The Nikon D300S: A Bargain with Backbone

I recently picked up a Nikon D300S with a battery grip and three batteries for just $140 here in Phnom Penh. At that price, it wasn’t just a deal—it was an invitation to rediscover a camera that once sat near the top of Nikon’s DX lineup.

Nikon D300S + Nikkor 24mm f2.8D

Released in 2009, the D300S was built for serious work. It shares the same 12.3MP sensor and 51-point autofocus system as the original D300, but adds a few refinements: dual card slots, 720p video, quieter shutter modes, and a slightly faster 7 fps burst. It’s a camera that feels like it was carved from purpose—dense, weather-sealed, and ready for the field.

What drew me to it wasn’t nostalgia. It was the potential for gritty, film-like rendering—the kind of textured, honest images that don’t rely on resolution or perfection. Paired with my D-series primes, the D300S offers a tighter crop and a different way of seeing. It doesn’t replace my D3 or D700, but it might just complement them in ways I hadn’t expected.

Over the next week, I’ll be walking with it—quietly, deliberately—seeing how it responds to light, shadow, and the rhythm of the street. Sometimes, the best tools aren’t the newest. They’re the ones that still have something to say.