• APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • APS-H 518.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • Detailed specifications
  • Nikon D300S
  • Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Nikon D300
D300 vs D300S
Canon 1D Mark III
1D Mark III vs 1D Mark IV
Successor: Nikon D500
D300S vs D500
 
General
Model Number: D300S 1D Mark IV
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1799.95 $4999.00
Street Price: $1,696.95 $1,899.99
Date Available: 2009-08-31 2009-12-31
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 33.5 oz (951 g)
includes batteries
49.0 oz (1,390 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in.
(147 x 114 x 74 mm)
6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in.
(156 x 157 x 80 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Canon
Effective Megapixels: 12.3 16.1
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-H
Sensor size: 372.88mm2 (23.60mm x 15.80mm) 518.94mm2 (27.90mm x 18.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.50 microns 5.70 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.3x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 70 74
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.5 22.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.2 12.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 787 1,320
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4288 x 2848 (12.2 MP, Other),
3216 x 2136 (6.9 MP, Other),
2144 x 1424 (3.1 MP, Other)
4896 x 3264 (16.0 MP, 3:2),
4320 x 2880 (12.4 MP, 3:2),
3672 x 2448 (9.0 MP, 3:2),
3552 x 2368 (8.4 MP, 3:2),
2448 x 1632 (4.0 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed; RAW+JPEG, TIFF JPEG (EXIF 2.21), 14-bit .CR2 RAW
Continuous-mode frames/second: 7.1 10.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (24)
640x424 (24)
320x216 (24)
1920x1080 (29.97)
1920x1080 (25)
1920x1080 (23.976)
1280x720 (59.94)
1280x720 (50)
640x480 (59.94)
640x480 (50)
Movie File Format: AVI Motion JPEG H.264 (.MOV)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Nikon F Canon EF
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 51 point (15 cross-type sensors) TTL phase detection with 3D focus tracking by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500DX 45 user selectable points (39 f/2.8 cross-type) phase detection w/ AI Servo II; LV contrast detect
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type: eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x mag., 19.5mm eyepoint, -2 to +1 diopter Eye-level fixed pentaprism, 0.76x magnification, 20mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0 diopter correction
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.58x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.94x 0.76x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots 920,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 27.0x 10.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 12800
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto, ISO 200-3200, Lo-1=100, Hi-1=6400 Auto, 100 to 12,800 (standard), 50 to 102,400 (expanded)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, 7 manual modes with fine tuning, color temperature Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom (5 settings from camera), Personal (5 settings from PC), Color Temp
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, Spot 63-zone: AF linked evaluative, 13.5% partial, center-weighted average, 3.8% center / AF / multi spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: N/A  
Self Timer: 2 to 20 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Front-Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Slow Sync, and Rear-Curtain Sync; supports Advanced Wireless Lighting system E-TTL II / evaluative / averaged; x-sync at 1/250 (1/300 w/ Canon Speedlite)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/250  
Flash Exposure Compensation: -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal Hot shoe, PC sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / SD / SDHC CF1 / CF2 / SD / SDHC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory: Dual slots, CF+SD  
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed; RAW+JPEG, TIFF 14-bit .CR2 RAW
Movie File Format: AVI Motion JPEG H.264 (.MOV)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired Canon N3 terminal / PC tether
Connections (extended): Type-C HDMI Out, DC In, PC Sync, 10-pin Remote Terminal  
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.48 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.48 <0.3
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited 40
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.47  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 7.1 10.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 26 46
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 17  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 7.1  
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 15  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.23 seconds 0.10 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 0.47 seconds  
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.053 seconds  
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.150 seconds 0.077 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.27 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.053 seconds 0.049 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View lags Hand-held mode Phase-detect AF: 0.473s Hand-held mode Prefocused: 0.053s Tripod mode Contrast-detect AF: 2.5s Tripod mode Prefocused: 0.419s Live View: Quick Mode AF: 1.084s Live Mode AF: 1.255s Prefocused: 0.113s
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds 0.4 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.1 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 1.7 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 950 shots 1500 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary EN-EL3e, optional MB-D10 battery pack Proprietary LP-E4
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary EN-EL3e Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x proprietary LP-E4 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: PictureProject CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS X  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Upgrade to D300 adding 720p HD movies, faster burst rate, and other minor improvements. CompactFlash slot supports UDMA Mode 6 cards. Dual storage slots allow copying files between cards, storing different file types on each card, duplicating data on both cards, or using one card as an overflow when the other is full. Camera is powered by dual DIGIC 4 processors. Has live view and HD video modes with contrast detect AF. Has two internal monaural microphones - front panel for video, rear panel for voice memo. Also has stereo mic jack for external mic.