D7000 or D300s for motorsport

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Paul
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Hi,

As the title really. I am looking to upgrade my body from a D5000 to one of the above.

Both bodies are around the same price and I am struggling to see why the slightly more expensive D300s would be the better option. As far as I can see the only advantage of the D300s would be the more robust body.

If I am reading the specs correctly then the D7000 seems the slightly better body, am I right?

Although I like to shoot motorsport I do also shoot most other things.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Paul.
 
both af system are top, the d300/d300s has been around for a while and is highly rated, the d300 has more af points and is the (same af system as the d700 d3 d3s d3x). as for which one is quicker who knows, i have used the d300 for years and love the af speed for birds in flight.
build the d300s has better build(defo) also fps the d300s can shoot 7fps witout battery grip and 8fps with, the d7000 i think is 5fps, the d7000 has better high iso over 1600 and has the new slightly improved metering system.
both are weather sealed the d7000 does 1080p high def with autofocus to.
so depends what you want.
 
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The only thing you might find is that they have stopped making the D300S now... obviously there is stock on the shelf, but production has ceased.
 
either will be a decent upgrade for you, the D300s may be a tad stronger - its certainlty heavier but to be honest if it takes a bad enough knock neither will survive.

Not looked at prices for a while but guess the D300s may be cheaper with it being discontinued whereas D7000 still in great demand esp in states which will probably help keep its price up.

I think the D7000 features far outweigh the small number of areas like number of sensors which the D300s beats in a game of top trumps. The D7000's twin card slots of the same type are very handy, you've got video and the brilliant high ISO performance if you every need it.

Although hard to measure everything about the D7000 is immediate - mirror up time, focussing etc which may be good for you with your liking of motor racing.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm leaning towards the D7000 if only because it's the newer model and as both seem to be closely matched I feel the newer model will may be the better option, especially if the AF on the D7000 is quick.

Paul.
 
One other thing, I've not even seen a 7000 let alone used it, but can tell you for sure the D300S will work perfectly for motorsport.

The 7000 is the replacement for the D90, which was OK.

Personally, I'd buy neither right now and hold on to see what the D300S gets replaced with - it definitely 100% will be better than the D7000.
 
The only thing you might find is that they have stopped making the D300S now... obviously there is stock on the shelf, but production has ceased.

They've stopped making it? With no replacement? When's the D400 coming out then?
 
have to be a concern about the D400 price - D7000 was what double the D90 street price when first out - would guess D400 could be £1750 or so.
 
They've stopped making it? With no replacement? When's the D400 coming out then?

Yes, they have stopped making it.

No announcement on the replacement yet though, but sure as eggs are eggs, its coming...
 
One other thing, I've not even seen a 7000 let alone used it, but can tell you for sure the D300S will work perfectly for motorsport.

The 7000 is the replacement for the D90, which was OK.

Personally, I'd buy neither right now and hold on to see what the D300S gets replaced with - it definitely 100% will be better than the D7000.

I've seen your stuff and it certainly proves the D300 is good for motorsport, the fact it's been discontinued is a bit of a concern though.

The question of the price of any replacement may be a bit off putting though, I do this for fun so not too sure I can justify £1700+ for a body. Maybe get the D7000 now and move to the D400 a year or so after it's out when the price reduces?

That way I will have a bit towards better glass too :)

Mind you, if the D400 comes out around the £1200 mark I will be miffed if hadn't waited!!
Paul.
 
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I think it will be down to 1200 UK street price fairly quickly - provided its still a small body and not the rumoured pro-body DX camera (a la D2X), in which case its probably 2k+ on launch and 1700 quid in 6 months.
 
desantnik said:
I think it will be down to 1200 UK street price fairly quickly - provided its still a small body and not the rumoured pro-body DX camera (a la D2X), in which case its probably 2k+ on launch and 1700 quid in 6 months.

It makes sense to me that the D400 could become a pro bodied DX. When you look at the features on the D7000 compared to the D90 it was a very significant technology upgrade with things like a twin card slot and better quality construction also significant upgrades.
 
The one thing you do need to be wary of with the D7000 is the buffer....10 shots in RAW. It clears relatively quickly with the latest SDHC cards. If you look at the Camera Labs review there is a video which shows the buffer issue.
 
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