Canon 7D Mark II vs Nikon D300S: The Advanced DSLR Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the ever-evolving realm of digital cameras, some models carve deep marks not just by specs but through sheer reliability and versatility in the hands of enthusiasts and working photographers. Today, I’m putting two solid champions of the mid-size DSLR segment head-to-head: Canon EOS 7D Mark II and Nikon D300S. Both heralded in their prime as advanced DSLRs, they continue to merit consideration for those hunting capable tools without breaking the bank on full-frame or mirrorless systems.

I’ve spent extensive hours testing these cameras in diverse real-world situations, from rapid-fire wildlife chases to long exposure star fields. What follows is a detailed, experience-driven comparison that balances technical fact with tangible user insight - to help you decide if one of these aging yet still powerful DSLRs fits into your photographic goals.

A Tale of Two Bodies: Handling and Ergonomics

The Canon 7D Mark II, released in 2014, is very much a mid-size DSLR with a confident grip and robust build. Nikon’s D300S, a veteran from 2009, feels more compact but packs a rugged punch as well.

Take a look at this side-by-side size comparison to get a visual sense of their physical footprint:

The Canon edges out in heft at 910g versus Nikon’s 938g, but the slightly taller and chunkier Canon (149x112x78 mm) offers a more substantial grip - something I found especially beneficial during long wildlife shoots holding massive telephotos. The 7D Mark II’s body features environmental sealing, making it mildly weather-resistant, a feature Nikon also offers in the D300S.

Flipping the cameras over gives another angle on their design and control approaches:

Canon’s dual DIGIC 6 processors facilitate a smooth, highly responsive shooting experience with minimal shutter lag. The familiar EOS layout remains intuitive - control dials, configurable buttons, and an LCD status panel on top that’s handy in the field. Nikon’s button layout feels a bit more cluttered but functional once you adapt, with some added white balance bracketing capabilities Canon skips.

Neither camera offers touchscreen controls or articulated rear screens; the Canon’s 3.0-inch LCD slightly outresolves Nikon’s at 1040K dots vs 920K, but both are fixed and solid.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: Resolution vs Color Depth

At the heart of any camera lie its sensor and imaging pipeline. Canon equips the 7D Mark II with a 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (22.4x15 mm), paired with dual DIGIC 6 processors, delivering an excellent combination of resolution and speed. The Nikon D300S uses a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (23.6x15.8 mm) with Nikon’s robust EXPEED processor.

I found this sensor size and pixel density difference quite telling in practical photography. Here’s a visual side-by-side of their sensor specs for clarity:

Canon’s higher resolution enables detailed compositions with good cropping latitude - ideal for large prints or telephoto wildlife crops. Nikon’s sensor, though lower in resolution, leans slightly better in dynamic range and color fidelity.

DxOMark scores confirm a near tie in overall score (Canon 70, Nikon 70), but Nikon holds a small advantage in dynamic range (12.2 vs 11.8 EV), helpful for landscape shooters wrestling with sunlit shadows, while Canon enjoys better low-light ISO performance (1082 vs 787). Interestingly, color depth metrics are very close, hovering around 22.4-22.5 bits.

When I put the two through extensive studio portrait sessions, Canon’s 7D Mark II rendered skin tones with gentle warmth and pleasing gradation. Nikon’s D300S colors sway a bit cooler, which I personally feel can be corrected in post but is something to keep in mind if you prefer punchier JPG straight out of camera.

Viewing the World: LCD and Viewfinder Comparison

During my on-location shoots, the viewfinder clarity and rear screen readability made a tangible difference in composition and focus checks.

Canon maintains a traditional optical pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.63x magnification - the Nikon is almost identical here. Optical viewfinders, especially in DSLRs, still trump electronic ones for lag-free viewing.

The Canon slightly bests Nikon in rear screen resolution, making image review and menu navigation a bit clearer.

Neither camera boasts touchscreen interfaces nor tilting displays, so you’ll rely on physical buttons and dials. The 7D Mark II’s menus feel streamlined compared to Nikon’s often deeper hierarchies, an important factor when you’re switching quickly between modes or settings under pressure.

Autofocus Systems and Burst Shooting: Speed and Accuracy in Action

One major criterion to separate these two cameras is their autofocus systems and burst shooting performance, especially if you shoot action, wildlife, or sports.

Canon 7D Mark II’s autofocus system features 65 AF points, all cross-type, vastly outperforming the Nikon’s 51-point AF system with fewer known cross-type points. Canon also incorporates advanced tracking and face detection algorithms, plus superior continuous AF in live view.

Autofocus speed was genuinely noticeable in field tests - Canon locks quicker and held focus robustly on erratic birds and swiftly moving athletes.

Burst shooting frames per second:

• Canon 7D Mark II: 10 fps
• Nikon D300S: 7 fps

That extra thrust by Canon can yield more decisive sequences in sports and wildlife photography. File buffer management also favors the 7D Mark II, thanks to its dual processors and faster CompactFlash + SD card slots.

Photo Quality Across Photography Genres

Let’s dig into how these cameras perform across various popular photographic disciplines. I put them through rigorous testing, often side-by-side.

Portraits: Rendering Skin and Depth of Field

The 7D Mark II’s 20MP sensor captures remarkable detail and smooth bokeh, especially when paired with Canon’s EF lenses renowned for creamy backgrounds. Eye detection AF helps lock focus swiftly on faces, though Nikon’s system isn’t too far behind for single subjects.

Color reproduction in portraits felt a bit more natural on the Canon, with less need for tweaking skin tones.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Canon’s slight edge in resolution aids landscape cropping and printing. Nikon’s D300S surprisingly holds the advantage in dynamic range, pulling more detail from shadows without nasty noise buildup at base ISO.

Both cameras offer environmental sealing but no full weatherproofing, so hikers and outdoor shooters should pair them with rugged lenses and rain covers.

Wildlife: Autofocus and Telephoto Support

The Canon’s 10 fps and 65 cross-type focus points delivered dramatically better subject tracking in long 400mm+ telephoto setups. Nikon’s AF lagged a bit in high-speed bird or mammal action, which I confirmed through extended trials in the field.

Sports: Frame Rate and Low Light Behavior

Again, Canon dominates here. Faster continuous shooting, paired with superior low-light sensitivity (ISO 16000 max native with extended boosts), allows capturing fast-paced sports in dim interiors. Nikon maxes out at ISO 3200 natively, limiting low-light performance somewhat.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

The Nikon feels a bit less bulky in the hand, favoring discreet street work. Both cameras lack advanced silencing features; however, the 7D Mark II’s faster AF speeds help catch fleeting moments.

Macro Work: Focusing Precision

Neither offers in-camera focus stacking or bracketing but solid manual focus aids and live view zoom assist make macro achievable. Canon’s faster and more precise live view AF system gives it a slight edge on the 7D Mark II here.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Canon’s superior high ISO performance (native 100-16000, expandable to 51200) and slightly better noise control make it my pick for astro shooters. Nikon’s D300S maxes out at ISO 6400 boosted, which might limit long exposure star fields without heavy noise reduction.

Video Capabilities: Quality vs Features

The Canon 7D Mark II records full HD 1080p video up to 60fps, with external mic and headphone jacks, useful for controlled audio monitoring. Nikon D300S is limited to 720p HD at 24fps, with only a microphone input.

Video shooters will appreciate the Canon’s more modern codec (MPEG-4) and higher frame rates; Nikon’s video functionality is more of a basic add-on.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Despite slightly larger dimensions and weight, Canon’s battery life is rated at approximately 670 shots, less than the Nikon’s impressive 950 shots per charge. Storage-wise, both offer dual card slots supporting Compact Flash plus SD cards for safety and capacity extension.

If battery longevity is paramount in remote locations, Nikon’s D300S edges out, but Canon offers more versatile image specs.

Professional Work: Reliability and Workflow Integration

Both cameras support professional needs with rugged builds, weather sealing, solid tethering options (Canon USB 3.0 is faster than Nikon USB 2.0), and full raw file support. Canon’s newer platform offers greater lens options with 326 lenses in the EF/EF-S lineup versus Nikon’s 309 F-mount lenses.

Sample Images Speak Volumes

Nothing beats looking at test gallery images to judge overall photo characteristics - I compared RAW files processed in Lightroom, balancing noise, sharpness, and color fidelity.

Canon 7D MII front Canon 7D MII screen back Nikon D300S screen back

Canon’s output shows increased detail in foliage and textures; Nikon’s files gleam with richer contrast on low ISO files, though lack resolution for large prints.

Overall Performance Scores At a Glance

DxOMark scoring matches my practical observations well. Here’s an overall performance barometer:

Canon scores highest on autofocus, burst speed, and ISO range, while Nikon remains competitive in dynamic range, battery life, and ergonomics.

Genre-Specific Recommendations and Scores

For a quick summary by genre, here’s how each stacks up with my personal recommendations:

Practical Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

If you want my personal take after hundreds of shooting hours...

Choose Canon 7D Mark II if:

• You prioritize action, wildlife, or sports photography.
• You want higher resolution photos and superior video features.
• You value cutting-edge autofocus and tracking performance.
• You don’t mind slightly reduced battery life for enhanced speed.
• Your budget ranges around $1000 and you want proven durability plus an extensive EF lens ecosystem.

Choose Nikon D300S if:

• You value battery life and proven ruggedness in a compact body.
• You shoot landscapes or portraits where dynamic range and color depth are paramount.
• Budget is flexible (around $1600 street price), and you prefer Nikon’s F mount system.
• You want a capable workhorse with simplicity over high burst speed.
• Video is not a focus, and you want reliable still photography in challenging conditions.

Final Thoughts

Both cameras have stood the test of time and really shine in their respective areas. As someone who’s logged countless hours with both, I admire the Canon 7D Mark II for its sustained innovation in speed and autofocus sophistication, while respecting the Nikon D300S as a dependable, versatile DSLR that remains a classic.

Whichever you pick, pairing the camera with quality glass and understanding its strengths will unlock rewards beyond pixels and specs - the joy of making celebrated images precisely suited to your style and needs.

Dear Canon and Nikon, please keep these hardworking lines alive with future firmware updates. And for readers, if you want to see detailed autofocus and image samples in action, feel free to check my comprehensive video review linked above.

Here’s to sharp images and happy shooting!

This hands-on comparison is brought to you by over 15 years’ experience testing and reviewing cameras worldwide - always with practical insight and a passion for photography.