D90 to D300S?

DoctorJ

DoctorJ

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i have had my D90 for some time now andd to be honest just fancy a change. I have always wanted a 300S but couldn't afford one when i got the 90. Is there realistically any actual point in changing? The weather sealing would be good, but only in the way that a waterproof watch is handy sometimes. Are there any actual photographic benefits?

many thanks
 
I personally wouldn't bother unless you want a more robust, bulky , cumbersome body. You will not see a difference in your pics as I believe they share the same sensor. The autofocus system will be better, but then again will you actually ever need it? I would get a used D7000 / D7100 if I were you.
 
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As a fellow D90 owner I'd say no. As I'm sure you know, it's the same sensor so the results are going to be virtually indistinguishable. I think you should be looking at a D7000 or, preferably, a D7100 now.
 
I know two people who changed from D90s to D300s's and felt they were a lot better. Better controls, better image quality, nicer to use.
 
DoctorJ said:
i have had my D90 for some time now andd to be honest just fancy a change. I have always wanted a 300s...
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I would take off from right there!
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Time is running out fast! Quick! Get one!
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But seriously! Forget IQ and everything else for that matter and get a good, well-cared-for second-hand D300s. You won't regret it!

Still miss mine...
 
surfg1mp said:
It's the chance to own the last of its kind......a semi pro Dx body, there won't be another!!!!
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D7100? Buffer isnt upto much but everything else beats the 300. Its a semi pro crop for everything other than machine gunners
 
Boldonian said:
Better image quality?
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I haven't compared them myself but one is a pro now, the other a very accomplished amateur (he's moved on to a D3s now to be fair) so I trust their opinions. The sensor may be the same but the processing is different, the metering is different etc
 
If you want to get technical the D300S has less Dynamic range and more noise than the D90 so actually the image quality should be worse.
However, for all intents and purposes the image quality between a D90 and a D300S should be considered as the same because when you shoot with both the differences aren't visible. It is certainly not worth upgrading with an idea that the D300S has better image quality than a D90 because that is just a fallacy and we should be quashing nonsense like that.
 
My d300 (not the s) has a lot more focus points... which may help you. May not.
Was disappointed in the 7k with the focus point grouping... But size and weight its light.

D300 I found is great (links to flickr pics in siggy). Its a bit heavier though, feels more robust.
If I were you, get yourself to a used camera place and handle it. If they let you, put a lens you own on it and take a pic - if the d90 uses compact flash cards) then take the same pic with the d90 and compare later at home...

They may also have some d700 or d7k d7100 to handle too...
 
For my ten peneth. Went from D90 to 7000...didn't get on with it at all. Went to D300s....BRILLIANT !
 
It depend how you are going to use it as there are some good used D700's around

I have a D300, (not the S), which I have had for a few years - I have taken some really good shots with it
I upgraded to the D7100 a few months ago for the better High ISO performance, the in camera x 1.3 crop, and more pixels on the images as I crop 90% of my bird shots _ (I take lots of bird images)

I prefer the UI, (user interface), of the D300 over the D7000/D7100 and 24mp over 12mp has yet to convince me

The D300 is also the right size for me - the body is a little bigger than the D7000/D7100 and feels just a little better built

The D300 is a really good camera and I would thoroughly recommend it, if you want the DX cropped sensor, and if you can get a mint used one for £500, then it's a bargain, IMHO of course

There are some good used D700's around if you want FX

Good luck
 
I went for the D300 over the D90, mostly because of the robustness. I'd used a D700 at work and loved how that handled, and the D300 is just as good. I skipped out on the D300s as I don't need the video function so i put the extra money into lenses. Long story but I actually ended up buying two D300's, then selling one, I picked them both up for around £300 each, and sold one of them for £320, so it turned out nice.

I'm really pleased with it and have had some (I think) great shots.
 
I have a D300 and bought a D90 as a 2nd body, and so my daughter could use it, (which she never did preferring the old D80 :( ) to be honest I noticed very little difference in picture quality just didn't like the feel of the camera and having to hunt for the controls, so with less the 5000 shots I p/ex'd it for a D7100 and wow what a difference that made, so much more like the D300 that TBH that has now become the 2nd body.
Buffer rate has never been an issue for me as I rarely if ever use machine gun mode
 
I think you need to go FF beyond the d300s the d7000/7100 are more of a sideways step rather than up unless you need more modern features, unless Nikon bring out the d400 there is only ff to go to.Personally I'll be getting the canon 70d when I decide to change if nothing else appears on the scene
 
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I went from a D90 to a D300s and love it the IQ is not much different but the controls and feel are much better.I have since gone to a D7100 which is very similar to the D90 but with much better performance all round and I would go down that road if I were you:)
 
IQ wise I don't feel there's a lot between any of them depends
on what lenses you have, how bigger prints you want or are an intense pixel peeper which most neither need to pixel peep or need door sized prints
 
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Much as I loved the D90, I always wished I'd spent a bit more to get the D300s at the time. I loved the ergonomics and on-body controls of the D200, it should have been my next step. But I got a great deal on a 6mth old D90, couldn't refuse.

As important as ergonomics are, nowadays I'd rather opt for the D7100. It may not be quite as sturdy or nice to hold [for anyone that prefers a little heft and sturdiness, I know I do] but end result is even more important I feel. If you tend to shoot a bit at higher ISO, then new tech > old comfort.
 
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