Stan Fayer

I use a Nikon D300 and have never updated the firmware. The camera works fine, is it worth up dating the firmware. What will it improve? I’ve been a little nervous about trying
Stan

Quixdraw Loc: x

Search this nikon download center d300 - s/b everything you need to know.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Check the Nikon web site for what the upgrade does, and decide for yourself if it would be beneficial to you.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Wow, I thought I was the only person left with a Nikon D300. It's built like a tank but not great in low light.

Carnpo Loc: North Carolina

I still have mine. Couldn’t get anything for it if I sold it.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Yeah I know, I took it once at a buyback event. Not worth much. But it's still a good working camera for me so I will just hang on to it.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Updates include a number of improvements, including the ability to use larger memory cards (there are still significant limits), correcting some things that didn't work quite right, and other changes. Yes, it is worth doing if you are still using your camera.

The actual benefits will, of course, depend on when your camera was manufactured and packaged. It may already have firmware beyond the original version if bought a while after introduction. Still worth doing.

The manual and the download page describe exactly how to do it. Follow the instructions, and it's not a big deal.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...What will it improve?" Stan a vast number of features...
The most important for me is (Copyright information has been added to the setup menu.) Since I shoot commercially this was a more than welcome!

Stan, I still use my D300 provided there is ample light available or I'm using speedlights and/or studio strobes.
The D300's build quality is superior to that of the D7000, D7100, and D7200 only the D500 has a more robust build quality. I use mine D300 in adverse conditions, enough said.

Here is the Nikon download page for D300 Firmware A:Ver.1.11/B:Ver.1.11 2013/05/21
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/11/D300.html

See below for a listing of features the firmware update yields.

Caveat! Read the instructions BEFORE you attempt the upgrade otherwise you may toast you camera.

NEW firmware features:

The Highlights playback option has been moved from Display Mode > Basic photo info > Highlights in tthe playback menu to Display mode > Detailed photo info > Highlights.

The size and color of “Demo” displayed in the monitor with playback when No memory card? in the Custom Settings has been set to Enable Release have been modified.

The range of settings available for ISO sensitivity settings > ISO sensitivity auto control > Minimum shutter speed in the shooting menu has been increased from 1/250 – 1s to 1/4000 – 1s.

When shooting in hand-held live view mode and the frame is magnified prior to autofocusing, operation has been modified so that display returns to the magnified display rather then the full frame display.

Images captured with Rotate tall, in the playback menu, set to On, are not automatically rotated for display immediately after capture (image review).

A Copyright information has been added to the setup menu. When Copyright information is enabled, the copyright symbol ( © ) is shown on the LCD display, Shooting info menu.

Recent settings can now be displayed in the place of My Menu.

Custom Setting e3 Flash cntrl for built in flash ( e3 Optional flash when an optional Speedlight is mounted on the camera) can now be added to My Menu using the Add items > Custom setting menu > Bracketing/ flash.

The degree of the High ISO NR setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display while the High ISO NR setting item, in the shooting menu, is being applied.

Ankara, Riyadh, Kuwait, and Manama have been added to the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu.

When a GPS device is used and no heading information is available, –.–° is now displayed for the Position / Heading option in the GPS item in the setup menu.

When shooting in live view mode using Camera Control Pro 2 (ver. 2.2.0 or later) with a PC-E lens, the aperture setting can now be adjusted from the computer.

Focus acquisition performance in dynamic-area AF mode has been improved.

Focus acquisition performance with contrast-detect AF has been improved.

Auto white balance performance has been improved.

Hope this helps Stan...
All the best on your journey...
And please stay safe...

The fourth digit in seconds display for GPS latitude and longitude information is now rounded off rather than omitted.

The current MB-D10 battery type setting can now be confirmed in the shooting menu display when R6/AA- size batteries are used with the Multi-Power Battery pack MB-D10.

An issue that caused an increase in noise when shooting in [M] exposure mode at a shutter speed setting of bulb with the shutter held open for less than 8 seconds and Long exp. NR enabled has been resolved.

An issue that prevented shutter release at the specified shutter speed when no operations were performed for 30 seconds in mirror up mode has been resolved.

An issue that caused abnormal image display when Image review was set to On and the playback zoom in button was pressed immediately after shooting at the following settings has been resolved.
Image quality: NEF (RAW) + JPEG
NEF (RAW) recording: Lossless compressed or Compressed
Image size: S or M

When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and the camera recovered from standby mode triggered by the auto meter off function, the distance information in the SB-800 changed. This issue has been resolved.

agillot

nope , that the only one i have , over 100k pics and still work

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Thanks for the info on the update. Question: I currently use a Nikon D7000 with a Tokina 11-16 2.8 lens for my startrail photography. The D300 just seems to give me more noise in the night skies versus the D7000. My usual setup is Manual, focus at infinity, ISO 400, F4 @ 30 secs. Bulb, using an external intravalometer with 1 sec between shots. It's a time consuming process and I have been tempted to setup the camera, activate and then come back in the morning to get the camera. I wouldn't be too concerned if the D300 was stolen. Any suggestions with the D300 on how I can reduce the noise?

trinhqthuan Loc: gaithersburg

Here the link. Follow instructions.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/11.html

akfishguide Loc: PA

one of the first cameras I put in an Aquatica housing for underwater photography was my D300. I started with the D200, then the D300, and quit after the D7000 as the housings and assorted underwater equipment cost more than the cameras did. I still have my D300 and D7000 with housing and domes and strobes etc. Great platforms all. With the additional costs now for air travel (there are 50 lbs plus just for underwater equipment, and then there is dive gear, etc) it got too expensive to travel with. On my last trip through the South Pacific, I realized that it is all getting too heavy for me any more. Everything I have is outdated now, so I just have expensive cameras and great memories, and together we are just gathering dust this year. I had to have a pacemaker implanted after my last adventure, so now I am the one that is battery operated, and my diving days are over. Looks like it will be iPhone from here on out.

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

I still mine, and still use it from time to time. I also have my D70s, and my N6006. I sold my N8008 to buy the D70s.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Any suggestions with the D300 on how I can reduce the noise?" Fstop12 simply use your d7000... the D300's sensor requires more light... in the studio or bright daylight at ISO 200 it does pretty well....

You might try ISO 200 instead of 400 for your startrail photography on the D300 Fstop12, albeit the D7000 will likely be a better choice in this scenario.... or moving to a full frame with larger pixel size... The D600, D610 and D750 are pretty cost effective now... maybe a refurb from Nikon USA? Also while the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 is an epic lens (I have and shoot this) the Full Frame AF 24mm f/2.8D is ubiquitous used and may be an option for optics here if you migrate to full frame...

Hope this helps Fstop12

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I have my D300s, which I’m letting my daughter use.