D300 - What they don't tell you!

[ian in lancs]

Upgrading from a D80 to the Fandabidosi D300 camera meant I could use all my glass, SB600 flashes and batteries etc but not the loads of SD cards. I knew the latter but the hidden costs are....

D80 remote control doesn't work - need to buy specific D300 one

Picture Project can't read D300 .NEF files - we're expected to buy NX; fortunately I have it but it's really crap!
Camera Control Pro can't control a D300 - we're expected to upgrade to CC2. At a grand for a body why can't they package this?
Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 can't read D300 .NEF files :-( I need to look into this but upside is I can still use Lightroom; it has always been and will always be fantastic Library management and editing tool.

[Simpo Two]

Almost every time a new camera is released, all the software is changed (NEFs being a very good example). As for not having a £10 remote control, yes it's irksome, but the D300 is branded 'semi-pro' so I expect Nikon's view is that semi-pros either don't want to use £10 remote controls, or have more cash so will buy the more expensive version. Going up another league to the D3, you don't get a pop-up flash because people spending £3K on a body have other ways of lighting things and would rather the pentaprism housing was full of pentaprism! It's all part of the ladder.

[jagracer]

I was thinking of getting one, I only have my normal Nikkor lenses and no accessories but out of interest what memory cards does it use?

[stigmundfreud]

one other area for canon to be proud, its packaged software is 100% compatible with all its range of cameras and works fantastic.

No use to you I know but lik eyou the pain with canon is their remots arent compatible either nor are the batteries

[Simpo Two]

jagracer said:

I was thinking of getting one, I only have my normal Nikkor lenses and no accessories but out of interest what memory cards does it use?

CF.

Battery compatibility is another thing to look for (but at the end of the day are you really not going to buy the camera you want just because it takes different batteries?)

[ian in lancs]

Simpo Two said:

...obvious stuff then what I think Nikon's view is that semi-pros ... have more cash so will buy the more expensive version.

enforced redundancy and duplication - irritating contempt for customers...

Edited by ian in lancs on Sunday 6th September 13:16

[ian in lancs]

Simpo Two said:

Battery compatibility is another thing to look for (but at the end of the day are you really not going to buy the camera you want just because it takes different batteries?)

No but I did like the D300 uses the same battery and charger as the D80 so when I travel with the D80 as a backup its one less recharger to carry; Laptop, Camera, Blackberry, Nokia, Flash AA's etc all require me to carry bulky chargers. Go abroad and its plug adaptors too.

Edited by ian in lancs on Sunday 6th September 13:16

[Nero601]

ian in lancs said:

enforced redundancy and duplication - irritating contempt for customers...

you could blame any manufacturer of consumer electronics for that , not just nikon , technological advancement never stops and the comsumer is as much to blame for this as the makers of the products we buy and aspire to own

[Simpo Two]

ian in lancs said:

Simpo Two said:

...obvious stuff then what I think Nikon's view is that semi-pros ... have more cash so will buy the more expensive version.

enforced redundancy and duplication - irritating contempt for customers...

I'm afraid you'll have to realise that newbies with a D40 want different things on their cameras from pros with a D3. If you don't wish to pay the extra then you don't have to.

[ian in lancs]

I'm complaining that the software investment I've made isn't functional with the D300 not that the D300 itself is a problem.

[Kermit power]

Simpo Two said:

ian in lancs said:

Simpo Two said:

...obvious stuff then what I think Nikon's view is that semi-pros ... have more cash so will buy the more expensive version.

enforced redundancy and duplication - irritating contempt for customers...

I'm afraid you'll have to realise that newbies with a D40 want different things on their cameras from pros with a D3. If you don't wish to pay the extra then you don't have to.

That's true with some features of course - the lack of built in flash and program modes on higher end models being a good example - but is there really any excuse for manufacturers not to standardise on batteries, software and the like?

[ian in lancs]

Kermit power said:

That's true with some features of course - the lack of built in flash and program modes on higher end models being a good example - but is there really any excuse for manufacturers not to standardise on batteries, software and the like?

my point exactly! Camera Control Pro is a good example and the one that I used a lot with my D80 for tethered shooting. £150 to buy version 2 or £45 for an upgrade. Rip off for what it actually does in computer terms! If I download a trial version to look see it overwrites the version I have. Ergo stuffed. Thanks Nikon!

And corporations wonder why we use ripped off copies!

Anyone know of a Lightroom add on or method for Nikon tethered shooting?

[Simpo Two]

Kermit power said:

That's true with some features of course - the lack of built in flash and program modes on higher end models being a good example - but is there really any excuse for manufacturers not to standardise on batteries, software and the like?

I don't go anywhere near Nikon software - just as I wouldn't buy an Adobe camera. In fact it was a software issue that means my D300 spends most of a time in a box as back-up to the D200, but that's just because I can't get on with Lightroom.

Nikon battery compatibility is pretty good I think - but it's not reasonable to expect everything from the pro models to be fitted into the lower models for free.

Camera companies have to make money somehow, and with everybody surfing for the cheapest outlet, margins have decreased. So the price of the accessories goes up. You could have cheap or free accessories, but then the camera would cost more, and everybody wants 'the best deal'. So they get given the 'best deal' up front, then get caned later.

Still, prospects can always research before buying and winkle out any nasties that may lie ahead. I think the internet has made us obsessed with price. I'm astonished how many times you see people on here with very well paid jobs worrying abut a few £.