Today i made my decision and purchased the D2Xs.
My reasons:
1. Real Pro Body for less than $1000 because Nikon does not stop making new products.
2. IQ quality at 100-400 ISO which allows cropping with good quality.
3. I enjoy using obsolete technology.
4. I think it is fun to go against the main stream.
5. This thread is very informative and inspiring.
6. When the D2Xs was just introduced i though that 12 Mp is good enough for me.
7. The last breed of DX Pro Body
8. Crop Mode with further reach
9. I am overwhelmed when i view samples images from this camera.
10. New Toy to play with.
11. Shall not be distracted by D7xxx line of semi-pro Pro "emulators" Bodies
The OP started the thread like 5 years ago. I would have chosen the D300 because it is already obsolete by now. Is a newer technology than the D2 series. Pro body is nice but after a while it gets unnecessary big, especially if you don't want to get noticed. If you are thinking about the D300, which means you have the budget for the D7000 too.
Lol way to dig up an old thread lol...in case anyone is considering a D2x or D300 TODAY....no question the d300...the screen alone and the AF system, and having AF fine tune are the top 3 reasons the d300 destroys the d2x....even in 2009...,wish i could have replied back then to save the OP the trouble...
I use a D2Xs and a D300 for sports photography. I always prefer the D2Xs:
- Nicer colours out of the camera
- More responsive shutter
- Much better build quality
- Battery lasts forever. Same battery can be used with the D300 with the vertical grip, but then it's larger than the D2Xs.
- Faster AF with old AF lenses
- Better ergonomics
- The crop mode is a blast
- Doubles as a weapon
- Looks much, much cooler
High ISO is better with the D300, but they are both bad in that area (which is why I have a D700 as well). Even a low mileage D2Xs can be bought for around $500 now. If that isn't a bargain for a camera that will last for a lifetime in an amateur's hands, I don't know what is.
NathanHamler wrote:
Lol way to dig up an old thread lol...in case anyone is considering a D2x or D300 TODAY....no question the d300...the screen alone and the AF system, and having AF fine tune are the top 3 reasons the d300 destroys the d2x....even in 2009...,wish i could have replied back then to save the OP the trouble...
Agree on the resurrection of a 4 1/2 yr old thread and the D300's ability to AF fine tune is great, the LCD's
no biggie as long as I can see the histo. The AF on the D2Xs is every bit as fast in good light...with better
AF point distribution. Here's the kicker (if you've read this far) I had 3 D300's and 2 D300s bodys in those
last 5 yrs along with a D2Xs...guess which one I STILL have?! Mine's SO good, that I use it when I first
get a new lens...to determine how good a copy I've gotten. Then it's tweak time on my other 5 (all with that
feature) Makes ya wonder...my D3/D700 require very minimal adjustment (if any) but the newer D800, D7K,
and D7100 are all over the place in that regard. I shoot Nikon's best glass and Sigma "A's". Suffice it to say...
the D2X/D2Xs is STILL an awesome tool in the right hands and good light. Nikon REALLY nailed this one.
edit: went out today but nothing was flying...so I played on the ditchbank.
Handheld 100% crop w/80-400G
Try to crop D300/s image. I cropped D300s nice and sharp image to 2MP but the IQ of the cropped image is far from 2MP cropped D2Xs Image.
All the Semi-Pro cameras can deliver superb images but cropping? I think the D2,3,4 are the right choice and the D2Xs is a perfect choice if you stay within 100-400 ISO
The D2X is also one of the few cameras that do Asian skin tones correct straight out of the box. Here's one from last weekend, shot with the D2Xs and the Nikkor 300mm f/4 AF @ f/5.6:
I would have chosen the D300 because it is already obsolete by now. Is a newer technology than the D2 series. Pro body is nice but after a while it gets unnecessary big, especially if you don't want to get noticed. If you are thinking about the D300, which means you have the budget for the D7000 too. 
Mine's SO good, that I use it when I first
