Do I get the D300? Help A.S.A.P.

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alex_m90

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Basically I need other people to help me make my difficult decision. This is where I stand currently. I have a D40X, a Sigma 10-20mm, an Nikon 18-55 kit lens, Nikon 70-300 VR and a Tamron 90mm macro.

I am really into sports photography, and have been doing sunday league of my local teams. This sunday however I have been asked to cover QPR at their home game this weekend. My lenses aren't great for sport with 300mm being 5.6. I could spend the money on a better lens but I find that the poor iso performance at hi isos and the few fps offered by the D40X are limiting me.

Its a daytime game but high iso may be required to get the shutter speed up to at least 1/500 required.

What I want to know is this:

1) Will the higher iso settings on the D300 be noticeably less noisy than on my D40X meaning that night photography of sports actually results in acceptably quality images?

2) If you were in my situation, would you upgrade to the D300 and why?

Also my interests are not only in sports photography. I like all sorts but my interest in sports photography is what I am persuing at the moment.

Please advise me so that based on my decision I can buy it at 9am tomorrow from Jessops :D
 
1) yes
2) i was and did because I want to freeze action with cheaper lenses, have a huge LCD, have exposure bracketing (for HDR shots) and be able to meter through any old lens. Also, AF is amazing on the D300 especially for tracking moving stuff :)

go for it (if you can afford it, its a great toy) and if you dont like it then take it back or sell it!
 
Sgt_Major said:
I own a D300 and the higher iso quality is brilliant.

doesnt compare to the D3, but at 1/3 of the price I can accept that.
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Sadly on a student budget I cannot even consider the D3. Hopefully there will be a day when I can though :D

What camera did you own before and how does the high iso capabilities compare to your old camera. What point is it at which without using any PP noise reduction the images look unnaceptable on a 17" screen or in print?

Thanks for the quick reply! I knew I could rely on you guys to help me! :lol:
 
I've shot with a D40 and the D300 and the latter is miles ahead, I would list all the ways that it's a better camera, but let's just say night and day.......
 
theory said:
1) yes
2) i was and did because I want to freeze action with cheaper lenses, have a huge LCD, have exposure bracketing (for HDR shots) and be able to meter through any old lens. Also, AF is amazing on the D300 especially for tracking moving stuff :)

go for it (if you can afford it, its a great toy) and if you dont like it then take it back or sell it!
Click to expand...

I can just about afford it. Limited beer drinking in freshers week though! :lol: Hopefully doing more football photography will allow me to cover the cost eventually, and then when I become more experienced invest in the faster glass. That seems a long time away though!

Would one single battery last the length of a football match?
Also what size are the full size jpegs file sizes that D300 outputs and also how much can I expect to pay for a 2GB/4GB CF card in a highstreet store?
Dont have time for internet shopping now sadly! :'(
 
I have the D3's predecessor - the £3,450 (RRP when launched) D2Xs, and I'd hate to use it past 400 ISO (though it's simply brilliant for everything else)

I have the D300 too which I bought principally for higher ISO capabilities. I regularly shoot it at 1,600 ISO and I'm happy enough with the results. But it's a far better camera in other respects too than I was expecting

Without a (huge) Lottery win and having nothing else to do with the money I WON'T be needing a D3 anytime soon as there's just no need

My next serious upgrade will have to be a D4 or even D5 methinks before it's worth it

HTH

DD
 
In the space of 14 minutes I have convinced myself to spend the £900-odd on the D300 body only in Jessops tomorrow!

Anybody got any ideas how to get some money off Jessops in store tomorrow?:'(
 
alex_m90 said:
Would one single battery last the length of a football match?
Also what size are the full size jpegs file sizes that D300 outputs and also how much can I expect to pay for a 2GB/4GB CF card in a highstreet store?
Dont have time for internet shopping now sadly! :'(
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1 battery lasts me about 1000 shots.

I shoot in RAW, and they are 10-12MB each - dunno about jpeg.

I bought a 4gb card in jessops for £54
 
alex_m90 said:
I can just about afford it. Limited beer drinking in freshers week though! :lol: Hopefully doing more football photography will allow me to cover the cost eventually, and then when I become more experienced invest in the faster glass. That seems a long time away though!

Would one single battery last the length of a football match?
Also what size are the full size jpegs file sizes that D300 outputs and also how much can I expect to pay for a 2GB/4GB CF card in a highstreet store?
Dont have time for internet shopping now sadly! :'(
Click to expand...

If you're after low light shots you need raw not jpeg

raw files are typically 19mb so a 4gb card shoots about 198 of them; if you must shoot jpeg, they are typically 9mb - so 370 ish per 4gb

4gb cards are about £17 now online, possibly double instore

DD
The D300 battery will easily last for a footie match
 
JPG's were about 5 or 6MB I think... (at biggest and finest quality)

Compact Flash is pricey in the high street so get someone else to buy off the net for you. Mobymemory got me some good prices, I think I bought a 4GB Sandisk extreme III for about £20 (compare with jessops prices I'm sure that'd be £50 or so) and the batteries last a very long time - easily enough for a few footy matches I'm sure!

Does the D90 not cause a problem with you? As its going to be out soon and has cause issue for many others thinking about maybe getting a D300. Sorry for pointing that out btw. You may hate me now :)
 
Sgt_Major said:
I shoot in RAW, and they are 10-12MB each - dunno about jpeg.
Click to expand...

:thinking::thinking::thinking:

Have have the D2Xs & D300 next to me now - both with 4gb cards - both say 197 & 198 images potential = 19 and a smidge mb each

How odd then that yours are different :shrug:

Oh, and £54 :eek::eek::eek:

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
If you're after low light shots you need raw not jpeg

raw files are typically 19mb so a 4gb card shoots about 198 of them; if you must shoot jpeg, they are typically 9mb - so 370 ish per 4gb

4gb cards are about £17 now online, possibly double instore

DD
The D300 battery will easily last for a footie match
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I normally do shoot raw, and have done for every football match until this coming up one, but the sports editor advised that I shoot in jpeg as it means longer bursts possible (the D40X buffer is tiny meaning bursts of more than 3 pics on an extreme 3 SD is almost impossible!) Would this not be an issue on the D300 then?
He also said that it would mean less PP work for me which is very thoughtful of him to think for me! :lol:

Guess forking out for a grip will also be another essential purchase along with a few CFs!

Just like to say thanks so far for everybody who has helped and advised me so far. I really appreciate it!
 
theory said:
JPG's were about 5 or 6MB I think... (at biggest and finest quality)
Click to expand...

Again - how odd you say that

Mine (sat here) says 369 on a 4gb card at jpeg Fine = 10.8mb

(though they are loads smaller in the studio for obvious reasons)

Is mine bust or something to create so much bigger files than you're suggesting!!!

:D

DD
 
theory said:
JPG's were about 5 or 6MB I think... (at biggest and finest quality)

Compact Flash is pricey in the high street so get someone else to buy off the net for you. Mobymemory got me some good prices, I think I bought a 4GB Sandisk extreme III for about £20 (compare with jessops prices I'm sure that'd be £50 or so) and the batteries last a very long time - easily enough for a few footy matches I'm sure!

Does the D90 not cause a problem with you? As its going to be out soon and has cause issue for many others thinking about maybe getting a D300. Sorry for pointing that out btw. You may hate me now :)
Click to expand...

I can easily buy them online, but its the fact that I need it for sunday and with delivery times I think it would be difficult to get it in time! :'(

The D90 issue is a big one for me, but I feel that the D300 is really great, and has been out for a while with any bugs fixed. A new D90 could be slightly problematic and also would be difficult to get hold of for sunday without tarnishing my clean criminal record! :lol:
 
alex_m90 said:
In the space of 14 minutes I have convinced myself to spend the £900-odd on the D300 body only in Jessops tomorrow!

Anybody got any ideas how to get some money off Jessops in store tomorrow?:'(
Click to expand...

Buy online with collect at store option. There might be a discount code kicking about that would save you some money, but I couldn't find one when I had a quick look there.

It says on the site that the shops won't match the online price, but I'm just back from my local Jessops and they will do it, so either way it's £924 for your D300 tomorrow, unless you get a code to work ;)
 
DiddyDave said:
Again - how odd you say that

Mine (sat here) says 369 on a 4gb card at jpeg Fine = 10.8mb

(though they are loads smaller in the studio for obvious reasons)

Is mine bust or something to create so much bigger files than you're suggesting!!!

:D

DD
Click to expand...


Even my D40X after just checking created Large Fine Jpegs of 9mb. Is it possible not both size and quality increased to full? They are both options on the D40X. Not sure if its the same with the D300? :eek:
 
alex_m90 said:
Even my D40X after just checking created Large Fine Jpegs of 9mb. Is it possible not both size and quality increased to full? They are both options on the D40X. Not sure if its the same with the D300? :eek:
Click to expand...

It may be what you shot though - jpegs are compressed files so where there's lots of the same teh file size is smaller

Example - I can happily shoot jpegs in the studio as I know the exposure is okay, if I shoot on a gradient background I get about 370 shots on a 4gb card, but on a white background I've shot over 600 on the same card and it still showed more than 70 available

Other than that - no idea !!! :lol:

DD
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Buy online with collect at store option. There might be a discount code kicking about that would save you some money, but I couldn't find one when I had a quick look there.

It says on the site that the shops won't match the online price, but I'm just back from my local Jessops and they will do it, so either way it's £924 for your D300 tomorrow, unless you get a code to work ;)
Click to expand...

Added the item to basket. Entered code "DISCOUNT40" which was accepted and listed above as £40 off, but it does not show the price change at all.

Does anyone know the in-store price of the D300? :D
 
DiddyDave said:
It may be what you shot though - jpegs are compressed files so where there's lots of the same teh file size is smaller

Example - I can happily shoot jpegs in the studio as I know the exposure is okay, if I shoot on a gradient background I get about 370 shots on a 4gb card, but on a white background I've shot over 600 on the same card and it still showed more than 70 available

Other than that - no idea !!! :lol:

DD
Click to expand...


:eek: I didn't know that! Very interesting how a simple difference impacts so much on how many you can fit on a card!
 
Yeah, I tried it as well and it didn't work for me either :lol: I'm off to jessops in a minute to pick up a lens (ordered on line, saved £50 :) making it cheaper than an HK import) so I'll get the shop price of the D300 for you whilst I'm there
 
alex_m90 said:
Added the item to basket. Entered code "DISCOUNT40" which was accepted and listed above as £40 off, but it does not show the price change at all.

Does anyone know the in-store price of the D300? :D
Click to expand...

alas most of these DISCOUNT codes dont apply to SLRs... i think you'll be able to get a tenner off with one of the others maybe? There is a website (link pasted below) that can help out find the cheapest deals but something that may be worth doing is saying to the guy in store that the Jessops webbie is broken and you couldn't make the £40 off voucher work... it worked for someone I know as he didn't realise that DISCOUNT40 code wasn't for SLRs and just discounted it. :)

It says here that it's £924.99 which is damn good imo!
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod585.html
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Yeah, I tried it as well and it didn't work for me either :lol: I'm off to jessops in a minute to pick up a lens (ordered on line, saved £50 :) making it cheaper than an HK import) so I'll get the shop price of the D300 for you whilst I'm there
Click to expand...

What lens? :D And cheers for that :thumbs:
 
theory said:
alas most of these things dont apply to slrs... i think you'll be able to get a tenner off with one of them maybe? there is a website that can help out but something that may be worth doing is saying to the guy in store that the webbie is broken and you couldn't make the £40 off voucher work that you read in a mag... it worked for someone I know as he didn't realise that DISCOUNT40 code wasn't for SLRs.
Click to expand...

Good thinking! I went in today for a monopod and they seemed really friendly. If I say that it didnt work and that I had £40 off the website price being £884. Then after that I will try and get discount (even though my blooming student discount card hasn't turned up yet!) by showing them my university documents and then hopefully I can get a little bit more off. If its the same as the 5% off that Amazon do then it would be £840 which isn't bad at all!

They may say no to all of that and make me pay near to £1000 which is probably what the in store price is though! :lol:
 
I know I got £55 off my D300 using a code, plus it was £45 cheaper online. Then the price dropped by £100 2 days later :bonk: Went back and the manager gave me £100 cash, so I ended up saving £200 :D
 
I'm surprised no-one has asked you what is happening to the pictures?
Do you need to shoot in a high quality file?
I wouldn't have thought so if they are going to only be shown on-line.
Do newspapers require a mega file size to print at their quality?
I don't know the answers - perhaps someone else can advise before Alex goes out and over-pays in store on un-needed cards?
 
davekiddle said:
I'm surprised no-one has asked you what is happening to the pictures?
Do you need to shoot in a high quality file?
I wouldn't have thought so if they are going to only be shown on-line.
Do newspapers require a mega file size to print at their quality?
I don't know the answers - perhaps someone else can advise before Alex goes out and over-pays in store on un-needed cards?
Click to expand...

They are going to printed in the newspaper. Its a local one but I also want to get more serious on photography and I think sports photography would be a good thing to get into whilst at university, as its quite flexible and something I enjoy. If I can have a detailed and comprehensive portfolio to show to publications when I am at university then it may enable me to get some work as a football/sports photographer which I would love. If it doesn't get that serious then its a hobby I really enjoy and I enjoy seeing my pictures in print (only happened 3 times before but its nice! :D)
 
davekiddle said:
I'm surprised no-one has asked you what is happening to the pictures?
Do you need to shoot in a high quality file?
I wouldn't have thought so if they are going to only be shown on-line.
Do newspapers require a mega file size to print at their quality?
I don't know the answers - perhaps someone else can advise before Alex goes out and over-pays in store on un-needed cards?
Click to expand...

To get the best from a low light shoot he (we all) need the best chance of success we can, and that can mean still pushing the image

A small jpeg will give thousands of images on a 4gb card, and if the exposure if a bit off he's stuffed for quality

Only raw can give the extra dynamic range that could make the difference between a good shot and an 'if only'

raw files are big - hence 4gb needed to give just 197 on a D300; if it is bright enough, then a jpeg Fine (top quality) may be acceptable, anything less and you've wasted your money on such a good camera

HTH :shrug:

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
To get the best from a low light shoot he (we all) need the best chance of success we can, and that can mean still pushing the image

A small jpeg will give thousands of images on a 4gb card, and if the exposure if a bit off he's stuffed for quality

Only raw can give the extra dynamic range that could make the difference between a good shot and an 'if only'

raw files are big - hence 4gb needed to give just 197 on a D300; if it is bright enough, then a jpeg Fine (top quality) may be acceptable, anything less and you've wasted your money on such a good camera

HTH :shrug:

DD
Click to expand...

Yep - fair comment! :)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Just back from Jessops- shop price is the same as the website....
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Cheers! Looks like I will have to try and do a bit or bargaining. Has anyone had any success with that at Jessops before?

What lens did you get btw? :D Make me jealous! :lol:
 
:D

My £54 card was the 1st CF card I'd bought, and had no real idea how much they were, cos the mrs surprised me by walkin me into jessops and saying "Buy that D-whatever it is you want"

Needless to say I didnt pay that for my next one :p
 
Just got my D300 today and it's lovely, I knew my D80 inside and out but this puppy still has a learning curve!

I was torn between getting an Extreme III or IV CF card. In the end I ordered an 8Gb IV for £67. I'm glad I did because at the moment I'm using it with a borrowed Extreme III and the shot navigation is a bit slower than my D80 with a Class 6 SD, hopefully that will improve a bit when the E-IV arrives. Hope that helps with the CF selection Alex.
 
kalibre said:
Just got my D300 today and it's lovely, I knew my D80 inside and out but this puppy still has a learning curve!

I was torn between getting an Extreme III or IV CF card. In the end I ordered an 8Gb IV for £67. I'm glad I did because at the moment I'm using it with a borrowed Extreme III and the shot navigation is a bit slower than my D80 with a Class 6 SD, hopefully that will improve a bit when the E-IV arrives. Hope that helps with the CF selection Alex.
Click to expand...

Yeah deffo has! I will get one 8GB from Jessops as I have no alternative and then grab a few more online for a much better price.

Its also made me one hell of a lot more jealous! :lol:
 
alex_m90 said:
Cheers! Looks like I will have to try and do a bit or bargaining. Has anyone had any success with that at Jessops before?

What lens did you get btw? :D Make me jealous! :lol:
Click to expand...

Sigma 105mm macro...just had a quick play with it, looks as if it will be a nice lens to use :)
 
alex_m90 said:
Yeah deffo has! I will get one 8GB from Jessops as I have no alternative and then grab a few more online for a much better price.

Its also made me one hell of a lot more jealous! :lol:
Click to expand...

lol, I wouldn't get an 8Gb E-IV from Jessops mate they'll screw you over for it (Probably £150 or something.) If it's IVs you definately want then get a small one from Jessops or something slower then order online. Saying that, I know how hard it is to wait for stuff to arrive!

You'll be grinning from ear to ear I'm sure. :D
 
DiddyDave said:
It may be what you shot though - jpegs are compressed files so where there's lots of the same teh file size is smaller

Example - I can happily shoot jpegs in the studio as I know the exposure is okay, if I shoot on a gradient background I get about 370 shots on a 4gb card, but on a white background I've shot over 600 on the same card and it still showed more than 70 available

Other than that - no idea !!! :lol:

DD
Click to expand...

there is an extra menu to assign compression to size priority or optimal quality.

Cant remember exactly where it is though.

Then with raw you have uncompressed, Lossless Compressed and Compressed - then 12 or 14 bit......

Based on the above i woudl imagine the file size varies alot.

I shoot 14 bit raw - lossless compressed and my file size is 14mb.


RE: Jessops Discount

i believe "JESSOPS5" knocks 5% off anything
 
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