Hello everyone,
i am a Canon user, and i would like some help and info for a friend who currently has a Nikon D3100 with an AF-S 300 f/4 lens and a 1,4x Extender.
He will get a 2nd body mainly for wildlife photography. I told him there are 2 Nikon bodies which meet his needs, the D300s and the newer D7000.
I 've checked the specs of the 2 bodies, and the best seems to be the D7000. I am suprised about that because it's also less expensive..
Can you tell me the reason that the D300s is more expensive and the same time it seems to be less performing than the D7000?
Also, which body should he buy finally and what should we consider as advantages and disantvantages of the 2 bodies?
Anyone who also uses Canon cameras can he make a comparison of the 2 Nikon bodies to the Canon 7D?
Mostly interested in Image Quality, ISO performance and AF system capabilities.
Thanks in advance for your help,
George
D300s has better ISO performance due to better pixel quality. The D7000 has higher MP, but is noisier compared to the former. The D300s also has a larger buffer and 51 pts for AF.
Though I agree with the above comment on AF copabilities, from extensive testing (though I have not published this as there are many articles about this debating it online), I have noted that the d7000 has a slight edge in iso performance, especially when downsized to 12mp. Nothing too drastic , not a deal breaker, but better nonetheless. Also the d7000 seemed, for what ever reason to expose better and have better detail in the highlights and exposed correctly more often though this may be related to my test bodies as I only had one model of each to try out.
I'm a canon shooter that has shot with the D300 and the D300s quite a bit. From a size standpoint, the 7D and the D300s would be comparable and the D7000 would probably be between the Canon T3i and the 7D. While I have not shot with the D7000 yet, a friend of mine just got one and I had a chance to handle it a bit...Very stout little body and almost all of the controls and a similar layout to the D300(s). The build felt on par with the D300 bodies. The D7000 is a fairly new camera which explains why in many ways it out-spec's the D300s. You will find plenty of debates here about which camera to get...the D300s vs. D7000 and from my limited time with the D7000, I can totally see why. It really seems like a slightly shrunken D300s. While others will be able to better comment on IQ, AF and ISO as it compares to the D300s probably the biggest difference from my point of view will be size and AF. The D300s is a beefy body that balances larger lens well and feels great in the hand. I would imagine a larger handed shooter might feel a bit cramped with the D7000. The D7000 sure seems like it will do the job the D300s will do and you will be lugging around less weight and bulk. Another thing to consider, the video (as I recall) is better on the D7000 if that makes a difference and the D300s is likely due for replacement a lot sooner than the D7000... I hope that helps a little bit
I reread my posts and it sounds like I was knocking on the d300s. Let me point out the better parts about it
I use a grip on my 7000 so size is nice, however that's an added expense so I would say out of the box the 300s handles better.
For BIF the tracking and focus points on the 300s are superior to the 7000.
Personally I'd take the D300s. It is a solid camera. Great used bargain camera too! D7000 felt small and consumer feeling. The D300s has some heft to it. Great because it help balances out when you attach a super-tele on it for long range wildlife photography. However the d7000 is more modern and is a natural progression from the D3100.
Best is to have your friend try both cameras and see which one he prefers.
D7000 has better image quality (DxO rating on Bit depth, iso performance, dynamic range resolution, newer technology), D300s has better build quality and buffer size but these things are not bad on the D7000 either.
You can't go wrong with the D7000. The speed and buffer are more than enough for BIF
This was taken with a 300 4.5 manual focus lens and I was able to shoot a dozen shots at high speed and it didn't miss a one. This is cropped as well. Dynamic range is wonderful
The D7000 sensor outperforms the D300s in terms of colour, detail, dynamic range and low light. Check the details over at DxOMark if you don't believe me. Sure, the D300s has more AF points (51 vs 39) than the D7000, but you could never describe the D7000's AF performance as lacking. It's never let me down photographing birds in flight.
Lots of people wax lyrical about the D300s' greater buffer depth, but try it out in 14bit RAW mode - The D7000 smokes it in frame rate. In 12 bit, the D300s is faster, but I get 10-11 frames at 5fps in full-on 14bit RAW before the D7000 slows down. If you can't nail a shot in 10 frames, you won't nail it in 15 or 20......
I can't see any argument for recommending the D300s over the D7000. Build quality of the D7000 is great, there's a fair chunk of magnesium alloy in the body and it's weather sealed too. A little smaller and lighter than the D300s, granted, but gripped it's a really nice fit in the hand. As far as feel with super-teles, mine spends most of it's time hung on the back of a Sigma 500mm f/4.5 - it doesn't feel dinky on there at all.
The D7000 is newer, more advanced, with better sensor technology. It's a no-brainer.
Having had several of each over the years, it's more of the right tool for the job at hand.
We don't know what or how he shoots so my take as a working pro (team roping/BIF)
if you need 7 or 8 fps, shoot with TC's, work in tough conditions go with the D300s.
High ISO, landscape, lightweight stuff...the D7K is your body. See, NO pat answer.
edit: they are about the same price now on the used market (MSRP, was a few hundred different)
Are you smoking crack Have you used both bodies? If so, your D7000 needs to be sent back because I can assure you that the D300s does NOT have better High ISO noise performance.
honorerdieu wrote:
D300s has better ISO performance due to better pixel quality. The D7000 has higher MP, but is noisier compared to the former. The D300s also has a larger buffer and 51 pts for AF.
honorerdieu wrote:
D300s has better ISO performance due to better pixel quality. The D7000 has higher MP, but is noisier compared to the former. The D300s also has a larger buffer and 51 pts for AF.
Have you even used the two cameras
D7000's high ISO is at least a stop better than the D300.
Please don't give inaccurate info to other people.
