Nikon D300s Lab

First Impression of Nikon D300s – Part II August 30, 2009

If you, like me, has been using the AE-L/AF-L button on the Nikon D90 to focus, good news for you. There’s now a superbly designed (with excellent protrusion and closer reach with your thumb) AF-ON button on the Nikon D300s to do that work. All other key features for AF mode, metering, shoot mode and focus mode are all now accessible via dedicated knobs and buttons. Result? Faster configuration and shoot sequence.

Did I also mention the additional configurable front buttons next to the grip? Excellent addition indeed. They are now configured to both mange my picture control and NEF (RAW) format shoots. What I seriously missed though on the Nikon D300s is the position of the OK button. It’s now positioned on the bottom left corner of the camera back instead of it being the central button of the directional pad. Not so convenient compared to the Nikon D90.

Right, the live view button. Flushed and miniaturized with the camera back, making it harder to activate unlike the Nikon D90’s. Firmware “L” version has also been omitted for a simple reason – Nikon D300s supports AF fine tuning and manual lens data input! About time non-Nikkor lens can finally be properly purchased and used. But sorry, 3D Matrix II will still not be available with these lenses, only Matrix II.

Hmm…Nikon D300s’s weight. Some 200g heavier than Nikon D90! That magnesium case and weather seals better be worth all that additional encumbrance!

First Impression of Nikon D300s – Part I August 30, 2009

Now, most of you here should be up-grader like me while some others, fresh DSLR owners. No matter. If you are new, my sincere advice is to first take a walk to my Nikon D90 Lab blog here. It contains the most essentials 650 articles on getting to know your Nikon camera.

But, if you have been following my other blog like the other enthusiasts for the last nine months, you are in good hands to sync with me  about the more advanced stuff here.  But, if you just want to jump in the deep end of the pool, I won’t stop you either.

First pass, the buttons. The shuttle release on the Nikon D300s has a deeper travel depth, which in turn gives experienced Nikon D90 owners a little twist to get used to. The ON/OFF dial is also much stiffer to activate – maybe, its just too new. The dedicated BKT button (on Nikon D90) is also gone on the Nikon D300s, making some of us HDR experts a tiny bit uneasy. The whopper? I have to spend practically 30-45 minutes to customize the Nikon D300s to behave closer to my Nikon D90…something I did not expect.

O yes, the legendary all-inspiring shutter sound of the Nikon D90! Shooting the Nikon D300s is a whole new twist altogether. Well, its a much beefier sound now, offering significantly shorter blackout time against the Nikon D90. Remember my complain about the Nikon D300 and Nikon D700 grip? Well, its been properly addressed on the D300s too! Nice. My fingernails are not forced to bite the body no matter how hard  I tried.

Welcome Nikon D300s!! August 29, 2009

Ladies and gentlemen, I have finally laid my hands on my pre-ordered Nikon D300s today and am thrilled to spend a few moments to gain familiarity with this beast! I have yet to properly review some of the new features on this camera but will be spending the next few days getting the hang of things.

There after, we will officially start our blog journey of the Nikon D300s!!

So, stay tune and chill.