DailyTech - Nikon Unveils D300S and D3000 D-SLR Cameras

Submit News

Gadgets Nikon Unveils D300S and D3000 D-SLR Cameras
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - July 30, 2009 9:55 AM

19 comment(s) - last by KirkKamraman.. on Aug 5 at 12:30 PM

Nikon D3000 (Source: DPReview)

Nikon D300S (Source: DPReview)

D3000 is an entry level D-SLR aimed at beginners

Nikon has announced new D-SLR cameras today including the new D300S and the D3000. The D3000 D-SLR from Nikon is hailed as the simplest and most accessible D-SLR to date. The camera is a D-SLR for those who just want to use automatic settings, which seems contrary to the reason for buying a D-SLR to begin with.

The D3000 is intended to be a D-SLR that anyone can pick up to shoot wonderful pictures. The camera has an 11-point autofocus system and a large, bright viewfinder. The camera has a 10.2-megapixel sensor with Nikon EXPEED processing built-in with a top ISO setting of ISO 1600 and a pop up flash.

One of the most interesting features of the D3000 for beginners is that the camera has built-in guides to help them learn the settings and to take better pictures. The rear LCD of the camera is 3-inches and the camera has built-in picture controls to allow you to set things before you shoot.

Other automatic features of the camera include active D-lighting to increase shadows and highlights in high contrast scenes. A scene recognition system is built-in too allowing the camera to choose the best settings for the shooters needs. In-camera editing of photos is supported and the camera has a built-in dust reduction system. The camera will sell for $599 with an 18-55mm VR lens.

Nikon has also announced the new D300S D-SLR with a 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and professional 51-point autofocus system. The sensor is complemented by EXPEED image processing as well. The D-SLR can capture and edit HD movies and it has an external stereo sound input for a microphone. A dedicated LV button makes it easy to change between movies and still shots. The camera also integrates a type C HDMI interface allowing video to be watched on an HDTV in the living room.

One of the more interesting features of the D300S is its dual storage medium capability. The cam can store photos to both CF and SD cards. Bursts of up to seven frames per second can be shot and the D300S has a built-in pop-up flash. The rear LCD is a 3-inch unit and the camera will come in two kits. One kit will have the body with an AFGS DX NIKKOR 16-85mm F/3.5-4.5 VR lens and the other will have a AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens. The camera will sell for $1799 for the body only.

Other important D300S features include a dust reduction system, multiple automatic modes, and ISO range of ISO 200 to 3200 with boost modes to ISO 100 to 6400. The shutter is electronically controlled and activates in 30 to 1/8000 of a second. The rear LCD also supports LiveView. The camera measures 5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches and weighs 2.2 pounds with the battery.

There is no word on the kit pricing for the D300S at this time.

Nikon revealed the D5000 D-SLR back in April.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

As an owner of a D300...

By Lord 666 on 7/30/2009 11:03:00 AM , Rating: 3

Confused by the very mild refresh. Other than adding the movie mode (that already existed on a D90) and the uneeded dual slot, its functionally the same D300.

Being realistic, didn't think they would FX a D300s yet and would wait for the D400, but its a tough economy and Nikon is just milking this camera.

RE: As an owner of a D300...

By Pneumothorax on 7/30/2009 11:28:24 AM , Rating: 2

At least for awhile, there's going to be a decent market for high-end cropped bodies that the D90 isn't good enough for. So a low-cost full frame sensor in a D90 body (as the D700 is essentially a D300 with FF sensor) is still a ways off. Surpringly they kept the 12MP CCD unchanged.

Probably the biggest release for hard core enthusiasts is the new 70-200VRII. I have the old one on my D700 and the corners are pretty bad. Good for portraits, not so good for landscape.

Parent

RE: As an owner of a D300...

By xsilver on 7/30/2009 12:18:22 PM , Rating: 2

I agree that the 1-2 stop boost in FF sensor isnt really justified in the low end market considering that the d700 is already the cheapest and hottest product in the market.

Also how exactly is the help guides of any use to novice users? Most novice SLR's already have 5 or so "scene" modes in addition to full auto. They work well enough to novice users - eg. portait = wide open / landscape = f8 etc.

Does this reek a little of the nvidia 8800gts/9800gt/gts 250 product renaming? As long you pump out "new" products, the PR war will be won.

Parent

RE: As an owner of a D300...

By glitchc on 7/30/2009 12:27:53 PM , Rating: 2

Just a small correction, Nikon is now all-CMOS, since D90's release. The D300 is CMOS.

Parent

RE: As an owner of a D300...

By Pneumothorax on 7/30/2009 2:45:05 PM , Rating: 5

Actually both of us are wrong lol, The D300s is CMOS. BUT the D3000 is still using the venerable D200 10MP CCD lol. ( that was used in the D80/D40x/D60 also)

Parent

RE: As an owner of a D300...

By glennpratt on 8/3/2009 12:20:27 PM , Rating: 2

I believe some revision of that Sony sensor has also seen duty in the Nikon D40x, D60, D80, Pentax K10d, K200d, K2000, Km, Samsung GX-10, Sony A200, A300, A320, A330 and probably more. Quite popular!

Parent

Wow

By Spivonious on 7/30/2009 10:26:14 AM , Rating: 3

$600 MSRP? That means it'll be for sale around $450-$500 methinks.

I think Nikon just killed the high-end P&S market.

RE: Wow

By SiN on 7/30/2009 10:37:09 AM , Rating: 3

Or have invested in a future market where people who would have never looked at DSLR because of the price, might become more accustom with a DSLR and decide to pay more for a higher end product in the future.

Either way they stand to make money.

Parent

RE: Wow

By phattyboombatty on 7/30/2009 10:41:08 AM , Rating: 3

quote:
I think Nikon just killed the high-end P&S market.

There's still plenty of room for the high end P&S cameras that are much smaller. Not everyone wants to carry around a big camera.

Parent

RE: Wow

By oldscotch on 7/30/2009 1:01:39 PM , Rating: 3

You can already get dSLRs for <$500.

A number of the high-end point and shoots are appealing to people who have dSLRs that like to have a camera that will fit in their pocket. See the G9/G10, the LX3 and the P6000 for example - all shoot RAW, have decent image quality and are very compact by comparison to SLRs.

One could say "if it ain't broke don't fix it" about the d300. It'll likely be worked over a bit to bring it up to at least the d90's image quality, not that it was really lacking to begin with. It's the same sensor after all, so that shouldn't be a problem. Movie mode is nice for some I suppose, but the dual-memory card slots is a great thing to have. Probably not worth puchasing a new camera for, but not having to worry about a memory card failing while you've got one backing up the other gives real peace of mind.

Parent

The Ashton Kutcher model

By aguilpa1 on 7/30/2009 1:38:44 PM , Rating: 2

"The camera is a D-SLR for those who just want to use automatic settings, which seems contrary to the reason for buying a D-SLR to begin with."

The dumbed down model, I'm surprised its not in iMac white.

RE: The Ashton Kutcher model

By SPOOFE on 7/30/2009 4:03:40 PM , Rating: 2

That's an overreaction; the camera industry has been working on automating the processes of a their products for decades. Go pick up a Nikon F6 and you'll have all the same sorts of options for auto shutter, aperture, metering, etc.

Parent

Reasons for DSLR?

By SPOOFE on 7/30/2009 1:42:33 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
which seems contrary to the reason for buying a D-SLR to begin with.

Not at all. While it's true that DSLR's typically have a greater range of manual controls - or at least quicker and easier access - there are numerous other reasons to select a DSLR over an all-in-one. For instance, with only a handful of exceptions, DSLR's will have a larger sensor than compacts, with an accompanying superior sensitivity and color reproduction; faster shutter response; better noise, etc.

But the real reason to go with a DSLR is the glass. The camera body simply allows one to access the often amazing lenses available. Compacts are great for most people and cover most of the bases, and there's no reason one can't make amazing photos with almost anything currently on the market. But for those with very specific wants or needs, or the desire to magically transform cold hard cash into optics, a camera system with interchangeable lenses provides the best versatility. A cheap body that taps into that available resource most certainly has a place in the market.

RE: Reasons for DSLR?

By glennpratt on 8/3/2009 12:35:26 PM , Rating: 2

Right on. With DSLRs, the body will seem old and crusty in a few years, but good glass ages much slower.

Don't forget depth of field for larger sensors, a plus for some situations, like portraits, a negative others. DSLRs also have an optical viewfinder (fast, never washes out) and dedicated PD AF sensors (makes most P&S seem painfully slow, although I hear sensor based CD AF is getting better).

Everyone should understand these things before deciding to buy a DSLR or high-end P&S. Sadly most people don't, including DSLR owners.

Parent

wrong spelling!

By finbarqs on 7/31/2009 2:21:02 PM , Rating: 1

Yes! "complemented" is spelled "complimented"! do I win a prize?? :) :) :)

back to the original topic, I'm guessing the FPS on the movie mode on the D300s will be 720p, @ 5 minutes again. Just a hunch.... And I'm glad they're doing SD + CF. Eye-Fi + CF rules!!!!

RE: wrong spelling!

By stromgald30 on 7/31/2009 8:00:26 PM , Rating: 2

Unless Shaun just corrected the spelling to 'complemented', I'm not sure if you're right.

There's a difference between 'compliment' and 'complement'. The first is to praise someone/something and the other means 'to supplement or complete'.

The past tense of 'complement' is 'complemented' and is spelled correctly (at least as of the time of this posting).

Parent

HD codec is still M-Jpeg

By pc2099 on 7/31/2009 2:36:29 AM , Rating: 2

The HD still uses the mjpeg codec which is utter rubbish - stay away from this until the d400 which is roumoured to offer 1080 but more importantly H.264.

Nikon

By zzdinko on 8/1/2009 9:39:06 AM , Rating: 2

Wow, Nikon always stays one step ahead of the rest dont they?

RT
http://www.anon-web-tools.us.tc

D3000

By KirkKamraman on 8/5/2009 12:30:00 PM , Rating: 2

i recently sold my D40 to upgrade, but prices have sky rocketed since then, glad to see a "starter" DSLR with some better features. but i wish they would upgrade the controls as well, such as the D90 has (WB, ISO, etc)...and this is just my opinion, but for god sakes stop with the video option. if i want to shoot video, i'll buy a video camera...at no point when i've shot still photos did i wish my camera shot video...i wish they would upgrade cameras with faster focus, or focus area, or megapixels instead of video...again just my opinion...and yes i will be buying the D3000 cuz it's in my price range....