Since the Detailed Hands on Preview of Nikon D300, we’ve just been waiting…no more reviews other than informal stuff on blogs and by word of mouth.

Plenty of test pictures, but no real in-depth goodies. Until now! DCRP has come up with what we wanted, a real in-depth review of the new Nikon D300 with pictures, test shots, and a good exam of the new stuff.

The main new features of the D300 are:

• New 12.3 effective Megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
• EXPEED image processing “concept”
• Continuous shooting as fast as 8 frames/second (with the optional battery grip)
• 51-point autofocus with 3D subject tracking
• Huge 3-inch LCD display with 307,000 pixels (920,000 dots) with live view support
• Dust reduction system
• Picture Control settings let you have sets of color control settings (think Picture Styles on Canon SLRs)
• Active D-Lighting lets you brighten shadows while taking photos (instead of after)
• Rugged magnesium alloy body is sealed against dust and moisture
• HDMI video output

And it’s got a scorching review beating it’s competitors in pretty much every area. The only apparent weaknesses seem so be a flimsy CF card door and a slight over-expose (might be fixed in firmware but I doubt it as it lends itself to better high ISO performance when overexposing slightly).

The images appear slightly soft straight from the camera too, but that’s normal for Nikon as they try to retain maximum detail. It looks wonderful after some careful USM (Unsharp Mask) or Smart Sharpen.

All things considered, Nikon has done a really impressive job with the D300. They made a lot of promises, and the D300 has delivered on them. It keeps up perfectly with its closest competition, the EOS-40D, and surpasses it in several areas. Whether you’re upgrading from an older Nikon SLR, or want something “nice” for your first foray into digital SLRs, then the Nikon D300 is a camera that I can highly recommend.

Read the full review here:

DCRP Review: Nikon D300

Ah finally the full review from DP on the Canon EOS 40D!

We had some first looks review a while back, Canon EOS 40D First Review from Bob Atkins & Roland Lim, but of course we were all waiting for this!

It seems to be a pretty well rounded camera, getting up to the standard of D200…but with D300 looming – that’s simply not enough! It is considerably cheaper though so perhaps it’s apples and oranges.

When I first started using the EOS 40D a simple description came to mind: that this is a ‘well sorted camera’. It feels well rounded – the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence. From a usability point of view the viewfinder feels larger, ergonomics are good, the user interface is clear and easy to learn, there are no in-use performance issues, metering and auto-focus show good consistency and the results speak for themselves; colorful (yet accurate) detailed images with low noise even at high sensitivities.
Detail (D-SLR)

Read the full review here:

Canon EOS 40D Review, Phil Askey

Bob Atkins has come out with the first review for the Canon EOS 40D, it seem like a nifty piece of kit I have to say!

Key features

• 10.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• 6.5 fps continuous shooting, max. burst 75 JPEGs
• New AF system with 9 cross-type sensors
• DIGIC III processor
• 3.0” LCD with Live View mode
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• Clear and bright viewfinder
• Customizable Picture Style processing parameters

Bob seems to think it’s pretty good too, worth an upgrade over the EOS 30D.

The EOS 40D is more than a minor upgrade of the EOS 30D. It’s basically a new camera with a new sensor, a new 14-bit processing engine, a new AF system and new features such as Live View, Highlight Priority and High ISO noise reduction as well as improved ergonomics with the enhanced 3″ LCD. Though it looks much like the 20D/30D it seems to have a more “pro” feel – though I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the quieter and faster shutter operation that simply makes it sound better!

In just about every respect the EOS 40D technically outperforms the EOS 30D and so I think it is a worthwhile upgrade for those who can afford to switch and who can use the new features. I didn’t feel that way about the 30D, which was a good camera but for me didn’t offer enough new features to persuade me to trade in my 20D and upgrade.

You can read the full review here:

Canon EOS 40D Review – Bob Atkins

Another guy from Hong Kong has done a very extensive review on his blog.

Canon EOS 40D Review – Roland Lim

Including Canon 40D vs Canon 20D ISO 1600 Comparison

This is the ultimate poison, wow! Great build quality like the tank that is the Nikon D200 and a host of other features…it looks like they have another award winner along with the Nikon D3 which is going to shift the whole paradigm!

This follows very shortly after the Nikon D300 was Announced.

It really looks like an incredible camera!

You can read the full Preview here:

Nikon D300 Hands-on Preview

I can’t wait for the Nikon D3 Preview or Review to come out!

Finally Nikon unleashes the beast, what everyone has been waiting for! A Full Frame Nikon camera – I can’t wait to see the noise handling and the dynamic range. With the D200 already being close being the Fuji S5 Pro I think this camera is going to blow the Canon 5D and the 1Ds MKIII away!

Isn’t it beautiful?

I think Nikon pushed this out according to the recent announcement of the Full Frame Canon EOS 1Ds MKII.

The D3, the result of years of development and feedback from professional photographers, combines many innovative Nikon technologies. These include an exclusive 12.1 effective megapixel FX format (36.0×23.9mm) image sensor with 12-channel read out, a blazing-fast 9 fps frame rate, expandable ISO settings from 200-6400, a completely new 51-Point autofocus system, a 3-inch VGA LCD screen with Live View and a cutting-edge image processing system.

They also announced what I’ve personally been waiting for – the Nikon D300! I’m hoping it’ll have superb noise handling and perhaps slightly greater dynamic range.

Plus some lovely new full frame lenses for the new FX format (Nikon AF-S 14-24 mm and 24-70 mm F2.8G ED).