Upgrade Guide
Nikon D3500→Nikon D300
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the D3500. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the D300
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D3500 | D300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.8 | ||
| Street | -1.7 | ||
| Travel | -1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.1 | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.3 | ||
| Landscape | -0.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -2.1 | ||
| Food | -1.2 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | -1.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D3500 | D300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £214 | £73 | |
| Released | 2018 | 2007 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | No video | |
| Autofocus | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 6fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1550 shots (CIPA) | ~1000 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 415g (with battery) | 905g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.85x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single CompactFlash slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D3500 and D300 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D300 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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