Nikon announces the D300S

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[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

The Nikon D300s is not great news for Canon bosses to wake up to this morning! Its predecessor, the D300, is the best selling DSLR in europe over 1500 Euros, and the new D300s has built on that solid foundation.

Adding 720p24 HD movie recording, and with an external stero mic port, the virtual horizon level aid from the D700 and the D3/D3x, plus other improvements has made a best-seller even better. I do wonder, though, if they missed a trick in not adding an articulating LCD?

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

The Nikon D300s is not great news for Canon bosses to wake up to this morning! Its predecessor, the D300, is the best selling DSLR in europe over 1500 Euros, and the new D300s has built on that solid foundation.

Adding 720p24 HD movie recording, and with an external stero mic port, the virtual horizon level aid from the D700 and the D3/D3x, plus other improvements has made a best-seller even better. I do wonder, though, if they missed a trick in not adding an articulating LCD?

Ian

I'd agree, its certainly a great package esp for those on the Nikon bandwagon I'm afraid it wouldn't temp me to convert again though, it has to be said I'm still VERY comfortable with my 1DMkIIN. However I see they have now added the horizon levelling tool, and I'm guessing picture 10 is showing this. I've said for years that the camera manufacturers should include such a tool, and have even been mocked for suggesting such a thing. I've even considered blogging about the need for levelling devices, though I've held off, I suppose because it was already available and I could see it becoming more common.

Were you able to try the facility in the new Nikon? Is it easy to access? I have to say I was surprised it seemed to be so big on the screen, I'd have been happy with something smaller along the bottom of the screen

[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

There were nearly a hundred journos and only 3 or 4 D300s, so most activity was watching the lucky ones or taking pictures

I use a level tool on both the new Olympus Pen E-P1 and Olympus E-30. Like you suggest, these have indicators along the bottom and along the side of the frame. But I can see the logic in having a large dial style of indicator as Nikon have because a linear indicator is fiddly to use when the level is almost correct.

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

There were nearly a hundred journos and only 3 or 4 D300s, so most activity was watching the lucky ones or taking pictures

I use a level tool on both the new Olympus Pen E-P1 and Olympus E-30. Like you suggest, these have indicators along the bottom and along the side of the frame. But I can see the logic in having a large dial style of indicator as Nikon have because a linear indicator is fiddly to use when the level is almost correct.

Ian

Thanks for that, having never actually seen or used a levelling indicator tool, apart from a bubble style spirit level, its useful to get your feedback. It seems to me though that these devices are only visible on the screen, correct me if I'm wrong. Certainly the E-P1 and Nikon D300s must be. For tripod use this would be fine, though were it actually in the viewfinder (E-P1 excepted) I feel it would be even better for hand held use

[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

Thanks for that, having never actually seen or used a levelling indicator tool, apart from a bubble style spirit level, its useful to get your feedback. It seems to me though that these devices are only visible on the screen, correct me if I'm wrong. Certainly the E-P1 and Nikon D300s must be. For tripod use this would be fine, though were it actually in the viewfinder (E-P1 excepted) I feel it would be even better for hand held use

I haven't used this feature in a viewfinder apart from the Olympus E-30. Here, only the lateral tilt is shown. Basically the exposure compensation scale across the bottom of the viewfinder doubles as the level indicator. Forward and backward tilt is only shown on the LCD screen, either in live view mode, or by itself (live view off).

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

I have been doing a bit of research and it does appear that the Nikon Virtual Horizon feature only indicates the left/right tilt of the camera, not the forward/back orientation. It appears that this is the same for all the cameras that feature this (D3, D3x, D700, and now the D300s).

So you can avoid sloping horizons, but it's not an aid for ensuring verticals are straight. The Olympus system does indicate both planes (at least when viewed on the LCD screen) and so is truly three dimensional, though not as neat as the plane cockpit style artificial horizon view that Nikon uses.

I wonder how long before we see this feature in other cameras? Ricoh featured it a while back in several compact models.

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

Correct me if I'm wrong, but iirc the D300 has a grid system in the viewfinder which can be switched on or off. This presumably aids greatly the ability to level ones images. Or is this something that was only available on the screen?

[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

Correct me if I'm wrong, but iirc the D300 has a grid system in the viewfinder which can be switched on or off. This presumably aids greatly the ability to level ones images. Or is this something that was only available on the screen?

Yes, Nikon uses what appears to be an transparent LCD overlay to the optical finder. This serves to show the AF points and can be used to switch a grid view on.

Do you feel this negates the need for a gyro-based electronic level?

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

Yes, Nikon uses what appears to be an transparent LCD overlay to the optical finder. This serves to show the AF points and can be used to switch a grid view on.

Do you feel this negates the need for a gyro-based electronic level?

Ian

I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but its something that I wish was on my camera as an aid not only to keep shots level when there is a reference point such as a horizon or verticals, but also as an aid to composition. The electronic level you mention which doubles with the exposure scale would seem to me to be the ideal. Keeping the camera vertical is often less important than horizontal and therefore I'd be happy to forgo that function for the sake of simplicity.

Apologies for hogging this thread about the new Nikon, but it seems they are in the lead when it comes to these useful little advances which genuinely help the photographer.

[Autumn]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

I think I must have missed something here. Two of my cameras have a grid that is 3 squares x 3 squares.

I find that this is extremely useful for lining up horizontal and vertical lines together with placing important parts of the photograph on the thirds.

What does the horizon levelling tool do that is different?

[Ian]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

Most cameras have a grid view for live view these days, but a grid view in a DSLR finder is more difficult.

Having an electronic or digital level system lets the user align the camera without needing to use reference points in the scene.

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

I've always found the top and bottom of the viewfinder to be quite usefull, but now I have lots of little squares to level up on

The D300 is a really good camera and personally I don't see any advantages of the new features.

I'd like to see a poll taken on the number of times people with movie capable DSLR cameras actually use them for movies.

What's also interesting is that while stills cameras are allowed in some places, where "Movie" cameras are not. I don't think it will be long before we see such places banning all cameras as they can't tell the difference anymore...

[Patrick]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but its something that I wish was on my camera as an aid not only to keep shots level when there is a reference point such as a horizon or verticals, but also as an aid to composition. The electronic level you mention which doubles with the exposure scale would seem to me to be the ideal. Keeping the camera vertical is often less important than horizontal and therefore I'd be happy to forgo that function for the sake of simplicity.

Apologies for hogging this thread about the new Nikon, but it seems they are in the lead when it comes to these useful little advances which genuinely help the photographer.

Stephen I thought you could change the screen in your camera, there is a choice of three for my 40D. I like a grid screen myself, used to have one in the Olympus OM1n years ago.

Patrick

[Patrick]

Re: Nikon announces the D300S

I've always found the top and bottom of the viewfinder to be quite usefull, but now I have lots of little squares to level up on

The D300 is a really good camera and personally I don't see any advantages of the new features.

I'd like to see a poll taken on the number of times people with movie capable DSLR cameras actually use them for movies.

What's also interesting is that while stills cameras are allowed in some places, where "Movie" cameras are not. I don't think it will be long before we see such places banning all cameras as they can't tell the difference anymore...

Yes that dreaded movie feature, why oh why is it being forced upon us, offered on some cameras fair enough but does it have to be foisted on us with every model.
That's why I am considering the Canon 50D before its discontinued for the 60D which will undoubtedly have a movie mode. I for one do not want it.
I have it on my G10 never been used and never will, not even looked at it out of curiosity.
I must say though, if I wasn't tied into the Canon system, I have six lenses, a 1x4 converter and extension tube, I would be looking at Nikon now.

Patrick