I have had a Nikon D200 for two years and this camera is definitely a step up. I love it. My pictures are even better than they were with the D200. They appear to be sharper with this system. The D300's matrix system makes it much easier to focus on the subject.
The live view was a bit of a disappointment to me because I thought using the screen would be similar to a point and shoot camera. Live view is only for times that you can't use the view finder easily. When using live view the shutter speed is diminished greatly.
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I've been using this camera since a couple months after it was released and I just love it. It takes some amazing images. Not to rewrite what so many have already written, I'll just summarize the features I like about it.
1) The 3 inch LCD is the envy of every photographer I've worked with who doesn't have one
2) This camera has a Live View mode, which I don't use much but some people do.
3) The 12.3 mega pixels is very nice
4) The ability to shoot at ISO 1600-3200 and still get usable images is great. With my D200 I never go over ISO 800
5) You can zoom way in on images when viewing them
6) The Autofocus system is just awesome. 51 points and color. They say the Auto Area AF mode can detect human faces but I don't use that feature.
7) I have its dust removal system set up to remove sensor dust at startup and shutdown
8) The Active D-Lighting gives me more dynamic range
9) I like the rubber covers instead of the screw caps my D200 has (had until I lost them)
This really is the best camera you can get for under two grand. Canon may have something comparable by the time I write this but I'm not really following the Canon line so I wouldn't know. I just know that this is a truly amazing camera and you will not be disappointed.
For a good tutorial book on this camera, have a look at Darrell Young's Mastering the Nikon D300.
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What can I say? Simply fabulous! I am an amataeur and just got the blue crane digital intro video so I can learn all the great things the camera can do. I also have poor vision so I am glad to have an SLR with a big monitor. Right now I just use it on P mode, which is similar to auto. I have been a Nikon SLR user since way back in the film days. I had a D70 (which I just sold) and loved it to death (I hate to have given it up), but my failing vision forced me into the D300. I am sure Nikon won't dissapoint. all the pros say it is an amazing piece of machinery and I trust that it is :0)
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