Nikon D300S PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D300S? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D300S offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D300S below.
In any case, the D300S is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was announced on July 30th, 2009, which means that, as of today, the camera is 5375 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Nikon D500 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Nikon's user manual for the D300S
The camera's user manual is 432 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D300S is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D300S manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D300S manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Nikon D300S
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D300S by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Nikon D300S is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Nikon D300S FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D300S.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Nikon D300S?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D300S to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D300S with the EXPEED image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D300S?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D300S?
Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 150 000 actuations for the D300S. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D300S over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D300S?
Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D300S has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D300S?
No, the Nikon D300S has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Does the Nikon D300S feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D300S for flash photography?
The D300S's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Which battery does the Nikon D300S use?
The camera gets its power from the Nikon EN-EL3e (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D300S?
Yes, Nikon offers the MB-D10 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Further reading
How does the D300S stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 1Ds Mark II vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 400D vs Nikon D300S
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Nikon D300S
- Leica SL3 vs Sony A9 II
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- Nikon D300S vs Nikon Z5
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- Sony A9 II vs Sony A9 III
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D300S.
Camera Model | Nikon D300S | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Nikon F mount lenses | |
Launch Date | July 2009 | |
Launch Price | USD 1 799 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 23.6 x 15.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 373 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 28.4 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12.2 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 288 x 2 848 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 5.53 μm | |
Pixel Density | 3.28 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 720/24p Video | |
ISO Setting | 200 - 3 200 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 100 - 6 400 ISO | |
Image Processor | EXPEED | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 70 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.5 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.2 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 787 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.63x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 920k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 7 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 150 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | CF or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | no | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Nikon EN-EL3e power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 950 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
147 x 115 x 81 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 938 g (33.1 oz) |
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