Nikon d7000 v d300

scott199

scott199

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Probably been asked a lot but i started a thread in mind to an upgrade from my d5100 body.

here: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/will-afs-lens-work-fine-with-d7000.546393/#post-6313814

as with most things, this brought more options into the frame than i first had contemplated, so i have looked and read and on the face of things it seems the d7000 is a "better" all round body than the D300.

But, now this is the bit confusing me, spec wise and general comment wise 7k is the way for me, so why do so many use the d300, even by spare body's, why not 7k ??

so i would just like simple good and bad points from people who either have both or have used both.

i did start a little side by side thing in the other thread, but though i might bet more joy with a dedicated thread.
 
A lot of people prefer the 'pro body' and I suspect some use it merely because they look more 'pro'. Personally I'd go for the IQ every time and in that respect the D7k would be the one for me if I were to pick from those two.
 
Ive had a d300s and a d7100.

The d300s is built like a tank, has a larger buffer and a slightly better AF system. The controls are also nicer to use. But it is an older sensor than the d7000.

I would go for the d300s only if you need the build and speed. Have you thought of a d7100. That way you improve build and sensor.

And the reason that so many use the d300s - it is good enough for what they want.
 
yes i have thought of the D7100, but a few things stopped me, Price being the main one and also the larger file sizes and the extra MP isnt something i need, but it is an option, just not a massively realistic one.

I should of added the reason for the upgrade, im happy with the D5100 in basic terms, far better than my skill level, but more access to controls and more AF points are my main gripe, so with having to add little or very little cash to upgrade, the D7k or D300 seemed a sensible option.
 
I prefer the UI of the D300 and D700 - more of the major functions are dealt with on the camera body and not in the menu ……… I find these more comfortable to use that the D7000/D7100

I have the D7100, D300 and D700 …………..

If the D7100 had the D700 layout I would like it much more ….. plus the D7100 body is slightly smaller - I prefer the larger size of the D300
 
personally, I find the d7xxx series a bit pointless, the d300(s) is a much better user experience and a much better camera, if you need the benefits of the newer sensor technology then the d5300 with it's articulated screen is a better choice

along the way I've had a d300, d300s, d7000 (twice), d5200, d5300 and after selling my second d7000 I told myself that I can always use DX the crop function on my d800e if I need the 16mb DX functionality although I never have, I do however keep a d5300 in my bag as it's so small, quiet, great for low/high angle stuff and video

only reason I see to consider the d7xxx is if you have a collection of non AF-S autofocus lenses but then I'd opt for the d300(s) or a Fuji S5 dependent on your usage
 
scott199 said:
Know thats just greedy :D, but seriously thanks
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I bought them for specific purposes:

D300 = the most I wanted to spend at the time

D7100 = started taking small bird shots and wanted more pixies on the image than the D300 could give plus higher ISO possibilities - plus crop of DX x 1.5 and imaginary crop of x 1.3 = never liked the user interface = slowed my processing time down considerably - I need to invest in a new iMac and MBP - I have upgraded the RAM but it is still slow

D700 = managed to pick a good one up - wanted only 15 mega pixies - thought about the D800E but 34 is too much for my iMac and MBP and me = the D700 is a sweet FX camera

I think that the next step is to buy another iMac for about £2k which should keep me going for some time.

But it really is the lens(es) that make the difference - I took a few shots last night of the moon with the V1, D7100 and D700 - the UI on the V1 is, for me, terrible and the size is "toy" but the small sensor did well with the Nikon 300mm f2.8

so if you want to see big improvement the pro lens - Nikon or Canon are worth thinking about.

but the D4S would be nice
 
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colda said:
personally, I find the d7xxx series a bit pointless, the d300(s) is a much better user experience and a much better camera, if you need the benefits of the newer sensor technology then the d5300 with it's articulated screen is a better choice

along the way I've had a d300, d300s, d7000 (twice), d5200, d5300 and after selling my second d7000 I told myself that I can always use DX the crop function on my d800e if I need the 16mb DX functionality although I never have, I do however keep a d5300 in my bag as it's so small, quiet, great for low/high angle stuff and video

only reason I see to consider the d7xxx is if you have a collection of non AF-S autofocus lenses but then I'd opt for the d300(s) or a Fuji S5 dependent on your usage
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Thank for the reply, all my glass is AFS, so not that
 
Has any one ask the question,do you use ISO above 1000 and do you crop much on the pc,if the answer to both is no then handle both cameras and decide which feels the best,IMO its only when the answer to both is yes that the D7xxx becomes most relevant,i only had a D300 on loan for a couple of weeks and my full sensor images where a delight on flowers and macro but when i took it stalking birds i found the crop i needed was beyond what i liked as far as noise was concerned.
I now have the D7100 as well and i use it stalking on the 1.3 crop in camera as with a fast card i find continues low speed runs for nearly 50 shots in raw before stalling and the image IQ can be well beyond what i do with them.
 
The D300 build quality is far better than the D7100 and a lot better to handle, I upgraded a long time ago from a D7000 to a D300 and never looked back, I Found with NR The D300 max I would push it is to about ISO 2000, I sold my D300 a few months ago and got myself a D800 but thats another story...Overall the D300 is more than likely your best bet to go with and has better focusing than the D7000 39point system!
 
Thank you all.

This is my point on paper the D7000 is "better" but as most of this thread shows, it seems to be the D300 is "personal" choice of many.
 
Just a quick question, the D300 has a 'better' AF system, is that just because it has more points or is it actually 'better'? I only really use single point so would I notice a difference over the D7000?
 
Try both if you can, i had a D300 and to me it felt too big and too heavy for me, swapped to a D7000 and it felt much better in my hand and the weight felt right even though there is only something like 200 grams difference. Both are very good camera's and both have there advantages depending what type of shooting you do. I found the D300 was much better at moving stuff as the focus speed seemed slightly quicker.
 
If you're outdoors and low ISO or indoors with a flash and relatively close to the subject then I'd get a D300. I had one; for outdoor shots it was great - flowers, sports, or whatever. If you're shooting indoors and can't use a flash then get a D7000. I gave the D300 to my daughter and got a D7000. I'm regularly shooting events where I can't/don't want to use flash as I feel it would be vastly intrusive to the subject(s) and audience. The D7k and good glass allows me to get very usable photos up to 3200 ISO and it's still a great body for indoor or outdoor sports.
 
ian-83 said:
Try both if you can, i had a D300 and to me it felt too big and too heavy for me, swapped to a D7000 and it felt much better in my hand and the weight felt right even though there is only something like 200 grams difference. Both are very good camera's and both have there advantages depending what type of shooting you do. I found the D300 was much better at moving stuff as the focus speed seemed slightly quicker.
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Getting hold and play with them both for a while would be great but I don't know anywhere that it could be possible
 
Maybe

Buy a used D300 - you will get a good one for £250 - £300 - if you don't like it you will probably sell it for about what you paid for it

Do the same with the D7000 - but you will have to buy that at the "right" price not to loose money

All the "reviews" say the D700 is "better" than the D300 ……… so start with a used D300 and see what you think

2 or 3 a month on sale on here
 
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BillN_33 said:
Maybe

Buy a used D300 - you will get a good one for £250 - £300 - if you don't like it you will probably sell it for about what you paid for it

Do the same with the D7000 - but you will have to buy that at the "right" price not to loose money

All the "reviews" say the D700 is "better" than the D300 ……… so start with a used D300 and see what you think

2 or 3 a month on sale on here
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Good advice here. I always buy all my gear second hand and have had numerous cameras and lenses from all manufacturers. Any I don't like or don't get on with I sell. The trick is to buy at the right price then you hopefully won't lose any money and occasionally maybe make a little towards your next purchase.
 
BillN_33 said:
Maybe

Buy a used D300 - you will get a good one for £250 - £300 - if you don't like it you will probably sell it for about what you paid for it

Do the same with the D7000 - but you will have to buy that at the "right" price not to loose money

All the "reviews" say the D700 is "better" than the D300 ……… so start with a used D300 and see what you think

2 or 3 a month on sale on here
Click to expand...
Lol just what I was thinking, to be honest I don't think I will really notice a great difference in real world terms.

going to get a D300 when one poops up
 
I own a D7000. I love it but I do think sometimes I should have got a D300s.

I love the button layout of the 300s. Having a (more) accessible ISO button would be much better for me. The layout is the reason I'm in the market for a D3.
 
If that was for me, thanks Ian. If not, still thanks!

I managed to pick up a great copy of a D3 last night. Counting down sleeps until collect it! Just doing research on CF cards. Never owned one!

Keeping the D7000 though. :)
 
I had both alongside each other. Both fine cameras, on paper the D7000 is better, no question and I managed to get some nice shots out of it, I just got along with the D300 better and it was that reason it got used more. I've got big-ish hands too, the 7000 felt right but only with a grip, I don't need one on the 300 :)

My keeper rate increased with the 300, whether that's down to some technical ability in camera or whether it was just plain luck I don't know, but that's the way it was :)

When buying a D700 recently, the 7000 went and the D300 stayed, partly because of that but also partly because it meant uniforming things with similar controls/cf cards etc :)

I didn't find the ISO performance to be that different between the two, 7000 was better but not a game changer. I always found myself impressed by the 300 when people tend to put down it's high ISO capability :)

I wouldn't discourage anyone from a D7000 though, they're a real bargain now, I felt mine was worth the £1000 I paid for it brand new when it had just come out!
 
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