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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54
Nikon D300 front
 
Nikon D500 front
Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Key Specs

Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Released March 2008
  • Older Model is Nikon D200
  • Newer Model is Nikon D300S
Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D300S
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Nikon D300 and Nikon D500, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are sold by Nikon. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the D300 (12MP) and D500 (21MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D300 was unveiled 8 years before the D500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the D300 scores versus the D500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Nikon D500

 D300 D500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Nikon D300

 D500 D300 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016March 2008More recent by 95 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2359k922kCrisper display (+1437k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Nikon D500

 D300 D500 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D300 comes with external measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") with a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs) and the Nikon D500 has proportions of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") along with a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs).

See the Nikon D300 and Nikon D500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the D300 compared to the D500.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D300 and D500 is 55 and 56 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the D300 and D500.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Nikon D500 to provide more detail having an extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older D300 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 Portrait photography factors
Nikon D500 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300 Street photography features
Nikon D500 Street photography features
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
68
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
environment proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 Sports photography advice
Nikon D500 Sports photography advice
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,000 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
good battery pack (1,240 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D300
Travel photography with Nikon D500
56
great battery pack (1,000 shots)
environment proofing
has built in flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
68
good battery pack (1,240 CIPA)
environment proof
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300 Landscape photography factors
Nikon D500 Landscape photography factors
64
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery pack (1,000 shots)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
good battery pack (1,240 shots)
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 Vlogging details
Nikon D500 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
31
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Nikon D500
 Nikon D300Nikon D500
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D300 Nikon D500
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-03-12 2016-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed Expeed 5
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 21 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4288 x 2848 5568 x 3712
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 1640000
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 51 153
Cross type focus points - 99
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Available lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 922k dots 2,359k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.66x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 925 gr (2.04 lb) 860 gr (1.90 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 84
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 14.0
DXO Low light rating 679 1324
Other
Battery life 1000 photographs 1240 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant)
Card slots 1 2
Retail cost $1,100 $1,497