Nikon didn’t reinvent the wheel with the D300s digital SLR and there’s sure to be grumbling about how little has changed from the D300 besides the addition of HD video. HD video on the D300s will grab headlines at the expense of less visible but, in some ways more important, enhancements to the latest iteration of Nikon’s 12.3-megapixel DSLR.

Dual card slots, a slight increase in performance, and interactive settings display screen, virtual horizon, expanded Active D-Lighting and other subtle changes don’t qualify this as a “must have” upgrade for D300 users but, along with HD video, these new features give the D300s a slight edge over its almost-twin sibling. 

What’s New?
Physically, the D300s has the same look and feel as the D300. At 1 lb. 13 ounces, there’s only a negligible weight increase and the body —with its solid magnesium alloy construction—remains at a comfortable-to-hold 5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches.

Control layout has changed a bit, with the addition of a new Quiet Shutter feature on the Release Mode Dial (positioned underneath the Mode Dial). This option disables the focus indicator beep and damps the sound of the shutter release and mirror slap. It’s not a super-stealth mode but it does make the operational noise less intrusive.

The camera’s rear panel mirrors that of the D700, with the exception of the D300s’ dedicated Live View button. Nikon has also changed the multi-selector to the same design as the D700, with an actual center button and much easier (and more accurate) navigation, especially when setting focus points.

Also new to the control layout is an information button, which activates the on-screen shooting data display. Press the information button a second time and the display becomes interactive. Then press the OK button to access the options for that feature. Scroll, navigate, press OK. . .you get the idea. Once you get the rhythm down, the process moves along more quickly than it sounds.

Welcome Changes
But perhaps the most welcome change is the move to dual card slots. Granted, I’d be happier if they both accommodated CompactFlash cards but with the capacity and speed increases in SDHC cards, the CF/SDHC duality works well. Better yet is the flexibility of use.

You can select one as the primary card and then choose the role of the secondary slot. The secondary slot can be used for overflow, as backup or dedicated to record all JPEG files when shooting RAW+JPEG. A specific card can also be dedicated to video, leaving the other for still image files.

For me, this is one of the D300s’ most useful updates. At one runway show during NY Fashion Week, using the secondary slot for overflow saved me from having to switch out CF cards when the designer showed a higher-than-average number of looks. And having the built-in security when using the secondary card as backup offers peace of mind during critical shoots.

Other new features include a virtual horizon, which is nice to have but not crucial. More useful is the D300s’ broader Active D-Lighting controls: Auto, Extra High, High, Normal, Low, Off. I tend to prefer using the Low option, but Active D-Lighting generally does a decent job of maintaining shadow details in high contrast shots. ADL bracketing is also available, so you can choose what works best for the scene.

Performance is also improved, albeit just slightly, with continuous shooting speeds of 7 frames per second (vs. the D300’s 6fps). Add Nikon’s MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack and AA or the EN-EL4/4a Li-ion battery for up to 8fps. You can also double or triple the camera’s 950-shot-per-charge battery life by adding a second EN-EL3e battery, 8 AA’s or the EN-EL4/4a rechargeable Li-ion battery to the MB-D10.

And Yes, It Shoots HD Video
Of course, the headline grabber is the addition of HD video. Since Nikon introduced the D90, the first DSLR with video capabilities, HD video has quickly become the DSLR feature of the year. The D300s offers 720p video at 24fps, up to 2GB continuous shooting. Contrast detect AF can be used in the Tripod mode, with user settable aperture (up to f/16) prior to recording. In Hand-held mode, the camera automatically adjusts aperture and shutter speed and autofocus is not available. The good news is that there’s a socket to add a stereo microphone.

Footage from the D300s is good, but not great. Yes, when you pan quickly you’ll see the complaint du jour—“rolling shutter” (or whatever you want to call it). And, as we all know, contrast detect autofocus is slow. But do a quick search on the Internet and you’ll find some examples of amazing video footage shot with DSLRs (Vincent Laforet’s Reverie was the first and probably best-known DSLR video).

We don’t all have the talent and resources to produce that kind of work but it’s easy to see what is possible. I happened to run into a photographer who was shooting video with a Canon 5D Mark II at NY Fashion Week, which was a first (at least from what I’ve seen).

What many people don’t seem to acknowledge is that DSLR video is still in its infancy. I think we can expect better output in the near future, so let’s cut these cameras (and their manufacturers a little slack). Sure, I’d love to be able to shoot video with a sub-$2,000 camera that has responsive autofocus but the technology isn’t there yet. And while I’ll criticize slow AF in video mode, I’ve learned to live with DSLR video’s limitations. Frankly, I still think it’s a way cool feature.