Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5 II→Nikon D300
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Z5 II. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the D300
-
Battery life~1000 shots (CIPA) vs 380 shots (CIPA)
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 | Z5 II | D300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.4 | ||
| Street | -2.1 | ||
| Travel | -1.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -3.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -3.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | -2.5 | ||
| Landscape | -2.7 | ||
| Wildlife | -2.3 | ||
| Casual | -3.2 | ||
| Food | -4.2 | ||
| Macro | -4.1 | ||
| Architecture | -3.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 II | D300 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £73 | |
| Released | 2025 | 2007 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.5MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (uncropped), 10-bit N-Log | No video | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect AF with 9 subject types (people, animals, birds, vehicles) | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS with Focus Point VR | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 14fps | 6fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~1000 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 700g (with battery and card) | 905g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Single CompactFlash slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 II 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.
Other upgrades from the Z5 II
Related buying guides
Camera family history