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Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54
Nikon D300 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Announced March 2008
  • Superseded the Nikon D200
  • Renewed by Nikon D300S
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
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Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Nikon D300 versus Pentax K-1 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the D300 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the D300 (APS-C) and K-1 II (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The D300 was unveiled 11 years earlier than the K-1 II and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the D300 grades vs the K-1 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Pentax K-1 II

 D300 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Nikon D300

 K-1 II D300 
IntroducedFebruary 2018March 2008Fresher by 121 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k922kCrisper screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Pentax K-1 II

 D300 K-1 II 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon D300 has external measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") and a weight of 925 grams (2.04 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

See the Nikon D300 versus Pentax K-1 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the D300 against the K-1 II.

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D300 and K-1 II is 55 and 55 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking specs. The graphic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the D300 and K-1 II.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D300 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will give greater detail having an extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older D300 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
86
has manual focus
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-1 II Street photography highlights
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
above average ISO range (819,200)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography advice
56
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proof
better than average battery power (1,000 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.4 fps)
bad battery life (670 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Travel photography camera
56
better than average battery power (1,000 per charge)
environment proof
flash built-in
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
53
environment proof
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
bad battery life (670 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010g)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Landscape photography camera
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery power (1,000 shots)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
82
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
bad battery life (670 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
32
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors in class (1,010 grams)
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Nikon D300 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Pentax K-1 II
 Nikon D300Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D300 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2008-03-12 2018-02-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed PRIME IV
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 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 4288 x 2848 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 3200 819200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 51 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 925 gr (2.04 lbs) 1010 gr (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 679 not tested
Other
Battery life 1000 shots 670 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 2
Retail cost $1,100 $1,737