Shots in the Dark
It’s no secret that Nikon’s 12.3MP D300s (an HD-video-enabled update on their popular D300) and the Canon 7D go head to head in the prosumer DSLR category, but the two companies took different tacks in their designs. The D300s favors the still photographer, with a zippy (for a camera without the oversize batteries of a vertical grip) seven frames per second, a 51-point dynamic autofocus system that locks and tracks fast-moving targets, and clear shooting at up to a sewer-dark ISO 6400. The D300s also has two memory-card slots—SD and CompactFlash—which let you either back up your work on the fly or shoot twice as much. For video, the camera’s 720p resolution is very good—just not as clear as the Canon 7D’s. 2.1 pounds;
Features: 4.5
Value: 3