Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 153
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The D300 is the subject of our next ‘Getting the best from’ article and I wondered if there is anything specific that you would like us to cover? No promises – but I’ll see what I can do . 
I'd also like to know what options you have saved to the ‘My Menu’ screen. How does it make your photographic life easier?
In addition, have you created any custom Picture Controls or modified an existing one? If so, what settings did you select and why?
Angela
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3661
Loc: Up North, England.
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Angela, I was a little disappointed with the 40D article. To me there wasn't enough focus on identifying the problems / limitations and coping with them to get the best out of it. I thought that the 40D one looked a little like an extended ad. Sort of like the very positive car review you get in local free papers. Just my VHO.
Any chance of focussing a little more on any weaknesses and how to actually get the best from the camera in future articles?
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 153
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Quote:
Angela, I was a little disappointed with the 40D article. To me there wasn't enough focus on identifying the problems / limitations and coping with them to get the best out of it. I thought that the 40D one looked a little like an extended ad. Sort of like the very positive car review you get in local free papers. Just my VHO.
Any chance of focussing a little more on any weaknesses and how to actually get the best from the camera in future articles?
That is the plan, but do you have anything specific in mind?
Regards
Angela
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3661
Loc: Up North, England.
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I don't have anything specific in mind for the D300 or the 40D as I've never used either. I'd just like to see weaknesses identified a little more, together with how to cope with or overcome them. It's just my opinion but I myself didn't see enough of that in the 40D piece.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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downfader
Mr Judgemental
Reged: 24/03/2005
Posts: 5468
Loc: Hugo Strange's Lab
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Quote:
The D300 is the subject of our next ‘Getting the best from’ article and I wondered if there is anything specific that you would like us to cover? No promises – but I’ll see what I can do .
I'd also like to know what options you have saved to the ‘My Menu’ screen. How does it make your photographic life easier?
In addition, have you created any custom Picture Controls or modified an existing one? If so, what settings did you select and why?
Angela
I dont own one but these prop up imo
-HDR usage, from single and multiple rawfile.
-Autofocus tracking on difficult and fast/small subjects (sports, eg horses; dragonflies in flight, etc)
-potential for vignetting
-veiwfinder size and quality compared to the top o the range pro models (I often find them to be too small on consumer models)
cant think of anything else.
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Downfader Gallery Trying to make a fortune at Alamy, or just trying 
One-Up-Manship
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37916
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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I don't own one either, so I'll keep my gob shut. 
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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rfw1
Reged: 21/09/2004
Posts: 36
Loc: Eastleigh, Hampshire
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I found the D300 quite a big jump foreward from my old D70 in terms of the capability, flexibility and complexity.
currently I am sticking to familar ground, but feel there is lots burried in the camera that I am not touching.
some things are familiar , others not so.
How about a moveing up to , how to get the most from and things you might have missed sort of article...
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weasley
addict
Reged: 11/01/2006
Posts: 502
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As a D200 owner I would be interested to see the major and significant improvements in terms of either functionality, quality, specification etc in use. In other words, I can read a spec sheet and see how it differs on paper, but how does this manifest itself in use?
I know it's not a D200 vs D300 group test, but this is a pretty obvious trade-up route and many a D200 owner will be coveting the D300 and considering the jump.
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miked
veteran
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 1360
Loc: Shropshire, England
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Own a D80, and considering moving to a D300, but is the mag. alloy body as weatherproofed as this feature implies? That's one question I have.
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photogeek
Professor Yaffle
Reged: 02/01/2007
Posts: 221
Loc: Londonish
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I think a look at the Autofocus options would be useful, the 51 point dynamic focus is great, but sometimes it will target something other than that which you wish to be the main point of focus. You can select it manually by changeing the focus mode, but 51 points is a bit much. You can change it down to 11 and even store the settings so you use 51 pints for Dynaic and 11 for manual selection, which I have done, but not sure if this is the only / best way to do this.
Also I have not found a way to display the focus points (other than the active point) on the screen, and this can be useful.
Another useful point is the way you can save different setings as options.
I have set up:-
12-bit (no d-lighting) - For fast shots
14 bit - Active D-lighting (for detailed shots with high dynamic range - but sloooow frame rate)
12 - bit + Active d-lighting - fastish with high dynamic range
for example but I am sure there are many other things you can do.
I have found this more useful than my menu but I am sure others may find that better.
Hope this gives some food for thought
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Be yourself you know its true and in the end whats left is you.....
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lightspeed
member
Reged: 17/09/2006
Posts: 113
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51 zone autofocus is great! it allows one to position the focus point on the desired point in the composition, without having to focus and re-compose.
My "My Menu" options are:
Battery Info
Active D-lighting
Display Mode (display highlights and focus points)
Set Picture Control
White Balance
Live View (hand held/tripod mode)
Clean Image Sensor (normally off)
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IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1760
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
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Quote:
Any chance of focussing a little more on any weaknesses and how to actually get the best from the camera in future articles?
Does the D300 have any weaknesses?
Could you devote a section on how to find one (new) for less than £500 ???
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Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
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PaulatUKcamera
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 24/05/2005
Posts: 1920
Loc: West Wales
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Had the D200 for nearly a year - 6000+ photos.
D300 for two months - 2000+ photos.
So not yet fully up to speed on the D300's extra programmability.
Gains with D300:
Autofocus:
1. Easier manual autofocus point selection - particularly in vertical format
2. More focus points does enable easier "lock on" to a moving target(mentioned in AP review - 'tis true!)
Metering Gains:
For general "run of the mill" photography where I don't want to fiddle with spot metering, "Matrix" my D200 underexposes and the D300 is absolutely accurate.
This is also true with "centre weighted" as the D200 seems overly influenced by sky.
Distinct D300 improvement for owners of Al/AiS Manual lenses:
1. Much easier focusing in live view - better than flickering red dot in viewfinder method (both D300 & D200)
2. Ability to pre-programme range of MF lenses for quicker later selection (D200 only had 1 programmable slot really for MF lenses)
3. More programmable buttons for different functions (i.e. I can now use one button to select from range of MF lenses)
Re-view Gains:
1. Much, much better display. 100% improvement - can see where you went wrong quite clearly now!
2. Re-viewing controls - also great improvement. Previously to examine your picture, you had to use about three controls, now you just keep pushing one button rather than trying to manipulate a red frame.
Marginal Gains:
1. D300 Viewfinder @ 100% Not noticed the difference yet!
2. Autofocus accuracy - again, not really noticed an improvement, but then I don't do sport photography. Both models seem pretty good with moving children!
3. D whatever its called. Can't see any difference between photos taken on the D200 without this feature and the D300 set to high! Perhaps its me! Thought - taking jpegs, so perhaps there is no difference - probably don't understand the concept!
Minor Pains:
1. Both models - Focus lock setting (You have two menu choices - lock or not depending on whether you are in "C" or "S" mode) Whenever you want a grab shot, the damn thing refuses to take a picture because you are in the wrong mode! As it is a menu option, no instant over ride.
2. Both models - Selector for "S" "C" & "M" on the front is totally inconvenient and nowhere near the other controls. Yes it is a Nikon tradition, but a bad one IMHO!
3. Heavy cameras! Yes very robust, but I feel the old FE/FM range was just as well built, but a lot lighter to carry around - especially when you lug two everywhere!
Major Pain - both models :
1. Bracketing. Three or five tiny bars on top lcd. each time you take a photo, one disappears - viewfinder shows no indication really just that you set bracketing mode. So if you are taking a series of pictures, you have to keep counting! Human frailty means you do lose track! No auto cancelling after 3 feature. I am certain they could improve that!
2. Focus point selection. Dies a death fairly quickly after you have taken the previous picture. Lift camera to eye. Try to select focus point. No, it's switched off again! Press shutter first to activate system - oh dear taken picture with wrong focus point selected! Daft!
D300 worth the extra? I think so - am going to part ex the D200 as soon as I can afford it, for a second D300.
Paul
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Paul Winter (CRIPN)
Web Site: UKCamera.com
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Adesw
The phantom flasher
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 715
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How about a free D300 attatched to the front cover?
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Towershot
old hand
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 766
Loc: Lancashire, U,K.
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Quote:
How about a free D300 attatched to the front cover?
Don,t be silly, that would mean getting up from a warm bed for a Nikon!!!!!!!!!!!! Now a Canon????????? 
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Got a good camera, now to get a good photographer.:~<
Rick
My Flickr
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adetri
journeyman
Reged: 23/04/2006
Posts: 72
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Quote:
As a D200 owner I would be interested to see the major and significant improvements in terms of either functionality, quality, specification etc in use. In other words, I can read a spec sheet and see how it differs on paper, but how does this manifest itself in use?
I know it's not a D200 vs D300 group test, but this is a pretty obvious trade-up route and many a D200 owner will be coveting the D300 and considering the jump.
Like he says! That would be a great read.
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Cheers
adetri.
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4338
Loc: Devon, UK.
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Currently a D200 owner and am NOT considering an upgrade to the D300. Instead, I'm waiting for a cheaper version of the D700 (or any FF DSLR from Nikon) before spending more on a new body. Maybe even a 2nd hand D700 when the D700x (or D750) comes out!
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
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Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 153
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Quote:
Quote:
As a D200 owner I would be interested to see the major and significant improvements in terms of either functionality, quality, specification etc in use. In other words, I can read a spec sheet and see how it differs on paper, but how does this manifest itself in use?
I know it's not a D200 vs D300 group test, but this is a pretty obvious trade-up route and many a D200 owner will be coveting the D300 and considering the jump.
Like he says! That would be a great read.
I did make quiet a few comparisons to the D200 in the original D300 test back in 8th Dec 2007 issue.
Angela
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saffron
newbie
Reged: 30/11/2007
Posts: 31
Loc: Saffron Walden
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Angela,
I am really delighted with my D300 but one feature I have not tried to use is the AF Fine Tune Function for lenses.I have been hesitant to go into this because the manual says 'AF tuning is not recommended in most situations; use only when required.'
Any help and advice on this would be welcome particularly on when and how to assess whether fine tuning is necessary and how best to apply it.
Peter
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IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1760
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
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Fine tuning - from what I have read, best left to older lenses, and only when you see that they are not corrrectly focussed when viewing images taken.
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Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
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