Chris Ventura wrote:
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.
Sure it does at 100% crop. Go look at the comparison at the review done by Dpreview.
Always hard to get honest answers on camera comparisons.
The more expensive camera owners are going to try and justify their purchase.
Both sides will knock the other when they have not even tried the other camera.
Then there are the trolls that come in that have never used either and knock both.
I've had both and the D7000 is the clear winner "for my use" except in one way.
Higher resolution shows user error more better.
Starlightbreakr wrote:
now i really want what you're smoking there.
even iso 3200 on d7000 is still better than d300/s at 1600.
Not to me. I prefer the D300s file due to detail and clarity where the D7000 is smeared.
Order a Nikon D700 and shoot with that camera at high ISO for a year. Then order a D3s and shoot that camera for several weeks. That's pretty much what I've been smoking for the past year.
We can all read reviews at DP Review. I'm sure the OP can too - I doubt he was asking for anyone with no experience of these bodies to comment with what's clearly available elsewhere.
I expect he was really looking for feedback from people who had used both bodies and could offer a balanced opinion ....
honorerdieu, it seems your sole experience is from what you read over at DP Review. If you'd ever used both bodies you'd realise that the D7000's high ISO image quality is better than the D300s. If you need convincing, have a look at the objective data over at DxOMark. The D7000 is a stop ahead of the D300s for the same SNR.
Imagemaster, your comment regarding CF cards and SD cards implied that the D300s only took CF cards. When Will (trenchmonkey) called you on it, light-heartedly, I hasten to add, your reply was hardly mature. Then when it rattled him, you accused him of being childish.
I have always found Will to be one of the most reasonable and helpful individuals around here. He shoots great pics and makes a living doing so.
Internet forums seem to be full of armchair experts these days who offer opinions on gear they've probably never seen, let alone used in anger in the field. If someone's asking for a view on a D80, D300/s, a D700 or a D7000, I might chip in having owned/used all of them. I won't offer opinions on any other model that I haven't.
My main focus is wildlife these days - the D7000 gives great image quality at the ISO settings I use, and lets me make huge prints. AF performance isn't lacking either. The quiet mode is great for birding too.
The D300s has the edge in AF performance and better buffer in 12bit, loses the edge in image quality to the D7000, so is probably better for action sports.
Now if you want great AF, fantastic low light performance and buffer depth without breaking the bank, the D700 is the winner. Glass will cost you big time though if you need reach. It's not ideal for wildlife IMHO - not enough pixels to crop, you need huge lenses, and the shutter is about as quiet as an AK-47.
Thanks for the opinions guys.
I think i should suggest him go for the D7000. From those you said (most of you at least) and checking the DXOMark also, the D7000 must be better in most aspects.
I don't think the highest buffer of the D300s is something to really consider for wildlife shooting. This is a must in sports photography, but for wildlife i will agree with Graeme If you can't nail a shot in 10 frames, you won't nail it in 15 or 20......
As for the larger size and feel on the hand, this is something i should consider since i am used to shoot with larger bodies, but for my friend who uses the D3100 and he doesn't know the feeling from a semi-pro or pro body there won't be a problem.
And maybe the most important is that he can buy the D7000 for 300 euros less here in Greece, and getting a body better in most aspects than the D300s.
George
I expect he was really looking for feedback from people who had used both bodies and could offer a balanced opinion ....
Graeme, you are right about that, i do prefer to hear the opinions from people who used both cameras..
Jack, thanks for your great images! I am impressed! Can you please tell the lens you used for those shots??
George
honorerdieu wrote:
Not to me. I prefer the D300s file due to detail and clarity where the D7000 is smeared.
Are you talking about jpegs SOOC? If you are, then you're not comparing apples with apples. Even with high ISO NR set to off, the D7000 still applies some NR at ISO 1600 and above for in-camera processed images. It's in-camera NR is quite aggressive and detail is lost. Much better results can be obtained in RAW processing with decent software.
Thanks Will. Been trying hard for a couple of months to get a shot like this. Need a clear blue sky to get good contrast, and they fly in weird circles on the thermals, so not easy to track with a 500!
I let my pocket book pick the D7000 and sold a D700 to get it. I'm not a pro shooter, but I've turned out some awful good pictures with this camera. I just need more real good glass.
I sold a D700 and the short two of the 'Holy Trinity' to buy my D7000/Sigma 500. The D7000 has never disappointed me and it's got me some photos that the D700 would never have pulled off.
D300s AF is better overall
D300s build quality is better
D7000 sensor is better
IMO, it comes down to a couple of things for most people: Is sensor performance more important than AF performance? and if there is no clear answer to this question, which body do you prefer in terms of size and build?
For me, I ended up keeping the D7000 for the better dynamic range and highISO performance and I like the somewhat smaller size for hiking, etc.
I suspect either would get the job done for 99% of those that act like one is a clear winner over the other.
I prefer the newer more advanced AutoFocus system of the D7000.
9 cross type sensors are more than enough for me.
I shoot at 4fps at Events and have never run out of buffer.
I really like the build, handling, and weight of the D7000 better.
The only problem I have with SD cards is that they are easier to loose.
I like being able to put 4 of them including cases in my watch pocket.
And I like being able to use the same card in both slots.
Two things that have not been brought up:
1. Higher resolution shows user error more better.
2. Nikon lowered the default sharpening on the D7000 to help achieve higher ISO performance than the D300.
gfinlayson wrote:
honorerdieu, it seems your sole experience is from what you read over at DP Review. If you'd ever used both bodies you'd realise that the D7000's high ISO image quality is better than the D300s. If you need convincing, have a look at the objective data over at DxOMark. The D7000 is a stop ahead of the D300s for the same SNR.
gfinlayson wrote:
Are you talking about jpegs SOOC? If you are, then you're not comparing apples with apples. Even with high ISO NR set to off, the D7000 still applies some NR at ISO 1600 and above for in-camera processed images. It's in-camera NR is quite aggressive and detail is lost. Much better results can be obtained in RAW processing with decent software.
Actually, I was comparing the studio RAW files at Dpreview. It's a close call and hard to judge the comparison when one is 12 MP and the other is 16 MP.
The high ISO performance on the D7000 *is* impressive and in no way I was knocking the camera. For me, my priority is having some detail and clarity at high ISO, which is why I sold the D700 in favor of the D3s.
Generally, the D300s will prove better in the more challenging conditions. Af is snappier in most situations, esp. lower light. Body feels better to hold.
However, I have just sold my trusty D300s' and kept the D7k's for now. Partly because what I shoot most of (people/events) does better with the higher MP and the better ISO performance. I do well with Nikon glass on them, but if you try the third party lenses, they don't do as well for some reason (af speed).
That said, I have a Tamron 17-50/2.8VC that while slower on the D7k than the 17-55 Nikon, is more accurate on more occasions?
Another benefit for us, the dual cards are both SD/SDXC. We use them with 2x 32gb cards and shoot raw, so this is easier for us too.
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. 
