I really enjoy the convenience of the snap and shoot compact digital cameras, but through the years I've always enjoyed the picture quality and creativity you can get with a good SLR. I still enjoy my Nikon 8008s that I've had for years, but I guess it's now time to step up the convenience of one that's digital.
I'm looking at the recently released Nikon D300. Have any thoughts about it? It comes with an 18-200 Nikon lens.

I can't speak to the D300 directly ... I just have a D200 and it is a spectacular camera. I would assume the D300 is the noble successor to the D200. If so, it should be a real winner.

The 18-200 is a wonderful lens though a bit largish.

/

I ave been using both the D3 and D300 and feel they better than any of the cameras I have ad before - from both Nikon and Canon.

I use the D300 on my travels, using the following lenses.

Nikon 18-200 VR
Nikon 70-300 VR
Nikon 80-400 VR

I have taken leterally thousands of photo with the D300 with excellent results.

In fact, a few days ago we were in a remote area of Oman, and had the D300 with me. I have a 16GB CF card in it. I was happily snapping at some fishermen and birds feeding on the fish. One young man came by and said I would run out of film very soon, as I was clicking like there is no tomorrow.

I explained to him that my camera did not hve any film as such, but a memory card that takes about 1400 photoes!

He looked at me and laughed.

I got the card out of the camera, and showed it to him.

He asked how does one put the photoes on paper.

I put the card back, and displayed some of the photoes for him.

The look on his face was priceless!

I think I might have over done the shock effect, as I explained to him that I can connect my cell phone to my laptop, and send those same photoes immediately anywhere in the world.

I am sure he is in total shock by now!

Saeed,
It sounds like you have been very pleased with your D300 and I too am on the verge of reaching that same point since I bought one a few days ago. I'm a long way from mastering all of the things it can do, but just the basic operations using some the automatic settings seems to provide great results. Hopefully between now and when we head to the Selous in a few months I'll have this thing figured out.
Speaking of using it in Africa, how do you handle recharges? Do you take an extra battery, recharge through a cigarette lighter in the Land Cruiser, recharge with power from the camp's generator, or can a pre-hunt charge at home last you the entire time away? I'm not confident in the last option on a 21-day hunt....

I charge my equipment every day at camp.

In fact, I am normally the man in charge of charging everyone's cameras batteries!

The D300 wold take pver 1000 photoes before it reuires a re-charge. Still, I suggest you take your charger with you.

And if you are not taking a laptop with you, you might wish to invest in a hi-capacity compact flash card.

quote:

hi-capacity compact flash card

Saeed, I am not sure what you mean here. Do you mean a card to which you will back up the card in your camera, or just a high capacity card for the camers itself. I am concerned about accidentally deleting pictures or losing the card and or camera, so the idea of backing it up has merit for me.
Peter.

quote:

16GB CF

I think he's talking about his 16GB card. I currently only have a 2GB, which will hold 574 pics in my current setting. Obviously a much larger card will allow you to take pics with reckless abandon with little concern for running out of space.

I meant a hi capacity card for the camera. With it set at the highest resolution, I can take about 1,400 photoes with a 16 GB card.

And if you are worried about loosing the card or camera, there are small card readers with a hard disk in them. You just insert your card there, and its is backed up to the hard disk.

If you do not have a laptop with you, this might something you can take with you.

Vic

I traded my D200 for a D300 a few months ago. I already had a few manual lenses that will work with the D200 & D300 so that's what pushed me towards Nikon. If you don't have any lenses it's really a toss up between the Canon and Nikon. I think Nikon has a better selection of lenses but Canon produces better pics.

Rich

AF=17-35 f2.8, 35-70 f2.8
MF=80-200 f4, 50 f1.4

richj,
Interesting building - where is it?

I also shoot a D300 for work pictures and for travel. Others in my office use it also for work and I let them take it on their vacations.

It is flawless as far as I am concerned but when on the trail I use a pocket camera (Canon Ixus).

The BAT chamber :-) Brooklyn Army Terminal. There are still old painted signs near each garage type door, one is marked "The Balkans"

Rich