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 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
VS
Sensor area
373 mm²
D300365 mm²
Alpha DSLR-A550- Area ratio
- 1.02:1
- Absolute difference
- 8 mm²
- Relative difference
- 2.1%
The D300 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D300MetricAlpha DSLR-A550
12.3 MPEffective pixels14.2 MP
23.6 × 15.8Sensor23.4 × 15.6
5.51 µmPixel pitch5.07 µm
30.32 µm²Pixel area25.71 µm²
3.3 MP/cm²Pixel density3.89 MP/cm²
1.52Crop factor1.54
—Maximum video—
925 gWeight632 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, MicrodriveStorageSD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable 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 has the larger sensor area. The Alpha DSLR-A550 has the lighter body. The Alpha DSLR-A550 has the higher effective resolution. The Alpha DSLR-A550 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha DSLR-A550
Released in 2009, Alpha DSLR-A550 has about 365 mm² of sensor area, 14.2 MP effective resolution, and a 632 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.