Decision tools · Compare
D300S vs D5300
Quick take: The D5300 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the D300S is the most affordable; only the D300S is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | D300SNikon · 2009 | D5300Nikon · 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £145Best | £195 |
| Sensor | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 12.3MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | 720p/24 | Full HD 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | 39-point phase-detect (9 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 7fpsBest | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~950 shots (CIPA)Best | ~600 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 920g (with battery) | 530g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 147 × 114 × 74mm | 125 × 98 × 76mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.82x |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" vari-angle LCD, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm mic jack, 10-pin remote | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm mic jack, MC-DC2 remote |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D300S
D5300
Portrait
5.2/10
5.8/10
Street
4.4/10
5.8/10
Travel
4.5/10
5.2/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
4.5/10
Documentary
4.4/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
5.9/10
4.9/10
Landscape
4.3/10
4.8/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
5.4/10
Casual
2.5/10
3.6/10
Food
3.4/10
5.3/10
Macro
3.1/10
4.5/10
Architecture
3.7/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
5.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
3.9/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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