range of ISO 200-3200 can be extended to 100 and 6400, which is more than adequate for most needs. Shutter speeds range from 1/8000sec to 30secs (plus Bulb), with a flash sync of 1/250sec. The D-Lighting system has been enhanced to offer a broader tonal reproduction with high contrast scenes and is now called Active D-Lighting. Sockets include those for HDMI, studioflash and a remote release. Finally, this is Nikon's first DSLR to sport a dust reduction system, which like the majority of those on other brands, works by vibrating the optical low-pass filter in front of the sensor.

Performance:
If you're thinking about buying one of these, 
it's probably a good idea to get your order in now, because based on this performance, they're going to be in short supply.
The D300 feels and performs like a model that's been designed for professional use. Every dial, button and display is carefully crafted and works smoothly, while the camera operation is quiet and assured. Switch the camera on and it's ready to go (start-up time is only 0.13secs), with a press of the shutter button activating the autofocus, which focuses smoothly and swiftly on the subject. We tried the D300 with a range of lenses and found that AF is very fast, quiet and responsive. While we didn't have the opportunity to fully test the servo-AF on high speed subjects, our preliminary results showed the 51-point AF able to follow traffic, joggers and so on.
Virtually the entire test was conducted with the metering system set to Matrix, simply because it is so accurate and consistent. As with all DSLRs, strong backlighting causes problems, but other than that, it's very reliable.
The quality of images from the 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is excellent. Sharpness is very high, with finer details recorded well, while noise levels are very low – images up to ISO 1000 are clean and lack any pronounced grain. Colour reproduction from the D300 is accurate and nicely saturated, with very smooth tonal rendition. Skin tones are very realistic and primary colours are strong (see Eye Tunes on page 76 for further examples). The D300 is a dream to use for enthusiasts and offers a realistic option as a cut-price working tool for photographers who don't require full-frame.

51-point autofocus
The 51 AF points include 
15 cross-type sensors, which are positioned in the central three columns of the arrangement. They are controlled by Nikon's new Multi-CAM 3500DX AF module, which is claimed to deliver new levels of accuracy and speed.
3in LCD monitor
The LCD monitor on the D300 is superb. With around 920,000 pixels, the display is very sharp and clear with vivid colours. As well as the comprehensive on-screen menu, you have the option to make it show similar info to that seen on the top-plate LCD. It also offers two Live View modes

Test Verdict
Is this a top-end enthusiast DSLR or a 'budget' working tool for the professional? I'd have to say I think the D300 is both. 
It represents a major jump from the D200 and, boasting many of the features found on the flagship D3, is a real option for the professional. With the exception of newcomers to SLR photography, this is a model that can be used by all levels of user. it offers sublime handling, a wealth of features (including its superb AF and metering systems) and brilliant performance. 
I'd have to say that I think it's good enough to entice people using other brands to consider switching allegiance, as in this sector of the market, there is currently nothing to touch it.

Handling & Ease of use: 23/25
Features: 23/25
Performance: 23/25
Value for money: 23/25
FINAL SCORE: 92/100