Nikon D300s is now officially the new best DX DSLR in the market.  Nikon D300 was first introduced in March 2008, and exactly one and a half year later, Nikon decided to revise the best DX DSLR.

For professional photographers, the Nikon D300/D300s is no doubt the best in Nikon DSLR DX line.  If you are considering D300 or D300s, most likely your questions are

What are the differences?
What remains the same?
What is the price?
Is it worth it?

I have done a summary for you in the table below, which are the important key issues between D300 and D300s

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Nikon today officially announced the following products:

1. Nikon D300s
Nikon Press Release - http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2009/0730_d300s_01.htm

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of its new DX-format digital SLR flagship, the Nikon D300S.

As well as inheriting the finest features of the highly acclaimed D300, the D300S boasts many innovative enhancements and is designed to meet an even broader scope of creative demands from serious photographers.

First and foremost, the D300S possesses the superb product quality required of the flagship of Nikon’s DX-format digital SLR camera line: 7 frames-per-second*1 high-speed continuous shooting, exceptional accuracy thanks to the 51-point AF system and approx. 100% viewfinder coverage, plus dual card slots and the rugged durability that enables the camera to work under extreme conditions. What’s more, an enhanced D-Movie function provides new features, such as an external microphone input for stereo sound recording and AF capability with contrast-detect AF during movie recording. Such outstanding specifications in a trim, responsive, versatile DX-format digital SLR will give any serious photographer an extra measure of agility, for traveling and shooting with greater ease.

On top of this, users can choose from the extraordinary range of more than 60 NIKKOR lenses, and Nikon’s Total Imaging System — benefits that give the D300S a special advantage in terms of creative D-SLR versatility.

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“This Saturday, colourful kites of various shapes and sizes will fill the sky at Esplanade.

Bring along your family for a great family outing where you are able to enjoy colourful Wau or kites flying and learn the unique skill from our kite experts. The Team KEOP (Kite Enthusiasts of Penang) recently won the World Sport Kite 4th placing. They will demonstrate their latest kites such as 2 giant octupus, 2 giant fish, 1 dragon, 5 rokaku and 11 stack bumble bee plus traditional “wau bulan” . All these will be paraded around the field for your viewing.

Teams from Perlis, Kedah, Johor & Kelantan will be joining in this event. A total of 50 kites are expected to cover the Esplanade field.”

The new AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II  is expected to have the following specification compared with current model

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The Nikon all-in-one zoom lens AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 ED VR is expected to have a new revision version this coming month.

This is perhaps another early April Fool’s joke?

The current 18-200 F/3.5-5.6 ED VR is still VERY NEW. It was first available in early 2006!  It is only less than 5 years old.

It also has almost everything a new generation lens is required - AFS, VR, IF, G, what else is missing? FX and N perhaps.  Absolutely nothing else.

Come on Nikon, there are tones of Prime Lenses waiting to be updated, but you chose to update a new and average quality lens?

The legendary Nikon mid-range zoom lens AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR is expected to have a new revision version this coming month.

Regardless the rumours flying around, I am not too convinced this is true, I have a few reasons why:
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A new Entry Level DSLR Nikon D3000 is expected to be announced on the Nikon website on 30 July 2009 and the coming Nikon Press Conference.

Nikon D3000 is expected to be even less features than a D5000:
- No Video Recording
Video Recording is not the reason you buy a DSLR for, why pay for the video recording when you don’t need it?

- No Articulating LCD Screen
Articulating LCD Screen usually useful for difficult angle, unlikely you need that.  also it is more practical in video photography which is the LCD is your primary view finder for video photography.   Since video recording is out, it make sense to ditch the Articulating LCD screen together.

I am definitely looking forward to check this out.  I expect Nikon D3000 will arrive the shore of Malaysia with the RM2000 price tag and head to head with Canon EOS 1000D

The highly anticipated Nikon D300s is expected to be announced on the Nikon website on 30 July 2009 and the coming Nikon Press Conference.  As the name applies, Nikon D300s is expected to be a minor upgrade over Nikon D300.

It is expected to have the following features:
- New video recording.  Frankly speaking, this is not something I am looking forward to have.  Additional component = additional problem = additional cost.

- SD Card Supported.  Not sure it is SD Card only, or SD/CF Combo, which ever that is; it is something I am definitely jolly about.  CF Card is no longer popular as before, it is far more costly to produce, and also not widely available.  SD Card is far more popular, even many notebooks have built-in support for SD Card reader.  SD Card also twice cheaper and widely available.  I don’t have to carry an external Multi-card Reader whenever I am on travel.  I can afford to buy multiple 8GB of SD Cards instead of just one 4GB CF Card.
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As I talked with my regular photography shop owner, they mentioned that there will be another round of price hike for lenses coming August 2009.

Please be reminded it is rumour, take it or leave it.  If you have extra cash, it is no harm to invest in some good lenses now.  If the rumour is false, you won’t lose a thing; if it is true, you gain.  Either way, you won’t lose.

Bad economy, looks like people are still upgrading to full frame DSLR and Honda City is fully booked for two months in advance.  Talk about weak Ringgit Malaysia and current economy situation, yeah right.

There will be TWO Nikon press conferences on 4 August 2009
The first one is at in Hotel Sacher, Vienna, Austria.
The second one is at Sweden.
The press conferences are expected to announce the coming Nikon D300s and D3000.