Reasons to choose D300
Released in 2007, D300 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 925 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D300
vs Nikon D5000
VS
Sensor area
373 mm²
D300373 mm²
D5000- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The D300 and D5000 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D300MetricD5000
12.3 MPEffective pixels12.3 MP
23.6 × 15.8Sensor23.6 × 15.8
5.51 µmPixel pitch5.51 µm
30.32 µm²Pixel area30.32 µm²
3.3 MP/cm²Pixel density3.3 MP/cm²
1.52Crop factor1.52
—Maximum video—
925 gWeight590 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, MicrodriveStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryNikon EN-EL9a Lithium-Ion battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D300 and D5000 have the same sensor area. The D5000 has the lighter body. The D300 and D5000 have the same effective resolution. The D5000 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D5000
Released in 2009, D5000 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 590 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.