Body material
Magnesium alloy

Sensor
• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor• DX format• RGB Color Filter Array• Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 13.1 million total pixels • 12.3 million effective pixels • 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor
Nikon EXPEED

A/D conversion
14 bit

Image sizes
• 4288 x 2848 [L; 12.2 MP] • 3216 x 2136 [M; 6.9 MP]• 2144 x 1424 [S; 3.1 MP]

File formats
• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit , compressed or lossless compressed RAW)

• NEF + JPEG• TIFF • JPEG (EXIF 2.21)

NEF compression
• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%

• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%

Lens mount
• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts

• 1.5x field of view crop

Usable lenses
• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions possible

• D-/G-type AF NIKKOR (excluding IX NIKKOR lenses): All functions possible (excluding PC Micro- NIKKOR) • AF NIKKOR other than D-/G-type (excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions except 3D-Color Matrix Metering II possible

• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions except Autofocus, 3D-Color Matrix Metering II possible

• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data

Dust reduction
• Self-cleaning sensor unit ('Clean image sensor')

• Image dust-off data acquisition (Capture NX required)

Auto Focus
• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)

• Multi-CAM 3500DX

• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode

Lens Servo
• Single Servo AF [S]

• Continuous Servo AF [C]

• Manual focus [M]

• Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF

Focus Point
• Single point from 51 or 11 focus points• Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame

AF Area Mode
• Single point AF

• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]

• Automatic-area AF

Focus Lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

AF assist
Yes, lamp

Exposure modes
• Program Auto [P] with flexible program

• Shutter-Priority Auto [S]

• Aperture-Priority Auto [A]

• Manual [M]

Metering
TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor

• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)

• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, 10, or 13 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame (8 mm circle when non-CPU lens is used)

• Spot: Meters approx. 3 mm dia. circle (about 2.0% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

Metering range
• 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV

• At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens

Meter coupling
CPU and AI

Exposure lock
Locked using AE-L/AF-L button

Exposure bracketing
• 2 to 9 frames

• 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps

Exposure compen.
• +/-5.0 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Sensitivity
• Default: ISO 200 - 3200 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

• Boost: 100 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

Shutter
• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter

• 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps)

• Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec (up to 1/320 sec with reduced GN)

• Bulb

DOF Preview
• Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button• Activates modelling flash

White balance
• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)

• Presets (seven) with fine tuning

• Manual presets (four)

• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)

• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)

Picture Control
• Standard• Neutral• Vivid• Monochrome

Image parameters
• Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels • Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve • Brightness: 3 levels • Saturation: Auto, 5 levels • Hue: 5 levels

Color space
• sRGB (Standard and Vivid modes) • Adobe RGB (Neutral mode)

Viewfinder
• Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism

• Built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1m-1)

• Eyepoint: 19.5 mm (at -1.0m-1)

• Frame coverage 100%

• Viewfinder magnification approx 0.94x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens

Focusing screen
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II

• Superimposed focus brackets

• On-demand grid lines

LCD monitor *
• 3.0 " TFT LCD

• 922,000 pixels

• 170° viewing angle

• Brightness adjustment

LCD Liveview *
• Handheld mode: TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors)

• Tripod mode: focal-plane contrast AF on a desired point within a specific area

Shooting modes
• Single frame

• Continuous Low [CL]

• Continuous High [CH]

• Liveview [LV]

• Self-Timer (programmable)

• Mirror-up mode

Continuous shooting
• With built-in battery: up to 6 fps

• With AC adapter or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e: up to 8 fps

Continuous buffer
• JPEG Large/Normal: 100 shots (at 6 fps)

• RAW: no data yet

Self-timer
• 2 to 20 sec custom

Flash control
• TTL: TTL flash control by 1,005-pixel RGB sensor.

• Built-in Speedlight, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-400: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash

• AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-800 used with CPU lens

• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27, and 22S

• Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-800

Flash Sync Mode
• Front-curtain Sync (normal)

• Red-Eye Reduction

• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync

• Slow Sync

• Rear-curtain Sync

Built-in Speedlight
• Manual pop-up with button release

• Guide number (ISO 200, m) approx 17 (manual 18)

• Guide number (ISO 100, m) approx 12 (manual 13)

Flash Accessory Shoe
ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided

Flash Sync Terminal
ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided

Flash compensation
• -3 to +1 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Creative Lighting System
With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock

Orientation sensor
Tags images with camera orientation

Playback mode
• Full frame• Thumbnail (4 or 9 images)• One-touch zoom• Slideshow• RGB histogram• Shooting data • Highlight point• Auto image rotation

Languages
• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)• Dutch• English• Finnish• French• German• Italian• Japanese• Korean• Polish• Portuguese• Russian• Spanish• Swedish

Custom functions
48 custom functions

Connectivity
• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector

• HDMI video out (version 1.3a, Type A connector) • Remote control 10-pin terminal

• PC Sync flash terminal 10-pin terminal

• GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)

• Remote control: via 10-pin terminal

Communications
FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g)

Storage
• Compact Flash Type I or II

• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported

• 36 characters of text can be input and stored in EXIF header

Power
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)

• Included battery charger MH-18a

• Optional AC adapter EH-5a

• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip

Vertical grip
• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip

• One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, EN-EL4 or EN-EL3e or eight R6/AA-size alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or nickel-manganese ZR6 batteries

Battery monitoring
The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following informationabout the EN-EL3e battery:

• Remaining charge (%)

• No. of shots taken since last charge

• Battery life (5 stages)

Dimensions
147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in)

Weight (no batt)
825 g (1.82 lb)

Box contents
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, USB Cable UC-E4, Video Cable EG-D100, Strap AN-D300, LCD monitor cover BM-8, Body cap, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-23, Software Suite CD-ROM

*Review:The Nikon D300 is a far greater step forward than its specs would suggest. The D3 also shares these advances.
D200 is history. If you shoot as much as I do, the D300 is worth it without any reservations. If you don't already own a D200, just get the D300 and forget the D200.
If you already have a D200 and are on a budget, don't try the D300, because you're going to want one. Images from the D300, as I shoot it anyway, have significantly more vibrant color and far better control of highlights and shadows.
Sports shooters will love the D300's MB-D10 grip, good for 8 FPS.
The D3 is great, but looks about the same shot at reasonable ISO and with reasonable lenses. The reason to get a D3 is if you want to shoot 14mm-equivalent lenses or shoot at ISO 6,400 and get sharp results, or to shoot at 9 FPS.
I would suggest that serious photographers with D200s trash them in favor of the D300. For normal people, The Nikon D40 is still the first camera I grab for vacations and family photos for its far lighter weight