Nikon D90 vs Nikon D300

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Main
Model
Price
Advantages

launch
Announced
Body type
Camera subcategory
Sensor
Effective pixels
Max resolution
Sensor size
Sensor type
Processor
Image ratio w:h
Other resolutions
Sensor photo detectors
Image
ISO
Boosted ISO (maximum)
White balance presets
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Uncompressed format
JPEG quality levels
Boosted ISO (minimum)
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
Maximum shutter speed
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Manual exposure mode
Subject / scene modes
Built-in flash
Flash range
External flash
Flash modes
Continuous drive
Self-timer
Metering modes
Exposure compensation
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Screen size
Screen dots
Touch screen
Screen type
Live view
Viewfinder type
Viewfinder coverage
Viewfinder magnification
Videography features
Resolutions
File Format
Microphone
Speaker
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Digital zoom
Manual focus
Number of focus points
Lens mount
Focal length multiplier
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
Dimensions
Environmentally sealed
Battery
Battery details
Battery Life (CIPA)
Storage
Storage types
Storage included
Connectivity
USB
HDMI
Wireless
Remote control
Other features
Orientation sensor
Timelapse recording
GPS
GPS notes
Samples
Videos

Main
Model
Nikon D90
Price
Advantages
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Subject / scene modes: Yes
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Flash range: 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Microphone: Mono
PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
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9.50/10

Main
Model
Nikon D300
Price
Advantages
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Maximum shutter speed: 1/8000 sec
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 6.0 fps
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 922,000
OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 51
PHYSICAL Environmentally sealed: Yes (Water and dust resistant)
PHYSICAL Battery Life (CIPA): 1000
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launch
Announced
Aug 27, 2008
Body type
Camera subcategory
Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Effective pixels
12 megapixels
Max resolution
4288 x 2848
Sensor size
APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
—
Image ratio w:h
3:2
Other resolutions
3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424
Sensor photo detectors
13 megapixels
Image
ISO
Auto, 200 - 3200 (plus 6400 with boost)
Boosted ISO (maximum)
6400
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes (5)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Fine, Normal, Basic
Boosted ISO (minimum)
—
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
30 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
Yes
Built-in flash
Yes (pop-up)
Flash range
17.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash
Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless)
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Continuous drive
4.5 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Spot
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
(2, 3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (2 or 3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
920,000
Touch screen
No
Screen type
Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
96%
Viewfinder magnification
0.96×
Videography features
Resolutions
1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
File Format
Motion JPEG
Microphone
Mono
Speaker
—
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Selective single-point
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
11
Lens mount
Nikon F
Focal length multiplier
1.5×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
Dimensions
132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″)
Environmentally sealed
No
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
850
Storage
Storage types
SD/SDHC
Storage included
None
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (Mini Type C)
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Remote control
Yes (Optional ML-L3 or MC-DC2)
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes (by USB cable and PC)
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
GP-1
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

launch
Announced
Aug 23, 2007
Body type
Camera subcategory
Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Effective pixels
12 megapixels
Max resolution
4288 x 2848
Sensor size
APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Expeed
Image ratio w:h
3:2
Other resolutions
3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424
Sensor photo detectors
13 megapixels
Image
ISO
200 - 3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (100 - 6400 with boost)
Boosted ISO (maximum)
6400
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes (4)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW + TIFF
JPEG quality levels
Fine, Normal, Basic
Boosted ISO (minimum)
100
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
30 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
No
Built-in flash
Yes (Pop-up)
Flash range
12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash
Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus sync connector)
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Continuous drive
6.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Average
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
(2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (2 to 9 frames in 10,20,30 steps in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis))
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
922,000
Touch screen
No
Screen type
Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.94×
Videography features
Resolutions
—
File Format
—
Microphone
None
Speaker
None
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Selective single-point
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
51
Lens mount
Nikon F
Focal length multiplier
1.5×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
925 g (2.04 lb / 32.63 oz)
Dimensions
147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.79 x 4.49 x 2.91″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes (Water and dust resistant)
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
1000
Storage
Storage types
Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage included
None
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (Mini Type C)
Wireless
—
Remote control
Yes (Optional)
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
GP-1
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

Summary

The Nikon D300 has more focus points in compare with the D90: 51 vs 11. More number of focus points means more convenience while attempting to focus on objects that are not centred.

The Nikon D300 screen is better as it offers more screen dots 922,000 in compare to 920,000 dots of the D90 display. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing pictures on your camera.

The Nikon D300 is weather sealed i.e. the camera will be safe even uncovered if you are out capturing photos in the rain and snow. The Nikon D300 battery life is better in compare to the D90 battery life. According to CIPA standards the photographer will be able to capture 1000 shots with the D300 and only 850 with the D90. The Nikon D90 weighs 703g which is 222g lighter than the weight of the D300.

The Nikon D300 has 6 advantages and the D90 only 4 so the D300 will be the best choice. Check the list of the best offers on Amazon.