Underwhelmed but happy about the new Nikons

[johnaalex]

The D300s has been announced and I am happy that it seems to offer me no compelling reason to upgrade as I am not interested in video. I wonder when the D400 will be unveiled?

That new 70-200 2.8 VR2 looks a bit interesting though...

[kBm]

Yeah, the 's' just seems to be playing to the upgradeitis syndrome that we all suffer from time to time. If video is their biggest draw -meh I've got a HD camcorder.

Dual card slots - I can't see the benefit of the funciton. If someone would like to enlighten me...

7fps - ok, bit faster which is nice. Is this a huge difference over 6fps, you still need the battery grip to get the 8fps. (Plus of course, there is still the 'hack' to get 8fps without the grip.)

If i was buying new - you could get a great bargin on a D300, without paying full price for the D300s. If i was to upgrade, it would be the D700, not the D300s.

Edit; Hands on look from DPreview

Also, the 70-200 2.8 sounds great but at RRP of £1999 - yeah, in my dreams!

[Radiohead]

Originally Posted by kBm

Dual card slots - I can't see the benefit of the funciton. If someone would like to enlighten me...

3 options:

1) On-the-fly writes to both cards to give you redundancy for critical one-off events.

2) Write to one card then to the next - can avoid swapping cards

3) Write RAW to one and JPG to the other for immediate download of shots without PP if needed.

[lmccauley]

Originally Posted by Radiohead

1) On-the-fly writes to both cards to give you redundancy for critical one-off events.

I presume this is critical for anyone doing wedding photography?

[SkyCaptain]

In two minds about the 300s. Coming from a D60 either a 300 or s would be a very nice upgrade. Not in the slightest bit interested in the Video as ive a perfectly good HD camcorder that does that for me, so i might just hope to get a 300 for a few hundred quid off before the stock runs out, the second hand price seems to be around 800 at the moment, if i can get a good one for 600 then i'd be a happy bunny

[iGiDK]

Just goes to show how good a camera the D300 is in the first place, I don't think there are any other crop bodies that surpass the D300/D300s featureset and performance.

Good to see they avoided the urge to bump up the MP count

[marchand]

Sadly I think Canon will do the same:

60D -> 50D with 1080p Video
2000D -> 450D leftovers with 720p Video

[existent]

Originally Posted by marchand

Sadly I think Canon will do the same:

60D -> 50D with 1080p Video
2000D -> 450D leftovers with 720p Video

I thought 500d was 450d with video..

[dazza74]

I think they'll struggle a bit with this D300s, the pro's and anyone looking for a real upgrade I feel will pay the extra over this to get a D700 or D3. To expensive I feel for the amatuer market and I think the sales of the D300 suffered a bit when the D90 came so god only knows what will happen with this D300s at £1500. I'm guessing they are looking to phase out the D300?

[marchand]

Originally Posted by dazza74

I think they'll struggle a bit with this D300s, the pro's and anyone looking for a real upgrade I feel will pay the extra over this to get a D700 or D3. To expensive I feel for the amatuer market and I think the sales of the D300 suffered a bit when the D90 came so god only knows what will happen with this D300s at £1500. I'm guessing they are looking to phase out the D300?

Well at least Nikon has a camera in that price bracket. For us poor Canon souls there is none (nada, zilch ), we have the 50D @ £800 and then the 5DMK2 @ £2000

Where is the £1100-£1500 Canon?????? The Semi-pro market is begging for it

[RobDickinson]

Originally Posted by Radiohead

3 options:

1) On-the-fly writes to both cards to give you redundancy for critical one-off events.

2) Write to one card then to the next - can avoid swapping cards

3) Write RAW to one and JPG to the other for immediate download of shots without PP if needed.

4) 1 card for stills , 1 for video.

IMO a very handy feature (2 cards) the 5D could have done with.

[tapzilla2k]

Originally Posted by existent

I thought 500d was 450d with video..

It's love child of the 450D and 50D basically (450D body + most of the guts and a tweaked 50D sensor if i remember correctly plus a Digic 4 chip).

I really don't see the point of having video on a DSLR, if want to record video i'll just get a HD camcorder. I guess Nikon are just responding to Canon and co.

[kBm]

Originally Posted by tapzilla2k

I really don't see the point of having video on a DSLR, if want to record video i'll just get a HD camcorder. I guess Nikon are just responding to Canon and co.

It's the hook thats the important part. Once you got a body and then start on lenses, people tend to stick with the one manufacture. Unless of course they sell the whole lot, but that takes effort.

[RobDickinson]

Forgetting that the 5DmkII is pretty special for video if used correctly.

Not a draw for me but its a stunning piece of kit for the price.

[tapzilla2k]

Originally Posted by kBm

It's the hook thats the important part. Once you got a body and then start on lenses, people tend to stick with the one manufacture. Unless of course they sell the whole lot, but that takes effort.

I'm guessing video is the carrot for those people who have had point and shoot or bridge cameras up until now, who are wanting to move into DSLR but also want video.

I'll ask my friend about it, he's working in Jessops again. From what he said Jessops prefers Canon over Nikon, because they can get hold of Canon stock just like that, whereas Nikon can take a month of sundays to arrive.