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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5000

5.79 in
4.49 in
Nikon D300S Digital Camera
Nikon D300S
5.0 in
4.09 in
Nikon D5000 Digital Camera
Nikon D5000
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
25
4.2 out of 5
12 user ratings
5 stars
41 %
4 stars
50 %
3 stars
8 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
34
4.0 out of 5
20 user ratings
5 stars
50 %
4 stars
35 %
3 stars
5 %
2 stars
10 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
41
4.1 out of 5
41 user ratings
5 stars
34 %
4 stars
46 %
3 stars
14 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
0 %
42
3.9 out of 5
42 user ratings
5 stars
26 %
4 stars
42 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
0 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.93 in0.93 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx13.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx12.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4288 x 2848 px4288 x 2848 px
Other resolutions
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424
ProcessorExpeedExpeed

Image

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
ISO
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • 6400
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
ISO minimum100200
ISO maximum64003200
Boosted ISO maximum64006400
Maximum image resolution4288 x 2848 px4288 x 2848 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • TIF
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Sepia
Image stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
HDRnono
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Optical zoom5.8 x5.8 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture3.53.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesno
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Center
  • Spotus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Number of focus points5111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)5111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.64 in2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Screen size3.0 in2.7 in
Articulated LCDnoyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots920000230000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderElectronic
Optical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification-2.0 x0.78 x
Eye relief0.77 in0.7 in
Separate info displayyesno

Photography features

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures23
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
3
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesnoyes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1217
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Slow Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connection
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Hot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive7.0 fps4.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Documents
  • Fireworks
  • Museum
  • Portrait
  • Self-portrait
  • Sports
  • Spotlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)7.0 fps4.0 fps
Speed (RAW)7.0 fps4.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 2.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Maximum resolution1280 x 720 px1280 x 720 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeHDHD
Supported video file formatsAVIAVI
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
NTSC
Camera playback
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Single image
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps24.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate24.0 fps24.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoMono
Audio systemMonoMono

Design

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumPlastic
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Black,Red
Black
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesno

Dimensions

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Weight29.1 oz19.75 oz
Width5.79 in5.0 in
Height4.49 in4.09 in
Depth2.91 in3.15 in

Storage

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Compatible memory cards
  • CF
  • Eye-Fi
  • MicroDrive
  • SD
  • SDHC
Memory slots21
Storage types
  • Compact Flash Type I
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF 1.1
  • Exif 2.21

Power

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Power source typeBattery
  • AC
  • Battery
  • USB
Battery life (CIPA)950510
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
USB version2.02.0
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedEye-Fi Connected
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesno
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D300SNikon D300S
Nikon D5000Nikon D5000
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modesRotatingTrimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D300S

          Often compared with Nikon D5000