New Nikon D300 Camera - First Photos (July 2008)

Well, I guess once you are a gadget addict... So, I upgraded my old topside Nikon D100 system to a new Nikon D300 and I am very glad I did (until the credit card bill comes in that is). The feature set and image quality are a large step above the D100, which was a GREAT camera for its day (in 2002).

My new gear bag now consists of new and old elements:

  1. Nikon D300 Nikon USA
  2. Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 zoom Tamron
  3. Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR zoom
  4. Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 macro
  5. Tokina 12-24mm f/4 zoom Tokina
  6. Hakuba HG6240C carbon-fiber tripod and a Velon PH-263L head Hakuba
  7. Epson P-3000 Image Viewer Epson

The lenses are solidly in the middle of the pack in terms of quality and price. I can't see spending 10X to get the "best" lenses and then have to haul 50 lbs. of glass around. I did a lot of research and found that these four lenses give me nearly everything I need. Nearly means that 95% of the time I can get the shot I want with decent quality.

The D300 Advantage

I will not try and justify my new purchase to the world, only report the main advantages that I experience:

    1. The large 3" LCD screen. Worth the upgrade price right there!
    2. Noise Performance: Side by side tests show a dramatic decrease in noise over the D100 or my point and shoots
    3. Auto-focus and exposure system: Fast, sophisticated and easy to use
    4. Frame Rate: 6 frames per second combined with a huge internal memory. Can you say "action photos"!
    5. Battery Life: It is an almost 5X increase in battery life.

Could I have continued to take pictures that maximize my images with just the D100? The answer is YES!... but what's the fun in that???

Here are some of the better shots in the initial round of pictures from the camera. I can't give all the credit to the camera body. Many of these shots became possible by replacing a couple of my older lenses with the Nikkor 18-200mm VR and the Tokina wide-angle 12-24mm.


Click picture for larger image...

Chinese Cemetery on Skyline Blvd.
Near Devil's Slide on Hwy. 1
Sea Gull Hovering in the Breeze
Old Pier at Half Moon Bay
Morning Cloud Bank at Montara Beach
Pelican in Flight
Pelican Squadron
Purisima Redwoods
Hetch Hetchy Temple
Woodside Store
Wind Surfer, SF Bay
Dive Bombing the Competition
         
Suspended in Flight
         

Topside Photos of Point Lobos State Reserve