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Nikon D300 Dilemma

D300s newer, more exterior control buttons for quicker access, faster focus, 7/6 frame rate...If possible D300s, if not D300. You will be a happy camper with either camera. comparison

Problem with the D700 is that you might have to replace any DX lenses you have if you want to use it at full frame (not much point having it otherwise). Apart from that, video is really the only significant reason for choosing the D300s over the D300.
I upgraded from a D80 to a D300 a couple of years ago and have never looked back.
I upgraded from a D80 to a D300 a couple of years ago and have never looked back.

The D300 is a great camera, tho I do prefer the D700, it's not just the high ISO performance, but greater dynamic range (and yes it is noticable) less prone to defraction at small apertures (I can use f16 / f18 again with little or no defraction).
It will depend on your lenses, but the only one I couldn't use was the Sigma10-20, which I sold and bought a wideangle prime, for not much more. Actually I could use the 10-20 in DX mode but the pixels reduced far too much for my liking.
Also if you like to exploit shallow dof as I sometimes do ff is much better.
It will depend on your lenses, but the only one I couldn't use was the Sigma10-20, which I sold and bought a wideangle prime, for not much more. Actually I could use the 10-20 in DX mode but the pixels reduced far too much for my liking.
Also if you like to exploit shallow dof as I sometimes do ff is much better.

Quote:The D300 is a great camera, tho I do prefer the D700, it's not just the high ISO performance, but greater dynamic range (and yes it is noticeable) less prone to diffraction at small apertures (I can use f16 / f18 again with little or no diffraction).
This is largely misleading.
As some-one who shot D300 and D3 alongside each other for 2 years there is no noticeable difference in potential dynamic range between the 2 cameras up to and including 800 ISO - and wide dynamic range is only needed with subjects which happen to have wide dynamic range

True the FX ISO is potentially better faster than 800 - but as DX gives 1 stop more depth of field for the same angle of view as FX if you are not shooting wide open you can use 1 ISO lower and 1 shutter speed faster to get back most of the D700 high ISO speed advantage.
As any loss of resolution due to diffraction is extremely hard to detect between f13 and f18 on FX even in 20 inch wide prints the more theoretical than real (in 20 inch wide prints) between f11 and f16 on DX is similar. On the other hand at faster apertures DX often has greater sharpness in the frame corners than FX, especially when using many FX lenses.

Sorry Len whilst I would bow to your greater knowlendge on most occasions - there is a big difference between the 2 cameras in terms of defraction. I never got 1 image out of the D300 at F16 I was happy with (yes I'm critical). The D700 is OK upto F18.
There is a difference in Dynamic range of about 1 -2 stops. Its noticable when you shoot HDR - or since moving to the D700 I have yet to find the need.
There is a difference in Dynamic range of about 1 -2 stops. Its noticable when you shoot HDR - or since moving to the D700 I have yet to find the need.