Nikon 25432 User manual

Precision engineered to deliver new professional-level functionality,
performance and reliability, the Nikon D300 combines innovative Nikon technologies with
advanced new features to optimize all aspects of camera performance and form the ideal
blend of Nikon DX-format performance.
New 12.3 effective megapixel Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor
New EXPEED Digital Image Processing concept
Selectable 12-bit or 14-bit A/D conversion with full 16-bit processing
Nikon's new exclusive Scene Recognition System
New 51-point autofocus system with advanced AF modes and 3D Focus Tracking
Large, bright pentaprism viewnder features frame coverage of virtually 100%
Rapid 6 frames per second*1 continuous shooting up to 100 JPEG images*2,3
Up to 8 fps*4 continuous shooting for up to 100 shots*2,3 with Multi-Power
Battery Pack MB-D10
New Picture Control settings for ne-tuned image control
New Live View with two modes for Hand-held and Tripod shooting situations
New Self-cleaning Sensor Unit provides effective dust reduction
New 3-in. LCD with approx. 920,000-dot resolution, 170° wide-angle viewing and
rugged tempered glass protection
Instant start-up of 0.13 s power-up and 45-millisecond shutter release time lag*5
Magnesium alloy body for strength, durability and light weight
New Active D-Lighting allows the choice to automatically optimize tone
reproduction in both shadows and highlights during exposure
Empower Creativity
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*1 When using Rechargeable Li- ion Battery EN-EL3e. *2 NORMAL- L ARGE image set ting, using a SanDisk Ex treme IV CompactFlash card. *3 When shooting in Continuous-servo AF (C)
using Shutter-Priority Auto [S] or Manual [M] exposure modes and a shutter speed of 1/ 250 s or faster with other settings at default. Continuous shooting speed for 14- bit NEF (RAW) is
approx. 2.5 fps. *4 8 fps requires either 1) Multi- Power Battery Pack MB-D10 with Battery Chamber Cover BL-3 and either Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4/EN - EL4a or eight R6/AA-
size batteries or 2) AC Adapter EH -5a/EH -5, all of which are sold separately. *5 When shooting in JPEG, TIFF or 12- bit NEF (RAW) formats.

New 12.3 megapixel DX- format
CMOS image sensor
Developed to provide the highest level of
DX-format photographic performance and
assuring response needed for virtually any
shooting conditions, the new 12.3 effective
megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
for the D300 also delivers compact Nikon
DX - format s ystem size and t e chnology
adva nta g es . I t s i nteg rate d ana l og - to -
digital converter offers the ability to select
bet wee n high quali t y 12- b i t or 14 - bit
conversion, and its design encompasses a
broad light sensitivity range of ISO 200 to
3200, (plus Lo 1, IS0 10 0 equivalent and
Hi 1, I S 0 64 0 0 equivalent). High - speed
output enables rapid continuous shooting
and realizes the new Live View shooting
modes. The Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF)
not only helps prevent moiré, color fringing
• Lens: AF-S DX
Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm
f/2.8G ED
• 1/250 second, f/11
• White balance: Preset manual
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Standard
45
and shifting, but also functions as part of
Nikon's rst Self-cleaning Sensor Unit built
into the D300.
Self-cleaning Sensor Unit
The D300's Du st-reduction System with
the new Self- cleaning
Sensor Unit uses four
dif fe r ent re so n anc e
frequencies to vibrate
the OLPF in front of
the image sensor and
shake particles free.
Nikon's EXPEED for a new level of
processing speed and precision
Ni ko n' s c o m p r e h e n s i v e n e w EX P E E D
Digital Image Pro cessing concept marks
the c u l minatio n of ye a rs d edic ated t o
ad v an c in g ph ot o gr a ph i c and di g i t a l
imaging technologies to best satisfy the
needs of photographers. The processing
system devel o p e d for the D300 appli e s
op t imiz e d te c hn o lo gie s b as ed on th e
EX PEED c once pt t o de liver pro ces sing
power that not only extends the achievable
levels of high resolution, ne detail and
high im a ge qua l i ty, bu t als o improve s
system performance for faster continuous
shooting, faster memory card access and the
implementation of the Live View shooting
modes. All internal processing is handled
in full 16 - bit color, rendering improved
tone characteristics, ner detail and higher
image qualit y, all at outstanding speed
tha t exemplies this level of p recision.
Additionally, lateral chromatic aberration
reduction effectively reduces color bleeding
around the image periphery.
The new heart of ultimate DX-format performance
Raising the bar on DX- sensor and processing performance
for limitless creative possibility

• Lens: AF-S DX
VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200 mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/250 second, f/13
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: Lo 0.7
• Picture Control: Standard
Contribution to AF performance
Subject tracking data computed from the
1,005-segment RGB sensor greatly improves
the speed and precision of automatic focus
point selection, particularly for 3D-tracking
and Automatic-area AF. Having recognized
the color of a subject within a user- selected
focus point, the system automatically traces
and tracks subjec t movement, and even
effectively predicts fo cu s if the subject
mom ent aril y mo v es out sid e t h e f o cu s
points. Subject identication information is
also used to distinguish your subject from
the background and sk y when shooting
portraits.
Image shown above is for representation purposes only.
67
Contribution to AE performance
The nely segmented metering data from
the 1,00 5 - segme nt RGB sens o r e nable s
highly detailed detection of highlight areas.
The results of this highlight analysis are
used to compute the range of brightness
to be reproduced, which provides more
accurate exposure control.
Contribution to Auto White Balance
performance
Ac c u ra t e li g h t s o u r c e id e n t i  c a t i o n
is o b t a i n e d as in fo r ma ti on c a p t u r e d
prio r to exp osu r e by ex trac tin g sc e ne
characteristics while recognizing patterns.
It is then applied to the auto white balance
algorithms for optimal selection of white
balance to match the scene.
Recognizing every scene as unique
Intelligent light, color and subject position analysis
enables you to command the scene
Light and color information from the
1,0 05-segment RGB sens or is used to
recognize the conditions of the subject
& scene prior to shooting
New Scene Recognition System
Nikon's new and exclusive Scene Recognition System helps optimize autofocus, auto exposure and
auto white balance performance by advancing the use of Nikon's acclaimed 1,005-segment RGB
sensor to recognize the conditions of the subject and framed scene prior to capturing the shot.
Improves autofocus on moving subjects Detects highlight areas Detects scene characteristics and recognizes patterns

89
• Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom -Nikkor 18-200mm f/ 3.5-5.6G ED • 1/ 250 second, f /6.3
• White balance: Preset manual • ISO sensitivity: 200 • Picture Control: Standard

Single-point AF lets you select any individual focus point
for shooting still subjects
Dynamic- area AF modes are useful for tracking moving
subjects over a wide area
3D-tracking automatically switches the point of focus to
maintain precise subject lock
Acquisition of winning performance
Pinpoint precision, responsive shooting and total flexibility
to capture any subject, anywhere
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR
24-70mm f/2.8G ED
• 1/2000 second, f/ 7.1
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 40 0
• Picture Control: Standard
10 11
cross-type sensors
New precision 51-point AF system
Featuring the
world's largest
num be r*1 of
fo c us po in t s
laid out in an
i n t e l l i g e n t
array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 vertical
sensors, Nikon's new Multi -CAM 350 0DX
autofocus module maximizes the potential
of lenses with maximum apertures of f/5.6*2
and instils the D300 AF system with a new
level of speed, precision and high-density
frame covera g e. B e ne t s g a i ned from
working with Nikon's new Scene Recognition
Sy stem and improved focus algorithm s
also contribute to the system's impressive
performance. The 51-point AF system also
allows the use of an 11 focus point mode.
*1 Among d igital SLR cam era s as o f August 23, 2007
(according to research conducted by NIKON CORPORATION)
*2 Depending upon the shooting conditions, some lens
and teleconverter pairs will limit the function of the upper
and lower three cross-type sensors to line sensor operation,
even if the combined theoretical aperture is f/5.6.
Dynamic-area AF modes
Dynamic-area AF allows a choice of three
different size areas using groups of either
9, 21 or all 51 focus points. Also available is
51-point Dynamic-area AF with 3D-tracking;
automatic focus point switching that takes
full advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses
color and light information to accurately
track the subject.
High-speed shooting at up to 8 fps
The D300 is capable of shooting continuous
bursts of up to 100 shots*1 at a rapid 6 fps*2,
and as fast as 8 fps*3 when using the Multi-
Power Battery Pack MB-D10.
*1 NORM AL - L ARG E ima g e setting, u sing a S anD isk
Extreme IV CompactFlash card
*2 When using one Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e
*3 8 fps requ ire s eit her 1) Mu lti - Power B atte r y Pac k
MB - D 10 , Ba t te r y Cha m b e r Cov e r BL - 3 a nd ei t h e r
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4/EN- EL4a or 8 R6 /AA-
size batteries or 2) AC Adapter EH-5a/ EH -5, all of which
are sold separately.
Response that's always ready to go
Power- up within 0.13 s, a shutter release
time lag of 45-milliseconds*1, and viewnder
blackout time of approx. 90- milliseconds*2
co n t r i b u t e t o op t i m i z e d al l - a r o u n d
performance that lets photographers respond
to any sudden shutter opportunities.
*1 Whe n sho oting i n JPEG, T IFF o r 12- bit NEF ( R AW)
formats
*2 Wh e n sh o o t i n g at 6 fp s , 86 -milli second s when
shooting at 8 fps

New Picture Control System
A new system developed by Nikon to respond
to the needs of photographers,
Picture Control makes it easy
to select and apply desired
a d j u s t m e n t s an d cr e a t e
optimized images to suit individual preferences
and shooting styles. Those using multiple
camera bodies will also appreciate that the
same settings produce consistent picture tone
on all camera models that support the Nikon
Picture Control system.
It's as easy as starting with one of the four
basic setting les - Standard, Neutral, Vivid or
Monochrome - as a base, or from one of up to
9 user-created custom Picture Controls. These
can be directly modied for easy adjustment
and customization of individual image
parameters, including sharpness, contrast,
brightness, color saturation, tone and the
monochrome lter effects. Or, when
TM
Standard
Suitable for most shooting situations, produces results that are colorful, yet
with a balanced, natural tone.
Neutral
Produces natural-looking results that establish a precedence for reproducing
the subject material as observed when shooting. Well suited for faithful post-
processing.
Vivid
Produces colorful results with extra punch. A handy setting when you wish to
emphasize primary colors.
Monochrome
Produces customizable black & white, sepia and other monochrome images.
Four lters are available for contrast control including red, orange, green and
yellow.
Quick Adjust screen
Picture Control selection menus
Adjustment setting screen
Ultimate control over consistent results
Achieve finished images that match your vision, with predictable
results that can be repeated even when changing camera bodies
1. • AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200 mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/1250 second, f/ 5.6
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Standard
Picture Control Grid display
1
2
3
4
5
3. • AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200 mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/2000 second, f/ 5.3
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Viv id
5/6. • AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/2.5 second, f/4.5
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 40 0
• Picture Control: Custom
4. • AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200 mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/320 second, f/5
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Monochrome
2. • AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor
105mm f/ 2.8G ED
• 1/80 second, f/5.6
• White balance: Flash
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Neutral
6
in Standard or Vivid ,
p a r a m e t e r s c a n be
adjusted at once using
the new Quick Adjust function. The results
achieved can be saved as a custom Picture
Control to a CompactFlash memory card for
easy transfer to another D300 or D3 camera
body as well as to a computer.
Software integration maximizes
workow efciency
The system's intuitive interface and easy-to-
master settings for creating Picture Controls
and applying adjustments to images are also
available within Nikon's software programs,
Capture NX*
, ViewNX and Camera Control
Pro 2*
. To maximize workow efciency and
further expand creative freedom, custom
Picture Controls created within Capture NX or
Camera Control Pro 2 can also be transferred to
and used in the camera.
* Optional software
Custom
(Left) Using preset Standard Picture Control with the following adjustments implemented: Sharpness [+7], Contrast [-2], Brightness [+1], Saturation [-2], Hue [0].
(Right) Using preset Vivid Picture Control with the following adjustments implemented: Sharpness [+6], Contrast [0], Brightness [-1], Saturation [+3], Hue [-3].
12 13

New 3-in. high-resolution
VGA LCD monitor
The D300 features an
expansive new 3- in.
VG A LC D m o ni t or.
It s u n p r e c e de n t e d
approx. 920,000- dot
resolution and reduced icker digital output
assures clear and detailed image display,
which is invaluable for conrming focus
or assessing image sharpness at up to 27
times* magnication. A wide 170˚ viewing
angle from all directions and bright display
makes it easy to view images or conrm
menu settings when shooting outdoors.
Playback options include single frame, 4
or 9- image thumbnail display, as well as
channel-independent RGB histogram and
highlight point displays. Tempered glass
protection enhances D300 durability.
* [L]-size JPEG or NEF (RAW) images
New Wireless Transmitter
WT-4/4A*1 (optional)
Nikon's W irel e ss Tran smit ter W T- 4 / 4 A
delivers the convenience and efcie nc y
of ex tended image transfer options via
IEEE 802.11b/g /a wireless connections, as
well as wired 10BASE-T and
100 BA SE -T X co nn ec ti o n s .
New Thumbnail Select mode*2
permits thumbnail display of
images taken with up to ve
wirelessly connected cameras
on a computer display. Images
LCD monitor
Use Live View's Tripod mode and the 3-in. high - resolution LCD for conrming subjects that of fer a
challenge when focusing through the viewnder. For even more assurance, install Camera Control Pro
2 software and use Live View to conrm each shot on your computer's monitor before releasing the
shutter remotely.
Two Live View modes for framing
and composition using the LCD
Nikon's new Live View function* enhances
the D300's fast image processing capacity
and large, high - resolution LCD to offer a
new level of creative potential that lets you
use the LCD in place of the viewnder for
conrming subjects and composition when
you cannot phy s i cally see your s u bject
through the view nder, or where exac t
focus is crucial. Remote preview, focusing
and shooting from a PC (wired or wireless)
are al s o available when using optional
Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 software.
* A lthou gh L ive View c an b e used for up to an h our,
the func tion is automatically terminated if the camera's
inte rnal temp eratu re r ise s beyon d set parameters. In
such a case, a 30-second countdown timer appears in the
upper left corner of the LCD monitor before Live View
shooting ends.
Hand-held mode
Hand-held mode and the LCD's 170° wide
vie win g a ngl e a re a g rea t h elp wh en
shooting from high or low angles that make
it difcult to see through the viewnder,
such as when holding the camera above
your head to shoot over a crowd. You can
easily recompose the frame prior to actual
shooting using standard phase -detection
AF and all 51 AF points.
Tripod mode
Tr i p o d m o d e i s i d e a l f o r s t i l l l i f e
photography in a studio environment. High-
precision focal plane contrast AF using the
D300's CMOS sensor achieves pinpoint focus
on the subject. And the ability to zoom in
up to 13 times on the area surrounding any
focus point serves as a major aid to even
more precise focus adjustment.
Wireless Transmitter WT-4/4A Image Transfer System
Infrastructure mode
Data transfer using a
wireless LAN access point
Ad-hoc mode
Data transfer using a notebook
computer with a wireless LAN
card installed
Wireless LAN LAN
Data transfer using
wired connection
Camera Control Pro 2,
Capture NX
Camera Control Pro 2,
Capture NX
Personal
computer*
Personal
computer* FTP server FTP server
Camera
Control
Camera
Control
Camera
Control
Data transfer Data transfer
Ethernet (100BASE-TX, 10BASE-T)
connection
FTP
PTP/IP
Wireless LAN accessory attached
(Wireless Transmitter WT-4/4A)
*FTP server unnecessary
when using PTP/IP
Image transfer Image transfer
Access
Point (AP)
selected by conrming the thumbnail can
be downloaded and saved on the computer.
With this mode, both photographer and
computer operator can concentrate on
th eir own assignment s. Remote cam era
operation and image viewing, including
the use of Live View, is also available when
the Wireless Transmitter WT-4/4A is used in
conjunction with optional Camera Control
Pro 2.
*1 The WT- 4 is sold in countries that approve the use of
thirteen frequency channels. The WT-4A version is sold in
countries that limit use to eleven frequency channels.
*2 Supplied software should be pre - installed.
The ultimate balance
of advanced function
and control
From Live View to wireless image transfer
and remote camera control, each function is designed
to maximize creative productivity
ViewNX System Requirements (Ver. 1.0)
OS
CPU/Model
RAM
Hard disk
Display
Others
Camera Control Pro 2 (optional)
Ca m er a C o nt rol Pr o 2 re mot e c o nt r ol
soft wa r e l e ts you change most c a m e ra
settings, take photos and transfer image
data remotely from a computer via USB,
Firewire (IEEE 1394) or Wi - Fi connections.
A revised interface ensures easy operation
and e f cient work  ow. Inclu d e d is the
ne w en h a nc e d Vie w e r f u nc t i o n t h at
quickly transfers thumbnail and preview
images to the computer, making it easier
and quicker to conrm which shots should
be transferred and which will be deleted
without transferring the actual image data.
Camera Control Pro 2 adds support for
controlling advanced new features of the
D300 and D3, including the new Picture
Control System, the 51-point AF system and
the new double - axis white balance ne -
tuning scheme, which adds a vertical axis of
color cast direction for more precise control.
Of particular note is added support for Live
View, with full control over the respective
features of Hand-held and Tripod modes.
ViewNX
De s ign ed to s upp or t t he vie w ing an d
assessment of large collections of images in
full size or handy thumbnail sizes, ViewNX
(available as part of the Software Suite CD-
ROM) makes it easier to browse, compare
and organize les. Moreover, compatibility
wi th C a pt ur e NX en ab le s pro d u c t i v e
workow.
Windows: Preinstalled versions of Windows Vista
Home Basic /Home Premium /Business/Enterprise/
Ultimate (32-bit), Windows XP Home Edition/
Professional (SP2), Windows 2000 Professional
(SP4)
Macintosh: Mac OS X (version 10.3.9, 10.4.10)
Windows: Intel Celeron/ Pentium 4/Core series 1
GHz or higher
Macintosh: Power PC G4/G5, Intel* Core series /
Xeon series
Windows: 512 MB required, 1 GB or more
recommended (Windows Vista 1 GB required, 1.5
GB or more recommended)
Macintosh: 512 MB required, 1 GB or more
recommended
50 MB required for installation, 500 MB required (1
GB recommended) for operation
Windows: XGA (1024 x 768 or more) with 24 -bit
color or more recommended
Macintosh: XGA (1024 x 768 or more) with 16.7
million colors or more
File compatibility
• Compliant with images, movies, sound les
and image dus t off data created by Nikon digital
cameras
• Compliant with NEF, TIFF (RGB) and JPEG format
image s generated by Nikon application software
• CD-ROM drive required for installation
* Universal binary compliant
14 15

With Active D-LightingWithout Ac tive D- Lighting
Large viewnder features frame
coverage of virtually 100%
The new eye - level pentaprism viewnder
for the D300 aids composition and adds
assurance to focus control by p roviding
frame coverage of virtually 100% and large
0.94x magnication.
Large top control panel
The large top LCD panel
is designed to convey
maximum information
at a glan ce, and i s even til t ed slightl y
rearward for easier viewing.
Informative displays provide
valuable feedback
T h e l e t t e r i n g f o r
information display s
ca n be ma nu al ly o r
automatically switched
b e t w e en bl a ck an d
white lettering to best suit the lighting
conditions when shooting. An advanced
b a t t e r y in d i c a t o r co n v e y s de t a i l e d
information for both the battery installed
in the camera as well as batteries in the
Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10.
Active D-Lighting provides
real-time highlight and shadow
correction
Active D- Lighting helps produce broader
tone reproduction in both shadows and
hig hlights , a ll while applying localized
tone control technology to achieve natural
looking contrast across the entire image for
more attractive results with greater detail.
Simply choose the desired strength level
before shooting and let Active D -Lighting
pr ov e it s w o r th w h en s h oo ti ng h i g h
contrast scenes, such as a shaded subject on
a sunny day or a brightly lit outdoor scene
shot through a door or window.
Exposure modes that provide
exible control
[P] Programmed auto mode automatically
sets both shutter speed and aperture, and
includes Flexible Program for fast selection
of alternate shutter speed and aperture
combi nations . [ S ] Shut ter-Priorit y auto
offers shutter speed selection from 1/8,000
to 30 s. [A] Aperture-Priority auto allows
free selection from among all aper ture
settings. [M] Manual gives full control over
both shutter speed and aperture.
Broad ISO sensitivity range with
exible control
Sensitivity can be set manually between ISO
200 and 3200 in increments of 1/3 1/2, or 1 EV,
with extended range settings down to Lo 1 for
ISO 100 equivalent and up to Hi 1 for ISO 6400
equivalent. Rened high-ISO noise reduction
hel ps en sur e m a xi mum im a ge qu alit y
throughout the higher range. Automatic
sensitivity adjustment (ISO AUTO) is also
available, freeing you to concentrate on
composition while the camera automatically
adjusts sensitivity to maximize available light
and achieve optimal exposure for the shot.
Accurate white balance
Advanc e d Auto
W hi t e Bal a n c e
capably produces
natural coloration
in most situations.
Manual settings
are also available, including direct selection
of Kelvin color temperature; a choice of six
specic settings with ne-tuning, as well as
a preset manual option for using a gray or
white object as a reference. A vertical axis
of color cast direction is newly added to the
process of tuning white balance and the
increments have been made ner to deliver
more precise control.
Optimized color space
A selection of two color
spaces is available to
best match the specic
subject, assignment, or
workow environment.
T h e d e f a u l t s R G B
setting is w e ll sui te d
when images are to b e p laye d back or
printed as taken, without editing or post-
processing. The Adobe RGB setting realizes
a wider color reproduction range for high-
quality or commercial output that requires
a wider color gamut.
Histogram and channel-
independent histogram displays
Accurate hi s togram
and R G B hi sto g ram
displays aid in quickly
conrming exposure.
A l l t h r e e c o l o r
channels can be represented as a whole
using C o nv entional RGB d i splay, while
Selectable RGB allows each color channel to
be viewed independently to assist exposure
and white balance adjustment decisions.
Multiple Exposure
Multiple Exposure is a custom shooting
option that allows for imaginative results by
producing a single image within the camera
fro m up to 10 co nse cu t ive exp os u re s .
Color s are reproduced noticeably better
than photographs combined in an imaging
application.
Image Overlay
Image Overlay is an in - camera reto u ch
feature that combines two saved NEF (RAW)
images into a s i n g l e composite ima g e,
taking advantage of precise opacity controls
to achieve the desired result. The composite
image can be saved as a NEF or JPEG le,
and the originals remain unaffected.
Durable shutter unit
Testing to 150,000 cycles s t ands as rm
testament to the durability and reliability of
the new double-bladed shutter unit for the
D300. A rened mirror balance mechanism
that completes its motion cycle and reaches
a full stop virtually without mirror
Intuitive handling, total reliability
Every button, control and function is designed to enable creative freedom
Custom set ting bank
Reset custom settings
a Autofocus
a1 AF- C priority selection
a2 AF-S priority selection
a3 Dynamic AF area
a4 Focus tracking with lock-on
a5 AF ac tivation
a6 AF point illumination
a7 Focus point wrap-around
a8 AF point selection
a9 AF-assist
a10 AF- ON for MB-D10
b Metering/exposure
b1 ISO sensitivity step value
b2 EV steps for exposure cntrl.
b3 Exp comp/ne tune
b4 Easy exposure compensation
b5 Center-weighted area
b6 Fine tune optimal exposure
c Timers/AE lock
c1 Shutter- release button AE-L
c2 Auto meter-off delay
c3 Self-timer delay
c4 Monitor off delay
d Shooting/display
d1 Beep
d2 View nder grid display
d3 View nder warning display
d4 CL mode shooting speed
d5 Max. continuous release
d6 File number sequence
d7 Shooting info display
d8 LCD illumination
d9 Exposure delay mode
d10 MB- D10 battery type
d11 Battery order
e Bracketing /ash
e1 Flash sync speed
e2 Flash shutter speed
e3 Flash cntrl for built-in ash
e4 Modeling ash
e5 Auto bracketing set
e6 Auto bracketing (Mode M)
e7 Bracketing order
f Controls
f1 Multi selec tor center button
f2 Multi selector
f3 Photo info /playback
f4 Assign FUNC. button
f5 Assign preview button
f6 Assign AE- L/AF -L button
f7 Customize command dials
f8 Release button to use dial
f9 No memor y card?
f10 Reverse indicators
Enhanced moisture and dust
resistant areas are outlined in red.
With EN- EL3e installed
With EN- EL4a installed
bounce helps promote
m a xi mu m s t a b i l i t y
and spe ed , sm ooth er
AF detection, and th e
ex te nd ed v ie w  nd er
visibility needed for fast, accurate focus
tracking and continuous shooting.
Magnesium alloy body
The magnesium alloy body for the D30 0
combines rugged durability with mobility,
and features an enhanced sealing system that
helps protect against moisture and dust.
New Multi-Power Battery Pack
MB-D10 (optional)
The new optional Multi-
Po w er B a t t e r y Pa c k
MB-D10 combines added
stability with extended
s h o o t i n g po t e n t i a l
and the durability of a
magnesium alloy external
case with the same level
of sealing protection inherent to the D300
to help protect against moisture and dust.
Supporting the use of 3 types of battery and
featuring a sequential power supply with
auto-switching to the battery installed inside
the camera body, the MB-D10 also enables
high-speed continuous shooting at a rate of 8
fps* for up to 100 consecutive shots.
* 8 fps requires either 1) Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 with
Battery Chamber Cover BL-3 and either Rechargeable Li-ion
Battery EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight R6/AA-size batteries or 2) AC
Adapter EH-5a/EH-5, all of which are sold separately.
Optimized battery performance
Th e h i gh - e ne rg y Re ch a rg e ab l e L i - io n
Battery EN - EL3e delivers enough power to
shoot up to approx. 1000 consecutive images
on a single charge*1 (or up to approx. 3000
shots according to research conducted by
NIKON CORPOR ATION*2) or 3000 shots*1
when using the Multi-Power Battery Pack
MB-D10 with Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-
EL4a*3 installed, in addition to the EN-EL3e
installed inside the camera body.
*1 Based on CIPA standards with an AF-S VR 24-120 mm
f/3.5 -5.6G ED lens
*2 Achieved under following test conditions : measured
at 6 8 ° F / 2 0°C wi t h an AF - S V R 24 -120 mm f/ 3.5 - 5.6G
ED lens , image quality set to JPEG basic , image size set
to M (medium), shut ter spee d 1/250 s , s hu tter- release
bu t ton p ress e d half way for t hre e seco nds a nd focus
cycled from innity to minimum range three times; six
shots then taken in succession and monitor turned on for
ve seconds and then turned off; c ycle repe ated on ce
exposure meters turned off.
*3 Requires Battery Chamber Cover BL-3
Custom Setting menus
Grouped according to basic features for fast
and easy access within the color-coded menu
display, the D300's wealth of Custom Settings
and memor y banks for saving up to four
complete selections allow instant switching
to the optimized selection for the shoot.
16 17

NIKKOR lenses
The image quality achieved by any SLR camera
system is directly inuenced by the quality of
the lenses it can accommodate; and none equal
the performance and quality of Nikon's AF,
AF-S and dedicated DX NIKKOR lenses. Each
NIKKOR lens proudly represents the company's
90 -year heritage of developing the nest
components and building processes to produce
industry-leading photo optics with precision
mechanisms and optimized performance.
ED and Super ED glass elements compensate
for magnication and help correct chromatic
aberration. Exclusive Nano - Cr ystal anti -
reective coating prevents reection better
than conventional lenses to reduce are
and glare, especially under strong lighting.
AF-S DX Zoom - Nikkor 17-55mm
f/2.8G ED
Wide - angle zoom lens exclusively for use with Nikon
DX-Format digital SLR (Picture angle equivalent to a
25.5 - 82.5mm lens in 35mm and FX- formats)
Built-in Flash with i-TTL ash control
The power f ul built- i n
ash doe s much more
than re when natural
lighting is inadequate or
effectively add balanced
ll ash when there is strong backlighting.
Nikon's highly robust i -T TL ash control
evalua tes as h ex p osu re wi th g r eate r
precision to achieve better automatic ash
balance and deliver outstanding results. Full
support for the Advanced Wireless Lighting
System lets the built-in ash function as a
wireless remote commander that provides
direct, two - group wirele s s control over
SB-600, SB-800 or SB-R200 Speedlights.
Full support for Nikon's Creative
Lighting System
Th e D 3 0 0 al so wo rk s se aml es s l y wi th
Nikon SB-800, SB-600, SB- 400 and SB-R200
Speedlights, delivering the full benets of
i-TTL ash control's advanced monitor pre-
ash, accurate bounce -ash measurement
and comprehensive wireless operation*. The
SB- 800 and SB-600 Speedlights also feature
an AF-Assist Illuminator for multi-area AF
tailored to the D300's AF Sensor Module, as
well as Auto Zoom ash coverage.
* SB-400 is not compatible with Advanced Wireless Lighting
18 19
i- TTL ash control
Building on the accuracy of the monitor
preash, the brighter, shorter i-TTL pre-ash
enables more precise evaluation of ash
exposure to achieve outstanding results born
of better automatic ash balance.
Advanced Wireless Lighting System
Exclusive technology does away with the
need for cables and ash meters to provide
you with a totally exible lighting solution.
With the built-in ash, SB-800 Speedlight or
SU-800 Wireless Commander serving as the
Master controller, up to 3 remote groups of
any number of SB-800, SB- 600 or SB-R200
Speedlights can be arranged as you like for
total lighting control, with mode settings
(i -TT L , A A , A , M, Rep eating and F l a sh
cancel) available for each individual group
and the Master controller, and full i -TTL
control available based not only on general
output ratios for each group, but also on
subject brightness. As a result, each ash
output ratio can be set, even if a remote is
repositioned. Flash compensation can also
be adjusted on the y for each group, with
settings easily made and conrmed on the
Master controller's large dot matrix LCD.
There's also a choice of 4 frequency channels
to minimize the risk of interference with
other photographers' Speedlights.
Ultimate optical performance
Tight integration with Nikon’s Total Imaging System
ensures seamless compatibility with a diverse lineup
of superb NIKKOR lenses
Meniscus protective glass elements prevent
damage to large - diameter telephoto lenses
while providing sharp, clear images with
le ss ghosting. Three t ypes of precision -
ground aspheric elements help minimize lens
aberrations and wide-angle lens distortion.
Precision mechanisms include the Close-range
Correction system used in sheye, wide-angle
and other lenses to provide superior picture
quality at close focusing distances. Nikon's own
SWM (Silent Wave Motor) technology combines
fast and accurate autofocusing with super-
quiet operation. And Internal Focusing (IF)
helps ensure smoother focusing and a better
balanced body.
DX NIKKOR lenses are designed expressly for
use with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras.
Featuring designs that are both light and
compact, the enhanced wide picture angle
performance and outstanding center-to-edge-
to-corner image quality of DX NIKKOR lenses
contribute to achieving superb Nikon DX-
format performance.
The VR lens advantage
Simply stated, Nikon's advanced Vibration
Reduction system for reducing the image
degrading effects of camera shake exceeds
the performance capabilities of in-camera
image stabilization systems. The VR II optical
lens shift mechanism of Nikon's lens-based
system deliver s performance equivalent
to shooting at shutter speeds of up to 4
stops fas ter*, making it possible to take
subs t antially s harper handheld picture s
at slower shutter speeds in lower lighting
conditions. The VR II system's optics physically
adjust in real time, so a stable image is seen
through the viewnder while conrming
the shot. And, because the optical lens shift
mechanism is optimized for each focal length,
each VR lens produces consistent results.
Two VR m ode s ar e avail a ble t o ma t ch
shooting conditions. Normal mode primarily
reduces camera shake in handheld shooting,
and detects panning automatically. Active
mode compensate s for situations where
vibration is pronounced and frequent, such
as when shooting from a moving vehicle.
* Under Nikon measurement conditions
Advanced lighting control
Nikon’s Creative Lighting System provides advanced control and
incredible exibility to fully empower the creative process
FV (Flash Value) Lock
FV (Flash Value) Lock is the ash equivalent
of AE Lock, allowing the photographer to
change composition while maintaining a
desired ash value.
Repeating ash function
Rep eati n g  a sh fun ct i on ser ve s a s an
excellent advantage fo r capturin g fast-
moving subjects.
Modeling Flash
M o d e l i n g Fl a s h  r e s a on e - s e c o n d
(approx.) stroboscopic burst, enabling the
photographer to visually check for shadows
and reective objects and assess overall
lighting prior to shooting.
Auto FP High-Speed Sync
Auto FP High -Speed Sync operating with
the optional SB-800 or SB-600 Speedlights,
allows ash synchronization in all exposure
modes at shutter speeds up to 1/8,000 second
- providing ll ash that achieves effective
background blur, even when shooting in
bright conditions or at High ISO values.
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18 -200mm
f/3.5 - 5.6G ED
A compact and lightweight high-power zoom lens
for Nikon digital SLRs, featuring enhanced Vibration
Reduction (Picture angle equivalent to a 27-300mm lens
in 35mm and FX-formats)
Lens/accessory
Camera setting
Type G or D AF Nikkor2 AF-S, AF-I Nikkor
PC-Micro Nikkor 85 mm f/2.8D4
AF-S / AF-I Teleconverter7
Other AF Nikkor (except lenses for F3AF)
AI-P Nikkor
AI-, AI modified Nikkor or Nikon Series E Lenses
12
Medical-Nikkor 120 mm f/4
Reflex-Nikkor
PC-Nikkor
AI-type Teleconverter18
Bellows Focusing Attachment PB-619
Auto Extension Rings PK-11A/12/13/PN-11
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Focus Mode
S
C
P
S3D Color
M
Exposure mode Metering system
M (with electoronic
rangefinder)
A
M3
CPU lenses 1Non-CPU lenses 11
Function Compatibility Chart
VR OFF
VR ON
SB-800 SB-600
SB-400 Nikon close-up Speedlight
Commander Kit R1C1
M
A
B
B
Master M (Built-in Flash): Off
Remote A (SB-800): Manual
Remote B (SB-800): Manual
• AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200 mm f/ 3.5- 5.6G ED
• 1/30 se cond, f/4.8 • White bala nce: Auto • ISO sensitivi ty: 200
• Picture Control: Standard
1. IX-Nikkor lenses cannot be used. 2. Vibration Reduction (VR) supported with VR lenses. 3. Spot metering meters
selected focus point. 4. The camera's exposure metering and ash control systems do not work properly when
shifting and/or tilting the lens, or when an aperture other than the maximum aperture is used. 5. Electronic
rangender cannot be used while shifting or tilting. 6. Manual exposure mode only. 7. Compatible with AF-I
Nikkor lenses and with all AF-S lenses except DX 12-24 mm f/4G ED and AF-S series 17-35 mm f/2.8D ED, DX 17-55
mm f/2.8G, 24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED, VR 24-120 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED, and 28-70 mm f/2.8D ED. 8. With maximum
effective aperture of f/5.6 or faster. 9. When focusing at minimum focus distance with AF 80-200mm f/2.8, AF
35-70mm f/2.8, new AF 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5, or AF 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lenses at maximum zoom, in-focus indicator
may be displayed when image on matte screen in viewnder is not in focus. Adjust focus manually until image in
viewnder is in focus. 10. With maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. 11. Some lenses cannot be used 12. Range of
rotation for AI 80-200mm f/2.8 ED tripod mount is limited by camera body. Filters cannot be exchanged while AI
200-400mm f/4 ED is mounted on camera. 13. If maximum aperture is specied using Non-CPU Lens Data, aperture
value will be displayed in viewnder and control panel. 14. Can be used only if lens focal length and maximum
aperture are specied using Non-CPU Lens Data. Use spot or center-weighted metering if desired results are
not achieved. 15. For improved precision, specify lens focal length and maximum aperture using Non-CPU Lens
Data. 16. Can be used in manual exposure modes at shutter speeds slower than 1/125 s. 17. Exposure determined
by presetting lens aperture. In aperture-priority auto exposure mode, preset aperture using lens aperture ring
before performing AE lock or shifting lens. In manual exposure mode, preset aperture using lens aperture ring
and determine exposure before shifting lens. 18. Exposure compensation required when used with certain lenses.
See teleconverter manual for details. 19. Requires Auto Extension Ring PK-12/13. Bellows Spacer PB-6D may be
required depending on camera orientation. 20. Use preset aperture. In aperture-priority auto exposure mode, set
aperture using focusing attachment before determining exposure and taking photograph.
• Reprocopy Outt PF-4 requires Camera Holder PA-4.
• Lens: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED
• 1/250 second, f/4
• White balance: Auto
• ISO sensitivity: 200
• Picture Control: Standard