From Nikon
Engineered with pro-level features and performance, the 12.3-effective-megapixel D300 combines brand new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon's newly announced D3 professional digital SLR camera to offer serious photographers remarkable performance combined with agility.
Similar to the D3, the D300 features Nikon's exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera's new features. The D300 features a new 51-point autofocus system with Nikon's 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera's high-resolution LCD monitor. The D300 shares a similar Scene Recognition System as is found in the D3; it promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of autofocus, autoexposure, and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions.
The D300 reacts with lightning speed, powering up in a mere 0.13 seconds and shooting with an imperceptible 45-millisecond shutter release lag time. The D300 is capable of shooting at a rapid six frames per second and can go as fast as eight frames per second when using the optional MB-D10 multi-power battery pack. In continuous bursts, the D300 can shoot up to 100 shots at full 12.3-megapixel resolution. (NORMAL-LARGE image setting, using a SanDisk Extreme IV 1GB CompactFlash card.)
I have a D100 to compare my new D300.. The D300 is so far more advanced that I feel like a little kid playing with a toy. The ability to take good pictures in low light without a flash using a very high ISO and pushing the compensation settings to 1.7 makes it a pleasure. I visit museums that don't allow flash and now have some really good pictures of my subjects. I use the burst speed and continuous focus for my radio control car racing and have great pictures almost movie like. I like the large viewer and the amazing number of choices that can be programmed. The dials are conveniently located. The only drawback is that I can't use my Capture 4 software with the D300.