What replacement for Nikon D300?

CarMac

CarMac

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Carla
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Looking for suggestions please.

Due to a damaged neck, my D300 is too heavy to use for any length of time, especially with a long lens attached to the front of it.

What would be a suitable replacement?

  • I would like to stay with Nikon.
  • I would ideally like a body with focus motor so I can still use my current set of lenses.
  • I been down the bridge camera root and not looking at those.
  • I already have a D40 which is a cracking camera for its age but with no focus motor I'm limited on what lenses I can use with it. I've also got an S95 and G12 which are great but very limited for the type of things I shoot.

Was thinking maybe a D90 may be a suitable replacement (even though it's a few years old now).

Any thoughts please?
 
Well the D90 will give you similar results to the D300 or maybe the D7000 if you'd also like to get better high ISO shots
 
How does the D7000 compare in terms of size and weight though?
 
Hi Carla

My thoughts are:

Will the weight difference between your D300 and something smaller like a D90/7000 be sufficient enough to make a difference to your comfort?

You have ruled out bridges, but have you considered compact systems with APSC sized sensors, like the Panasonic GF3? Though this may take you away from Nikon.
http://www.wexphotographic.com/compact-system-cameras/b3189

It looks like a D90 (age no matter) or D7000 may be your best choices though to be fair.
 
The D90 and D7000 look as though they sit between the weight of the D300 and my D40. I can carry my D40 around all day without issue (but I do have a very light lens attached to the front of it but this is only 200mm max zoom).

I have looked at the 4/3 market and would need to start again with lenses and accessories etc.

I hadn't considered the D7000....might have to do some more research!

Thanks for the input so far.
 
There is a website about that you can compare models on. Pop the D300 in then look at the alternatives.
 
D7K does video and low light much better than d90 - high iso is awesome
Also has U1 and U2 modes - invaluable

Cheers
 
It's the route I went....d300 to d7000....iq is far better on d7k especially at high ISO. Handling halfway between d90 and d300.
 
what sort of strap do you use,
i have a d300 24-70 2.8 + grip and i use a black rapid strap which i find good.
 
A Blackrapid or similar is very good for spreading weight. And also more prosaically, if the camera is slung over your shoulder instead of your neck, does that help? I very rarely have a camera round my neck for long periods because of the weight do tend to stick it on one shoulder with the lens pointing inwards
 
It's not the carrying (I get my hubby to do that!!), it's the actual lifting and holding of the camera I struggle with, especially if doing a whole day event. If I'm having a particularly bad day neck-wise, I struggle to keep the camera still enough to get decent pictures purely due to the weight. I've been down the route of tripod/monopod etc but I find them too restrictive.

Think I may need to go and try the weight of both bodies, if poss and see how they compare to my D300.
 
What lenses are you using?
 
Lenses are 18-200mm or 70-300mm mainly. These days I mostly use the D40 with 55-200mm (non VR) lens...(as it's very light). This is fine but the length is sometimes a little too short. And, of course, the D40 isn't a patch on the performance of the D300!
 
CarMac said:
It's not the carrying (I get my hubby to do that!!), it's the actual lifting and holding of the camera I struggle with, especially if doing a whole day event. If I'm having a particularly bad day neck-wise, I struggle to keep the camera still enough to get decent pictures purely due to the weight. I've been down the route of tripod/monopod etc but I find them too restrictive.

Think I may need to go and try the weight of both bodies, if poss and see how they compare to my D300.
Click to expand...

Can you just put the camera on a tripod and leave it there? It will save lifting repetitively. Alternatively attach it to a CF monopod and leave it attached then carry it waste height should make it easier?
 
I know exactly how it feels, I suffer from back and neck pain too. I had major surgery on my lower back a few years back, still killing me today.

I use a BR sport strap, and that has improved things considerably. I couldn't use a normal neck strap,not with anything bigger than a kit lens. I also get strain from repeatedly lifting the camera and crouching into it, so I get you on that. But I'm stubborn, and pop some pain killers before I head out. As I'll use heavy enough combinations at times, hand held [who wants to be confined to a tri or mono pod?]

Up until a few months back I was using the D90, cracking little camera. Much lighter than what I use now. With the lenses you use, and a black rapid strap, you should feel some relief with one, ony hold the camera up when you know you're going to shoot. Sounds obvious, but it works. We often hold the camera up at the ready, when we're not even shooting.
 
Thanks very much for the input.

Digifrog, motorsport doesn't work for me using a tripod. I've tried a monopod in the past but, again, I find it restrictive.

Cagey75 - nice to find someone who knows exactly where I'm coming from! :) I think I might have to try the weight of a D90 and see how it compares to the 300.
 
The D7000 is about 150g lighter than a D300 and the the D90 is 200g lighter than the D300 so there isn't much in it.

I think the D7000 would serve you well, it is a very capable camera.
 
Stephen - thanks. Think I need to feel the weight of the possible contenders to get an idea.

Steve - thanks for the links. I've actually gone (literally just....to give it a try) 4/3 to replace the D40 but still need something for the D300!
 
CarMac said:
Digifrog, motorsport doesn't work for me using a tripod. I've tried a monopod in the past but, again, I find it restrictive.
Click to expand...

Have you tried a monopod with one of those cup things that you clip to your belt? It's less restrictive than a monopod on it's own, but you're still shifting the weight of the camera away from your arms.

[This starts sounding weird, stick with me]
If you have a Lowepro bag, and it came with a tripod holder - you can use that for the same effect, at least to try it out. I'm sure other bags use a similar type arrangement...
 
Not sure I get what you mean. Any more info?
 
The differences in the weight of bodies is negligible, youre not going to notice a 200g saving, it's the lenses that are heavy, keep the D300 and change the lenses for lighter ones


I had a canon 70-200 f/2.8 , I now have a 70-200 f/4 I can't see any difference in the pictures but my neck isn't aching any more
 
The lightest lens I've found is the 55-200 (non VR) which is what I use on the D40 but it's not long enough for a lot of the stuff I do. The lenses I usually have on the D300 are either 18-200mm VR or the 70-300 VR. I've not found anything lighter unless somebody can shed any light on a lighter alternative?

I'll check out the belt pouch thing - thanks.
 
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