Ideal Shutter Release Sound of Nikon D300s May 25, 2009
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Something I would love to hear from the Nikon D400 – savagery shutter release sound at 8-10fps! I love my Nikon D90 shutter release very much, but the one on Nikon D3 is wicked!
So How Tough Is Nikon D300? May 25, 2009
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Well, if the Nikon D300 can take this, then I expect the Nikon D300s to, at least, work as usual in this
BTW, the camera above the car radiator is a Nikon D9o!
Areas of Poor Implementation of Nikon D300 We Want Corrected on Nikon D300s May 24, 2009
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As a quarterly routine, my visit to the Nikon Service Center not only allow me to collect the Nikon quarterly newsletter – FOCUS, but also to man-handle the Nikon D300 etc. Here’s a list what I found annoying or poorly implemented on a Nikon D300
- CF compartment slot poor weather sealing – Being a body that boast the tag of “weather seal”, the Nikon D300 sure under worked this compartment door section against the weather.
- Absence of BKT button for bracketing function (available on Nikon D90 where I use them for important shots) – D300 users are expected to use the FUNC button (which I have assigned to select Picture Control on my D90 today) to do this
- Poorly organized menu items (A far cry from that found on the Nikon D90)
- Lack of the “OK” button to confirm menu selection – this is, to a Nikon D90 owner, a must on the D400)
- Wobbly D-pad – Too much press depth on the direction pad makes one wonder if each press is actually registered
- Short hand grip – My finger nails are always finding their place buried on the rubber grip due to a short grip depth (Nikon D90’s depth is significantly improved) – Mind you, I have a small Asian hand!
Nikon D300 User Guide May 24, 2009
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For those who wants a cover to cover understanding of the Nikon D300 before we embark on D400, check them out [here].
Wow! Where Do I Begin? May 24, 2009
Posted by Lawrence Oei in Editor Notes.add a comment
Fine. Let me put on my engineering hat to approach this blog. It can be tricky but quite fun.
Well, we are dealing with something that’s still in the air. Its a sort of a preemptive deduction and analysis. Quite similar to my actual work, really (In work, I tell clients what to do to stay in business against their strongest competitors, from a technology stand point). Let’s begin.
Price wise, be mentally prepared to shelf out a souped-up Macbook Pro for the Nikon D400. Design wise, the tilt swivel screen is not welcomed (if it comes with one on the D400) as it weakens the whole body construction from the engineering point of view. Flimpsy…
On overall design, the cue from the recently launched D5000’s bloated body is also not welcomed, and should technically, not be found on the D400. Thank goodness! To help Nikon differentiate her product range, the circular viewfinder design is associated with the FX family and should continue without the D400.
The last CF compartment slot of the D300 was horribly conceptualized and poorly weather sealed, putting it in the spotlight that warrants significant engineering redesign on the D400. Friends of mine who owns the D300 has always been complaining of their loose memory door…
Why Not Move On to FX Full Frame? May 23, 2009
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This question has cropped up every now and then in my mind and I believe I have covered its characteristics over a few articles [here]. But I believe one of the main reason I am still sticking with DX as my next camera is that, its still a hobby, and that the lens for DX camera are still cheaper to own than her FX siblings.
Next, of course is, that unless I can write off a Nikon D3 without searing my conscience (and begin blogging at nikond3lab), I would rather remain in the technology curve and talk about something potentially more advanced than the Nikon D700 or Nikon D3 – Nikon D400 – A boundary that I can still afford as a hobby and not fret over the zero-dollar income from this interest.
Back Track For A Moment, Will You? May 23, 2009
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Now, with all the rumors flying all over the shop, there is thankfully one thing we would-be upgraders know today – what the Nikon D300 can and cannot do.
Obviously, salient D300 features ought to be brought over to the Nikon D400 plus only better new features! Well, at least, according to the immutable law of progression. Thus far, I have not seen a reverse trend (at least for Nikon DSLR bodies).
Now the Nikon D300 is a wonder in her own time frame, being introduced in August 2007. However, in the semiconductor context, that’s prehistorical. Too much has moved on since 2007. Nevertheless, we ought to dissect, first, the Nikon D300, in anticipation to operating the D400 one fine day. That’s as good as saying – To conquer the future, we need to first know the past.
Won’t you agree?
Nikon D90 To Assume A Backup Role? May 23, 2009
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As my quest continues in search for a suitable backup body, a sudden notion to move up onto the upcoming Nikon D400 arises, while subsuming the Nikon D90 to then become my backup camera came into my mind.
This move will not only provide me a benchmark against the newer camera but will also provide me the much needed assurance that whatever I will shoot hereafter will turn out, at worst, to anchor against the already superb image quality of the Nikon D90.
Heads Up About Nikon D300s May 23, 2009
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From various sources at the point of writing, we’ve the following on the plate to chew on
- New Nikon Expeed II sensor grid
- 16 to 18 mega pixels resolution across a APS-C DX format
- Tilt swivel VGA back image screen
- Full HD video recording with stereo sound recording
These would not be earth-shattering technical improvements but will prove welcome to seasoned Nikon D90 users like me who can appreciate an up-sized package.
Nothing concrete here…just wet cement for now.
Staging Area or What? May 23, 2009
Posted by Lawrence Oei in Editor Notes.add a comment
In a matter of a few months, we shall begin to dissect the advanced Nikon D400 DSLR.
Stay tune!
An avid photographer who shoots with both his Nikon D90 and Nikon D300s camera like crazy and blog it on the World Wide Web. The Nikon D300s Lab will feature project-oriented shoot trips which can include real-life commercial projects undertaken by Lawrence Oei in his spare weekends. 
Nikon D300s Lab 