Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

An incredibly powerful digital camera with excellent resolution and image processing. Up until now, for me digital cameras have been point and shoot 'toys' for taking family snapshots. The D300 brings back artistry, creativity, and power that I am accustomed to with Nikon's film cameras. I purchased the D300 now because I did not want to pay more only to get the crippled video that is expected to come in the D300s at the end of the summer. The user guide is good, but I recommend that you do yourself a favor and buy the one by Thom Hogan for a real grounding in how to use this powerful imaging machine.
Let's talk about the 18-200 lens that comes with this kit. Between the D300 and the 18-200mm, the lens is the weaker link. However, this is an extremely popular lens for two reasons: price and the long zoom range. Overall, this is a very good lens. Not perfect, but almost. It has a huge focal range, but is not particularly fast with the f-stop range of 3.5-5.6. The lens is sharp, but not "tack-sharp." I find it goes a bit soft fully extended at 200mm. This lens lets you work as close as 9 inches at 135mm, but it won't replace your macro lens. Even so, it will handily beat equivalent 3rd party zoom lenses.
This is NOT a heavy lens for what it does. It has a plastic body to reduce weight, which makes for a bit of an odd pairing on the D300 metal body. The build quality is very good, but I have insurance for it because I doubt it would survive even a moderate drop.
There is no doubt about it: this zoom DOES creep (probably due to the weight the plastic has to handle)! Unless it's stowed at 18mm, pointing it up or down will have it run nearly the entire zoom range. I've convinced myself that this is a "feature" to force me to work to compose carefully between subjects.
The manual focus ring is next to the body and the zoom ring is outside. Ugh. The manual focus has a very short "throw" from infinity to full in, but at least it's nearly half an inch wide so it's easy to find with your fingers. Auto focus is fast and doesn't "hunt." VR is useful and helps mitigate the relatively slow speed of this lens.
Bottom line: you know you want it, so go ahead and buy it! It's not perfect, but it does everything very well, if not excellently.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Have not used the D300 long enough to form a real Relationship/Opinion. In Fact, I remain a slide rule/film (B&W) camera Luddite who waits to be convinced. My all-time favorite camera is still our Olympus OM-1. My Nikon FM-3a runs a close second. When I have had more experience with the D-300, I will be happy to make further comments.

SLIDES RULE -

-G-

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Now I can capture those precious moments of my ever so fast granddaughter. My travel shots have improved.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I use this camera for all occassions. From family photos, landscapes to sports photography it does it all. I am not a professional, but with some practice, I feel like one. I switched from an Olympus E500 and I would never go back.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

This is a well made product. What attracted me was the magnesium body instead of plastic. The 18-200mm lens is very versatile and gives you a wide range of shooting ability. The combination makes the camera somewhat heavy when carrying around your neck, but it's a small trade off for the great quality shots and the broad range of options you get with this camera package.
It's a must have for anyone serious about their photography,
After shopping around this was the best package price I found from a company that appeared to be reputable and didn't have horror stories attached to it. I was disappointed, since I live in Maine, to find the company was actually from New Jersey. They did ship it in a week, made a few suggestions when confirming my order, which I could have accepted or declined, but very polite.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I completely LOVE this camera! The color is amazing, the quality is outstanding. I was afraid of all the controls and seeing all the inch thick guide was daunting but found that it was rather easy to use and control. I can pick up any Nikon now and can show you how it use it. I was suprised because I read so many review of how hard it was to use (maybe these people don't read english or spanish which the camera comes standard with)
The rear 3 inch screen is great (and I wear glasses full time which I don't need when looking at the screen)
The color of my pictures are so True and Vibrant. Skin tones are spot on (which my pimpled faced teenager doesn't like but what are you going to do?)
This camera is a dream come true I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to buy it.
The only thing I need now is more lenses!

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I am an older 35 mm ,small digital camera user. This is definitely a step up for me . I think all the various programs are going to take some time to get used to but their availability makes me feel comfortable with the product. The dealer is fantastic. Has a problem with the first camera and they fixed that problem PRONTO!

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

If you are serious about Photography and simply want a camera that can complete all challanges presented from Beach to Backyard to Snow...This camera can do it. Whether you want to sit back and let it do it in P mode or handle the setting yourselfs in M mode or somewhere in between you will not go wrong with this Camera...Buyers need to understand though that this is not just a point/ click and put in your Pocket Camera.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Wonderful camera. Best Dx format camera period. Beginners should be aware that this camera has complex controls.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

D70 owner upgrading; couldn't wait for next gen FX cameras to become reasonably priced; very happy with D300 performance, it lives up to all the rave reviews and awards. I may never need an FX! This camera is a beauty.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I waited to transition from my Nikon film cameras (F3 and other bodies with an extensive suite of lenses, from manual to AF) until the Digital SLRs could provide at least as much flexibility. I highly recommend the D300 "how to" DVD to get set up and operating with confidence. Other users have found the interface confusing, but the DVD can dispel the confusion right away. I was surprised how compact the lens is given the expansive focal length (18-200mm). Yes, the weight is always a trade off, but worth it in this case given the flexibility and sturdy construction.

Although the vibration reduction lens will probably remain on the camera most of the time, I wanted to use some of my specialty lenses from the 35mm film days: Macro, fisheye, etc. The Nikon mount on the D300 body allows my old lenses to work within the limits of their design (manual vs. auto-focus, etc.) which is a great opportunity to use familiar and reliable lenses I already own.

I used the camera for my son's wedding and the results were excellent under all lighting condiitons. The quick shutter response is especially important for candids and portraits. I recommend having a spare charged battery pack and memory card in situations like this so you don't miss a shot.

My next step is to purchase the Nikon image management software to begin exploring what artistic options are available. However, I must say that the in-camera results are first class. If you want dependability, this is the camera for you. And for former Nikon 35mm film camera users, it will be a rapid transition to digital.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Great camera for the enthusiast. Lots of different settings. Not for beginners.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

This is my 7th Nikon.It is the best ever!

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

The camera offers versatility at a great price! The included 18-200 VR lens enables the shooter a wide range without having to switch the lens. This performed well for my son's first birthday at the zoo and other multiple events. Great for shooting scenery, consistently produces accurate colors. The ability to combine pictures is also a great feature.

Downside to this camera is that it gets heavy after shooting for long periods of time, especially with the attachments (flash and the battery pack). Have fun shooting pictures!

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

It's a great camera - like all SLR - bulky.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

The Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lense live up to all the reviews. It is not for the novice photographer, but advanced photographers will find the controls useful and well organized.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I have found third party documentation far easier to use than that supplied with the D300. Perhaps if I were a professional or advanced amateur the owners manual would be easier to use.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

This Camera redefines the photographic experience.
It is very easy to change the settings to get as close as possible to a finished photograph in the camera. The dynamic range adjustment is very similar to using Highlights and shadows in Photoshop. It gets detail into the shadow areas.
This camera allows you to rediscover the reason you got into photography. The Joy of MAKING pictures. Please couple it with a VR 18-200mm lens. The camera becomes an extenshion of your eye.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

I bought this camera (my first hi-end digital camera) for two reasons. One, for the purpose of artistic photography. The second, it was the first good camera with a bit depth higher than 24bit for RGB. (This was critical for digital manipulation without significant immediate image degradation) The D300 reached a price point that made it worth purchasing. While the flexibility of the camera (not including the lens) is astounding, the learning curve is steep and is largely hampered by using different methods of making each of the adjustments. You need the book constantly to know how to setup for any mildly unconventional shot. While all the controls are really quite a boon to the possibilities of what you can do, the inconsistent and lack of intuitive approach is frustrating. It's as if each feature set were designed by a different person and none of them were talking to each other. An example of 'real life' effect here was looking up how to change the auto focus mode. I found it and made the change. Two days later, I had to look it up again, because I started to inadvertently changing other settings while I was trying to reset the autofocus mode.

Now with the almost nightmarish interface out of the way, I can focus on the positives as that's all that remains. The quality is phenomenal. I can't attest to real low light issues as the lens is F3.5 so, with that limitation in mind, it appears no different than a film based camera. The resolution is good for a full page (8.5x10) image but would start to show artifacts at ledger size. Still there's a lot of possibilities with a 12 Mb image.
I'm not purchasing any accessories until I'm fully versed in all the aspects of the camera, and that's a lot to learn. At this point, though, I reference that learning as the 'fun' aspect of using this camera. While I've used many lower end automatic and semi automatic digital camera's, my real enjoyment in photography was in film. No I dare say that is changing. I growing to like this camera more and more and for me, anything that gets better with time can not easily be beat. While the price may seem steep, it's definitely a bargain for what you get. The caveat being like a truly fine musical instrument. If you haven't got the skill, the instrument isn't going to give it to you. But if you grow and develop that skill, you'll be able to make it truly sing. The D300 is a truly fine instrument. It's a steep climb, but the view at the top is worth it.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Enjoy taking photos that revolve around family activities and travel.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Photo merged pictures turn out great. Also have had great success with low light indoor pictures using high ISO. These pictures have no noticeable noise/graininess. Also this 18-200 mm zoom lens is the only one I need.

Comments about Nikon D-300 SLR Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens Kit:

Set all the controls on automatic, and just point and shoot for professional pictures. Or take the time to control your settings, and you're evn better.