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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dave Williams" data-source="post: 1589694" data-attributes="member: 53820">Mine not good enough eh !<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />PS You were partly responsible for me getting one too Steve !!!!!Here are a couple of my first impressions, remembering I am very much a newcomer to photography and this is only my second ever D or SLR.Compared to the price of a new D300 a couple of weeks ago, the extra features are certainly worth the money ( now only about £100 ) so I am glad I hung on in there.1)I think the video feature will be great fun and in answer to those that say why not buy a video camera I think I have no real ambition to make long videos but little souvenir shots here and there will be ideal, plus I can stick a telephoto prime lens on the end too ! It seems very easy to operate, the quality looks very good in camera ( haven't tried transferring any yet) and I love the fact you can edit it in camera to cut out either end of the clip. You can also adjust other settings after the event too, just like a still. 2)The "quiet" shutter  mode is actually pretty quiet. You can only take a single shot but the shutter sounds as if it's been taken at a slow speed, although obviously not. Useful in a hide ? Perhaps, but knowing how sensitive the hearing is of birds and animals it might not be that much use. However, a single shot at any noise level is less likely to upset an animal than the rapid fire selection ! Quiet mode is probably idea for weddings etc.3)The 7 frames per second is only applicable to taking JPEGs, if you shoot RAW it's more like 2 shots. The difference in performance by using a battery pack is not worth (IMO) buying one although I realise some people like the feel and extra AF button.4) The dual card slot is nice in that in some situations it's not easy to put a new card in the slot, but having one SD and one CF is a bit confusing. Is the writing on the wall for the CF format ? Which cards should I buy in future ? I have to buy SD cards I didn't need already as I have a reasonably large number of CF cards !5) Nearly all the other features I presume are on the D300. It certainly takes a bit of getting used to, and as yet I have only had an hour or so to play but first impressions are I am delighted. BIF seem easy compared to the D200, the 51 focus points a big advantage. I even managed to get some decent shots using a 1.7TC on my 500mm, something I haven't achieved with the D200.So, pointless reading my impressions if you already have a D300 but if you don't I am certainly glad I made the move. No doubt when the D400 comes around I'll want one of those too, but that might not happen for a couple of years so, why deprive myself in the meantime. Life's too short ! I am delighted to have a back up camera too as last time I had a problem I was without a body for 6 weeks whilst it went for repair.</blockquote>

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