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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54
Nikon D300 front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Introduced March 2008
  • Older Model is Nikon D200
  • Updated by Nikon D300S
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Superseded the Nikon D700
  • New Model is Nikon D810
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Nikon D300 and Nikon D800, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are created by Nikon. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the D300 (12MP) and D800 (36MP) and the D300 (APS-C) and D800 (Full frame) use different sensor sizes.

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The D300 was introduced 5 years prior to the D800 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the D300 grades against the D800 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Nikon D800

 D300 D800 
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Nikon D300

 D800 D300 
ReleasedJune 2012March 2008Newer by 51 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Nikon D800

 D300 D800 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D300 provides outer measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs) and the Nikon D800 has measurements of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Check the Nikon D300 and Nikon D800 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the D300 versus the D800.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D300 and D800 is 55 and 54 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D300 and D800.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D300 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon D800 will produce more detail using its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged D300 will be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 Portrait photography information
Nikon D800 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
83
you can focus manually
high megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Street photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Street photography camera
56
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 Sports photography details
Nikon D800 Sports photography details
56
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
great battery pack (1,000 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
74
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
high megapixels (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300 Travel photography highlights
Nikon D800 Travel photography highlights
56
great battery pack (1,000 per charge)
weather sealing
flash built-in
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
66
weather proofing
high megapixels (36MP)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300 Landscape photography information
Nikon D800 Landscape photography information
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
great battery pack (1,000 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inches)
high megapixels (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 Vlogging details
Nikon D800 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
30
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Nikon D800
 Nikon D300Nikon D800
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D300 Nikon D800
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-03-12 2012-06-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 51 51
Cross type focus points - 15
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Number of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 925 grams (2.04 lbs) 900 grams (1.98 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 95
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 25.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 14.4
DXO Low light rating 679 2853
Other
Battery life 1000 shots 900 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Storage slots Single Two
Launch price $1,100 $2,999