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Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Launched November 2009
  • Replaced the Nikon D300
  • Successor is Nikon D600
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A99
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Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Nikon D300S versus Sony A99 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the D300S (12MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the D300S (APS-C) and A99 II (Full frame) use different sensor measurements.

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The D300S was brought out 7 years before the A99 II and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the D300S scores vs the A99 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Sony A99 II

 D300S A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Nikon D300S

 A99 II D300S 
IntroducedSeptember 2016November 2009More recent by 83 months
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Sony A99 II

 D300S A99 II 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon D300S provides exterior dimensions of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) and the Sony A99 II has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D300S versus Sony A99 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the D300S versus the A99 II.

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D300S and A99 II is 55 and 57 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The photograph below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D300S and A99 II.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The D300S featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A99 II will show greater detail having its extra 30MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older D300S will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 II Portrait photography advice
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
86
you can focus manually
great megapixels (42 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D300S
Street photography with Sony A99 II
52
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (938g)
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Sports photography camera
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery (490 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography advice
Sony A99 II Travel photography advice
48
environment proofing
flash built-in
more heavy than competitors in class (938g)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
great megapixels (42 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery (490 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D300S
Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
82
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
not so great battery (490 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D300S
Vlogging with Sony A99 II
22
offers face detect autofocus
comes with microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
more heavy than competitors in class (938 grams)
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone support
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Nikon D300S vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Sony A99 II
 Nikon D300SSony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D300S Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-11-16 2016-09-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 42 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 7952 x 5304
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 51 399
Cross type focus points - 79
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 938g (2.07 lbs) 849g (1.87 lbs)
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 92
DXO Color Depth rating 22.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.4
DXO Low light rating 787 2317
Other
Battery life 950 shots 490 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery ID EN-EL3e -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Card slots Dual Dual
Cost at launch $1,630 $3,198