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Nikon D300 vs Sony A560

Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
59
Overall
54
Nikon D300 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Key Specs

Nikon D300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 925g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Announced March 2008
  • Succeeded the Nikon D200
  • Replacement is Nikon D300S
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A500
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Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon D300 and Sony A560, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the D300 (12MP) and the A560 (14MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras have the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D300 was launched 3 years before the A560 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon D300 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the D300 scores versus the A560 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300 over the Sony A560

 D300 A560 

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Nikon D300

 A560 D300 
RevealedAugust 2010March 2008More recent by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D300 and Sony A560

 D300 A560 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution922k922kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D300 comes with exterior 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 Sony A560 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D300 and Sony A560 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the D300 and the A560.

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the D300 and A560 is 55 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the D300 and A560.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Sony A560 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The older D300 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A560 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300 Street photography advice
Sony A560 Street photography advice
56
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
75
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300 Sports photography highlights
Sony A560 Sports photography highlights
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather sealing
good battery power (1,000 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery power (1,050 shots)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300 Travel photography highlights
Sony A560 Travel photography highlights
56
good battery power (1,000 shots)
weather sealing
flash built-in
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
60
great battery power (1,050 CIPA)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D300 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A560 Landscape photography highlights
64
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery power (1,000 shots)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (1,050 per charge)
has double storage slots
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300 Vlogging advice
Sony A560 Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Nikon D300 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300 and Sony A560
 Nikon D300Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D300 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2008-03-12 2010-08-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 2848 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 51 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 925g (2.04 lb) 599g (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.3
DXO Low light rating 679 817
Other
Battery life 1000 pictures 1050 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3e NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail price $1,100 $650