Nikon D300 SLR Review

AF Nikkor Lens Mount

The D300 is compatible with all DX series Nikkor lenses and about 90% of the F mount Nikkor lenses made. You need to use a conversion factor of 1.5x to determine the picture angle compared to the 35mm format.

On the left side of the lens mount is the Depth of Field (DOF) preview button and the FUNCtion button, on the right side is the lens release lock button and the focusing mode switch (Manual, Single AF or Continuous AF).

Compatible lenses

Nikkor DX Lenses

Nikon engineers determined that by reducing the diameter of the lens' image circle (the image it projects on the DX format sensor), a range of lenses with practical size and excellent performance could be developed. Originally designed to address the market's need for wider angle-of-view, high-performance optics for digital SLR photography, DX-Nikkor lenses offer advantages of compact and lightweight design, fast aperture and fast autofocus through Nikon's Silent Wave Motor design. By optimizing them for Nikon's DX-format image sensors used in all Nikon D-series digital SLR's, these lenses achieve outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality. All DX-Nikkor lenses are compatible with all Nikon D-series digital SLR cameras.

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED

Developed as the first lens in a new F-Mount autofocus DX-Nikkor interchangeable lens category, the DX 12-24mm f/4G lens is designed to address the market's need for wider angle-of-view, high-performance optics for digital SLR photography and is optimized for DX Format sensors used in Nikon digital SLR cameras.

Atypical of lenses with similar focal lengths, the DX 12-24mm f/4G lens is very compact and lightweight, offering a 2X Zoom ratio with an unprecedented angle-of-view from 61o at 24mm to 99 o at 12mm. This range of angle-of-view is comparable to that of an 18-36mm lens on the 35mm format. The lens also incorporates many of Nikon's advanced technologies including Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SI-C), Silent Wave Motor Technology (SWM), Extra Low Dispersion Optical Glass (ED) and a G-Type design.

The DX 12-24mm f/4G lens incorporates other exclusive Nikon technologies that ensure excellent overall performance. Its Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass controls chromatic aberrations, aspheric optics enable a more compact optical design, internal focusing maintains superior handling and a G-type design offers aperture control exclusively from Nikon digital SLR camera bodies.

While the DX Nikkor lens features Nikon's F-Mount, its optical design is specifically for use with Nikon's DX Format sensor and therefore is not designed for use with cameras that use either a larger digital sensor or 35mm film. Optimizing the lens for Nikon's DX Format sensor makes the lens smaller in diameter, lighter in weight, with exceptional center-to-edge-to-corner image quality and performance.

AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

At 180° diagonal angle-of-view, the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED is not only the world's first fisheye lens designed for digital SLRs, but also the first to offer such a wide picture-angle for any digital camera. It features optimized optical performance with close range focusing up to a mere 5.5 inches for extreme close-ups. Innovative Close-Range Correction (CRC) technology ensures consistently crisp, sharp images. This palm-sized lens is small and lightweight, and its compact design is exemplary of the potential of DX-Nikkor to reduce lens size and offer added convenience to Nikon digital SLR users.

While photographers will enjoy the incredible depth of field and unique perspective characteristics of this fisheye lens, they can also double it as an ultra-wide angle lens using Nikon Capture 4.0 software's unique 'Fisheye-to-Rectilinear Image Transformation' capability. With the click of a button, Capture 4.0 instantly transforms fisheye images taken with this lens into straight lined, rectilinear images. The software offers a choice of cropping the image vertically or horizontally, during the transformation process, and gives an outstanding 110° angle-of-view when oriented horizontally.

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

Set to become the standard lens for Nikon digital SLR users, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED offers the widest (3.2x) zoom range in its category, with a broad 79°- 28°50' angle-of-view. Consistent with DX-Nikkor design, the lens is compact and lightweight, while offering a fast f/2.8 constant aperture. The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED provides excellent versatility from wide-angle through standard and medium telephoto shots, making it ideal for a diverse range of picture taking situations.

The lens incorporates three ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass elements and three aspherical elements in a 14-element, 10-group construction. The lens also features Nikon's innovative Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology that is highly regarded by professional photographers for its ultra-quiet operation and fast autofocusing with superior accuracy.

Both DX Nikkor lenses exhibit enhanced performance with extremely low coma and lateral aberration, along with improved MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) curves, when compared to other lenses in their categories. They feature Nikon's high-performance Super Integrated Coating for superior color reproduction and minimized ghost and flare.

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED

The new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED is a versatile zoom lens created for a broad range of consumers ranging from occasional weekend snap-shooters to the avid photo enthusiast. It is an ultra-compact, lightweight standard zoom lens with a 3x zoom range that is ideal for everyday photography. With a popular 18-55mm focal length range, the lens can be conveniently used to photograph everything from wide angle landscapes to portraits and is well suited for use at parties, on vacation, and other occasions.

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

The new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED brings far-away subjects to the photographer without the burden of carrying a large telephoto lens. Zooming in on those elusive action shots at soccer or baseball games will fill the frame with images that would be otherwise impossible to capture. Its impressive zoom range of 55-200mm allows users the versatility to capture everything from razor-sharp candid portraits to sports, nature and even wildlife pictures. Despite its long zoom range, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED is remarkably compact and lightweight, and proves to be a formidable companion to the instant responsiveness and the impressive speed of the new D50 digital SLR camera.

To ensure outstanding optical performance, both new lenses also feature Nikon's exclusive Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass to minimize chromatic aberrations, and Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) for fast, quiet auto-focusing. All of Nikon's DX Nikkor lenses are optimized for the DX format sensors found in all Nikon digital SLR cameras, making the lens smaller, lighter and with exceptional center-to-edge-to-corner image quality and performance. With the addition of the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED and AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED lenses, Nikon photographers can choose from 50 Nikkor lenses, ranging from the amazing 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye to the astounding 600mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II super Telephoto.

The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED and AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED lenses will be available in June 2005 for an estimated selling price of $179.95 and $249.95, respectively.

AF-S Nikkor VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

The 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens is a compact, lightweight 11.1x zoom lens that is ideal for high performance everyday photography and incorporates advanced features such as Nikon's Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) and Enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR II), in a DX-Nikkor design engineered exclusively for use with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras.

With a remarkable 18-200mm focal length range (picture angle equivalent to a 27-300mm lens in 35mm format), the lens conveniently covers everything from wide landscapes to tight portraits and action photography. Advanced Nikon engineering has lent the lens a compact lightweight design that offers excellent handling characteristics and superb optical quality.

Beyond the lens' incredible optical versatility is the benefit of Enhanced VR II Vibration Reduction an innovation that makes it possible to take substantially sharper handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible. This provides the distinct advantage of being able to shoot more effectively in a much broader variety of challenging conditions. With the new Nikon VR II advantage, users can take pictures at shutter speeds as many as 4 stops slower than they ordinarily could shoot without the image degrading blur associated with camera shake at slow shutter speeds.

Nikon's VR technology further enhances picture taking potential with a choice of two modes to match most shooting conditions. VR Normal Mode primarily compensates for camera shake, and includes automatic panning detection, as well as automatic tripod detection. VR Active Mode effectively compensates for vibration in situations where it is more pronounced and more frequent, such as when shooting from a moving vehicle.