Nikon D300 - Obsolete?

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Discussion

Itsallicanafford

Original Poster:

2,759 posts

158 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Evening, would appreciate some advice. I bought my D300 new about 8 years ago and now have a window of opportunity to upgrade the body if required (40th birthday). Nikon are running a £400 additional trade in that I think the D300 qualifies for on the D810 which I could stretch to but with only an inexpensive lens (50mm F1.4)

Thing is, is this necessary? At present, the D300 is sitting in its box without a lens as they have all been sold to keep my rusty mk1 MX5 on the road! Although I have grand ideas of spending weekends taking landscape or city shots, the reality is life with 2 small kids is that I'm taking photos of them which the D300 seemingly does a good job of (with movies via IPhone) or I just use my Ricoh GRD IV (although fixed lens abit limiting).

To try to inject abit of creativity I've been thinking of setting up to do some macro work at home which I could do in the evenings. So maybe the money could be invested in a good macro lens and lighting (105mm VR micro nikon + macro flash set-up) and use the D300. Images would only ever be viewed on screen or printed at 8x10''?

Advice needed as I am going around in circles on this one!

Many thanks






NiceCupOfTea

25,280 posts

250 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Fwiw I have a d200 which is absolutely great and its only real limiting factor is me smile

Whilst tech has moved on a huge amount, what was a great camera 8 years ago is still a great camera. Spend the money on glass IMHO.

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Fwiw I have a d200 which is absolutely great and its only real limiting factor is me smile

Whilst tech has moved on a huge amount, what was a great camera 8 years ago is still a great camera. Spend the money on glass IMHO.
agreed! I use the 300s as a holiday camera.

Simpo Two

85,148 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Your D300 will be just as good as it was when it was new, so it if does everything you need, spend the money on things you don't have - like a macro lens and lighting.

Even if you did need the ability of a D810, going from DX to FX isn't a step to be taken lightly.

Judge Simpo says 'Gear fetish' judge

Next!

Itsallicanafford

Original Poster:

2,759 posts

158 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Your D300 will be just as good as it was when it was new, so it if does everything you need, spend the money on things you don't have - like a macro lens and lighting.

Even if you did need the ability of a D810, going from DX to FX isn't a step to be taken lightly.

Judge Simpo says 'Gear fetish' judge

Next!
Guilty as charged! The crap I've bought over the years makes me shudder...

You are of course right, much better to spend money on lenses so I can use what I've got, I really don't need a new camera. Must make an effort to actually start taking photos again with what I have rather than collecting all the new shinny stuff!!!

Thanks for the reality check!

K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Itsallicanafford said:
.... need ....
Easy to make this mistake.....

K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Itsallicanafford said:
.... (105mm VR micro nikon + macro flash set-up)
Good choices.


The "only" downside of the latest 105mm AF-S VR is that it is a G designation, so doesn't have an aperture ring (it's the only "G" lens I have or would entertain) However, I have recently sourced a cheap set of rings with electrical contacts that allow the G lens to work. There are various thoughts on the validity of a VR set up on a lens being used for close up, but that ignores the fact that this lens will be great for any- and everything including portraiture if you want. You can also use the AF-S lens with a TC14, for example (work particularly well), with minimal loss of quality.

It has the advantage of being "more" than just a Micro lens for close up work, but when you get in close it does take some getting used to (can be damn frustrating to compose and focus!) because of its particular optical design and the way the focal length effectively changes with focus. (Not impossible - just takes some getting used to!)


If you were *only* considering close up, you might consider a previous series 105mm, then you have more choices with, say, extension rings, etc. (And save some money)

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
thoroughly recommend the 105 for portraiture...









all on FF cameras...

Turn7

23,502 posts

220 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Love my 300, currentyl see no need to change, and even if I did, the Nikon range is now so confusing I wouldnt know what to buy.

Obsolescence does not stop it taking quality photographs.

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
Love my 300, currentyl see no need to change, and even if I did, the Nikon range is now so confusing I wouldnt know what to buy.

Obsolescence does not stop it taking quality photographs.
wait for the 400

Turn7

23,502 posts

220 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
Turn7 said:
Love my 300, currentyl see no need to change, and even if I did, the Nikon range is now so confusing I wouldnt know what to buy.

Obsolescence does not stop it taking quality photographs.
wait for the 400
Yeah,might be a long time coming tho....

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Since I mostly do motor sport, the 70/200 and the 200/400 are my usual lenses. I think my 105mm macro has been used but twice since I bought it in 2007. Yet another sitting in the cupboard. It is a wonderful lens, but I found I didn't have the patience for macro, which is what I bought it for.

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
I have a 300 f4 that never sees the light of day either. Same for a 14-24 and 16-35 bought and never use! 24-70 and 70-200 and 35, 50, 60, 85, 105 are more than enough for me.

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
I could add the F90X, the F2, the Noct 50mm 1.2, the 75/300 4.5/5.6, the D2X, and other DX lenses too. I only carry now (the 200/400 apart which is a separate item being so heavy) the 24/70, the 70/200, the flash, and the 1.4 and 1.7 multipliers with the D3 in one back pack. That is more than enough at my age. I shan't bother now to change the camera since I do far less photography than I used to. Maybe I should start a museum, with me in it!

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
The d810 is a fantastic camera, it's feature list will be far more impressive whilst sat in the box back of the cupboard.


Simpo Two

85,148 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Itsallicanafford said:
So maybe the money could be invested in a good macro lens
lowdrag said:
I think my 105mm macro has been used but twice since I bought it in 2007. Yet another sitting in the cupboard. It is a wonderful lens, but I found I didn't have the patience for macro, which is what I bought it for.
There could be a deal here....


So that's 10% to me as introducer, plus 10% of the money the OP saved by not buying a D810.

Not bad for two posts biggrin

ian in lancs

3,769 posts

197 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
RobDickinson said:
The d810 is a fantastic camera, it's feature list will be far more impressive whilst sat in the box back of the cupboard.
It is a fantastic camera as is the D800 but the OP may need to increase budget for computer, storage and memory cards....

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
Still shooting on a 300 here. I've got others but it's what I keep going back to.

It's still a significantly better camera than I am a photographer so I see no reason to get rid smile

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
It is a fantastic camera as is the D800 but the OP may need to increase budget for computer, storage and memory cards....
Leave it in the cupboard without lenses and you can skip all of that!

The D300 , whilst getting on , is still quite a capable camera, the D810 is better but it will only show itself so in relatively marginal situations. Neither work well without a lens or without bothering to take pictures..

K12beano

20,854 posts

274 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
I have a 300 f4 that never sees the light of day either. Same for a 14-24 and 16-35 bought and never use! 24-70 and 70-200 and 35, 50, 60, 85, 105 are more than enough for me.
Uh-ha...(14, 17-35, 45, 50, 85, 105, TC14, TC20..... Got a 300mm sized hole.... (FX))