The height of the graph shows the relative number of pixels having each brightness level. The brightness is the horizontal axis, running from black at the left to white at the right. A histogram is simply a graph of how many pixels there are in the image at each brightness level.
Histogram displays are common on professional digital cameras (and many amateur models now), regarded as almost mandatory by many pros for evaluating exposure levels. The screenshot animation at right shows the sequence when the down arrow is used.Īs you'd expect, the Nikon D300 offers a comprehensive RGB histogram display mode. A variety of playback displays can be cycled through using the up/down arrows on the multi-selector, including image with file information with optional highlight warning and focus point display, RGB histogram, three screens with overlaid shooting and image parameter information (an additional GPS info screen is available when a GPS device was used when the image was captured), and an overview display with basic shooting data and luminance histogram. The D300's playback mode provides a great deal of information about your pictures after you've shot them. Playback mode is entered by pressing the playback button.
Software for this feature is bundled with Canon cameras.
The new Nikons require optional Camera Control Pro software to enable this feature. What's more, you can do it via cable or WiFi connection, with the optional WiFi adapters. You can focus, adjust settings, and fire, all from a computer. This is pretty important, as less than 10x magnification really doesn't do the trick for getting the focus set right, but at 10x we felt we could pretty well nail the focus every time.īoth the new Nikons and Canons include the ability to control the camera from a computer remotely, and that includes receiving a Live View image from the camera. The Nikon D300 also provides up to a 10x zoom in Live View mode, providing excellent focus discrimination when focusing manually. You can use it handheld, but you won't get the best results. AF operation in this mode is unfortunately quite slow, so they really mean it when they call it Tripod mode. Contrast-detect AF isn't nearly as fast as phase-detect (which is why the shutter response of most digicams is so much slower than most digital SLRs), but at least these new Nikons can focus without interrupting the Live View display.Īs an added benefit, because it's working with data coming from the main image sensor, you can move the AF point anywhere you want within the frame area, right out to the extreme edges. Instead of flipping mechanical switches, the Nikon D300 simply reads data off the CMOS image sensor and evaluates how abruptly light to dark (or dark to light) transitions happen on the image plane. The Nikon D300's second mode is the real charm: Called "Live View (Tripod mode)," this mode uses contrast detect autofocus, driven from the imaging sensor. and use the zoom buttons on the back of the camera to move in up to 10x to focus. In Live View (Tripod mode) you can move the AF point around the screen in small increments. The illustrations below show the meaning of the various icons and readouts in this display.
You can also use the main LCD to adjust many of the same settings, but using the top LCD saves power and can be more convenient when the camera is below eye level. Nikon D300 Top Panel Status LCDĪs with most higher-end Nikon DSLRs, the top-panel data readout LCD communicates a lot of information about current camera settings, and provides an interface for setting many camera functions, when used in conjunction with the various buttons and Command Dials.
Other items are changed by pressing the Menu key and using the navigation disk on the back of the D300.
Many functions can be changed using a button and the Main Command dial while looking at the Status LCD on the top deck. Probably the most valuable control cluster on the D300 is on the top deck, left of the pentaprism housing: the 3-button control for selecting White Balance, Quality and ISO. All key buttons for essential controls are on the Nikon D300's surface skin, and several of the buttons can be reprogrammed to meet your needs. But to the experienced shooter, the Nikon D300's controls will quickly make this camera a photographer's best friend. With its many buttons, knobs, and dials, the Nikon D300 looks intimidating to the unseasoned SLR user.