D300s announced

I just noticed the D3000 came out as well... yawn.

"And Tripod mode gives you control over the depth of field with a selectable aperture of up to f/16.* Contrast-detect AF is available, too. In Handheld mode, the D300S can automatically adjust the aperture setting to match changes in the brightness of your scene." It looks like you only control aperture...which we've been able to do, do they not see what Canon is doing? They actually listened after a while. Nikon, not so much.
 
Last edited:
I would like to nominate as "Profound Comment of 2009": (paraphrased) "Everything I want in a VDSLR exists today...just not in the same camera".


You know, I think it's a conspiracy I tell you!!

The leaders of Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, and Pentax are sat around a square table in a dark room, laughing maniacally within the shadows and strategically merking with us!


1) Pentax K20, 1.5 crop, 1536x1024 burst, at 21fps, full manual control.
"First, bitches!"
MERKS: No sound and odd frame-rate. 5 sec burst only, then 20 sec wait for next burst.

2) Nikon D90
, 1.5 crop, 720p movie, at 24fps
"First, with something abit more normal, bitches!"
MERKS: No manual ISO/SHUTTER control. Scaling causing stairstep and poor compression.

3) Canon 5dMkII, full frame 1080p movie, at 30fps
"I will crush you."
MERKS: No manual ISO/SHUTTER control. Scaling causing moire issue. 30p


4) Nikon D5000, 1.5 crop, 720p movie, at 24fps, now with swivel screen!
"Whatever. home movies and families will lap this up."
MERKS: See D90.


5) Canon 500d/T1i,
1.6 crop, 720p at 30fps, and now with 1080p 20fps film-making!
"Actually, I think families would rather have this. I WILL crush you."
MERKS: No manual ISO/SHUTTER control. Odd frame-rate.


6) Panasonic DMC-GH1, 4/3, 720p, 1080p, Fully manual.
"Whatever dawg. We'll always be the true independent cinema revolutionaries."
MERKS: Colour rendition due to sensor size, and poor compression.


7) Canon 5DMkII, now with fully manual controls! HAVE THAT Panny!
"Ha! No. Shut your face. You're puny. ARGH I WILL CRUSH YOU!!"
MERKS: Scaling causing moire issue. 30fps.

8) Pentax K-7, 1.5 crop, 1536x1024, at 30fps.
"Um... still remember me? HEEELLLO?"
MERKS: No manual ISO/SHUTTER control. 30fps.


9) Nikon D300s, 1.5 crop, 720p, at 24fps
"Fine, you crushed us Mr.Canon man. Can we still have the better rubberised hand grip? Please?"
MERKS: Probably no manual ISO/SHUTTER control. Scaling causing stairstep and poor compression?
 
Last edited:
9) Nikon D300s, 1.5 crop, 720p, at 24fps
"Fine, you crushed us Mr.Canon man. Can we still have the better rubberised hand grip? Please?"
MERKS: Probably no manual ISO/SHUTTER control. Scaling causing stairstep and poor codec issue.


Actually your "MERKS" part could easily read:
See above; D90
 
Actually your "MERKS" part could easily read:
See above; D90

I say 'probably no manual iso/shutter' because, while the D90 has a mixed variant of the tripod and handheld mode...

... the D300s is the professional line that has a distinct Tripod mode and Handheld mode. Also the metering system is not firmware blocked.

So it might have manual control... no way to know until it's out :)
 
WHAT a let down. I've been waiting for this announcement since I found out about it a month ago. And prior to that, i'd been on the fence for a couple of months thinking "don't pull the trigger on the MKII until Nikon makes their announcement...give 'em a chance." This is not a strong showing on Nikon's part.
 
surely they would be marketing manual control if it existed

but even if it has manual control who wants to spend twice as much on something with the same crappy codec, jello, and overheating sensor? manual control should come for free in a D90 firmware upgrade.
 
surely they would be marketing manual control if it existed

If they "get it" and recognize the importance. I'm beginning to think they don't. Even with manual control, it's still got a 5min max record time, so you'll need to carry an ice chest on shoots to cool it down faster when it overheats and locks up.
 
Last edited:
So is this the same sensor as the D90 or has it been slightly tweaked? Sensor, not firmware or processor. Their material left me with the impression that they might have messed with the sensor itself a little but it's hard to tell. Anyone know?
 
Wow talk about missing the boat. A year later and this is it? Looks like Canon and Panasonic are going to dominate this market for the next few years.
 
Wow...I'm sick to my stomach. There is an opportunity for any of these companies to give us a cinema camera (whatever form they want it to take) with everything we want for under $5K (no, really I think they have proved this to us by now) and nobody is stepping up to the plate.
 
Wow talk about missing the boat. A year later and this is it? Looks like Canon and Panasonic are going to dominate this market for the next few years.

well apparently the same person who leaked the specs on the D300s also leaked the specs on the D700s due in October with 1080p H.264 so there is some hope however slim
 
surely they would be marketing manual control if it existed

but even if it has manual control who wants to spend twice as much on something with the same crappy codec, jello, and overheating sensor? manual control should come for free in a D90 firmware upgrade.


I agree. Just makes me think what the hell are Nikon and Fujitsu's firmware working on?
 
well apparently the same person who leaked the specs on the D300s also leaked the specs on the D700s due in October with 1080p H.264 so there is some hope however slim

By that time, Canon will probably have the 5D Mk3. And I had so much hope in Nikon, too.
 
I want to update my Nikon D70s and the D200 for still photography. The video was going to be a real plus. In the past I wouldn't have gave it a second thought. But now video is getting so important that I want it on my next still camera. But I want it improved.

Well I guess I'll wait for test reports and/or the next Nikon.
 
You creazy people;

I'll get a D300s to make sure there are no improvements then report back.
 
if the data rate is the same and the sensor is the same it's not going to look any better than the D90
it could still. the debayer and noise reduction seems to already limit the image on the d90 by creating soft edges and creamy surfaces (visible in live view, which isn't compressed), a faster processor might do a much better job. but i'm not holding my breath, just wanted to point that out.

/m
 
Back
Top