The Canon EOS 60D and the Nikon D300 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2010 and August 2007. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 12.2 MP. Show Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.  Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 60D and the Nikon D300? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparisonAn illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 60D and the Nikon D300 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D300 is notably larger (9 percent) than the Canon 60D. Moreover, the D300 is markedly heavier (23 percent) than the 60D. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments. The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Yet, since both cameras are based around an APS-C sensor, their respective lenses will tend to have similar dimensions and heft. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (60D) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D300). Concerning battery life, the 60D gets 1100 shots out of its Canon LP-E6 battery, while the D300 can take 1000 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL3e power pack. The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there. Body Specifications # Camera Model Camera Width Camera Height Camera Depth Camera Weight Battery Life Weather Sealing Camera Launch Launch Price (USD) Street Price 1. Canon 60D 145 mm 106 mm 79 mm 755 g 1100 Y Aug 2010 1,399ebay.com2. Nikon D300 147 mm 114 mm 74 mm 925 g 1000 Y Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com3. Canon 80D 139 mm 105 mm 79 mm 730 g 960 Y Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com4. Canon G3 X 123 mm 77 mm 105 mm 733 g 300 Y Jun 2015 999ebay.com5. Canon 7D II 149 mm 112 mm 78 mm 910 g 670 Y Sep 2014 1,799ebay.com6. Canon 70D 139 mm 104 mm 79 mm 755 g 920 Y Jul 2013 1,199ebay.com7. Canon 1D Mark IV 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1230 g 1500 Y Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com8. Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com9. Canon 50D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 800 Y Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com10. Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com11. Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com12. Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 Y Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com13. Nikon D2Xs 158 mm 150 mm 86 mm 1252 g 3800 Y Jun 2006 4,699ebay.com14. Nikon D200 147 mm 113 mm 74 mm 920 g 400 Y Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com15. Sony RX10 II 129 mm 88 mm 102 mm 813 g 400 Y Jun 2015 1,299ebay.com16. Sony RX10 129 mm 88 mm 102 mm 813 g 420 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 60D was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 22 percent) than the D300, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparisonThe size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider , and richer than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses. Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D300 is 12 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (60D) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2. Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon 60D offers a higher resolution of 17.9 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the Nikon D300. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a of 4.31μm versus 5.53μm for the D300). However, it should be noted that the 60D is much more recent (by 3 years) than the D300, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. The resolution advantage of the Canon 60D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 60D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D300 are 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.5 x 36.2 cm for good quality, 17.2 x 11.4 inches or 43.6 x 28.9 cm for very good quality, and 14.3 x 9.5 inches or 36.3 x 24.1 cm for excellent quality prints. The Canon EOS 60D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D300 are ISO 200 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400. Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras. Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators. Sensor Characteristics # Camera Model Sensor Class Resolution (MP) Horiz. Pixels Vert. Pixels Video Format DXO Portrait DXO Landscape DXO Sports DXO Overall 1. Canon 60D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.5813662. Nikon D300 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.112.0679673. Canon 80D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.21135794. Canon G3 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.3521635. Canon 7D II APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.411.81082706. Canon 70D APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/30p22.511.6926687. Canon 1D Mark IV APS-H 16.0 4896 32641080/30p22.812.01320748. Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.7854669. Canon 50D APS-C 15.1 4752 3168none21.811.46966310. Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.911678011. Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.27877012. Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.223038013. Nikon D2Xs APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.210.94895914. Nikon D200 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.55836415. Sony RX10 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p23.012.65317016. Sony RX10 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.912.647469
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 60D indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the D300 does not. The highest resolution format that the 60D can use is 1080/30p.
Feature comparisonApart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 60D and the D300 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the D300 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 60D (96%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the D300 has a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.59x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 60D and Nikon D300 along with similar information for a selection of comparators. Core Features # Camera Model Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) Control Panel (yes/no) LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) LCD Attach- ment Touch Screen (yes/no) Max Shutter Speed * Max Shutter Flaps * Built-in Flash (yes/no) Built-in Image Stab 1. Canon 60Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel n 1/8000s 5.3/s Y n 2. Nikon D300optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n 3. Canon 80Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n 4. Canon G3 Xoptional n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y 5. Canon 7D IIoptical Y3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s Y n 6. Canon 70Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n 7. Canon 1D Mark IVoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n 8. Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n 9. Canon 50Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 6.3/s Y n 10. Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n 11. Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n 12. Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n 13. Nikon D2Xsoptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n 14. Nikon D200optical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n 15. Sony RX10 II2359 Y3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/3200s 14.0/s Y Y 16. Sony RX101440 Y3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
The 60D has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the D300 does not have a selfie-screen. The Nikon D300 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software. The 60D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the D300 uses Compact Flash cards.
Connectivity comparisonFor some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 60D and Nikon D300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer. Input-Output Connections # Camera Model Hotshoe Port Internal Mic / Speaker Microphone Port Headphone Port HDMI Port USB Port WiFi Support NFC Support Bluetooth Support 1. Canon 60DYmono / monoY-mini2.0- 2. Nikon D300Y- / ---mini2.0- 3. Canon 80DYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY- 4. Canon G3 XYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY- 5. Canon 7D IIYstereo / monoYYmini3.0- 6. Canon 70DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y 7. Canon 1D Mark IVYstereo / -Y-mini2.0- 8. Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0- 9. Canon 50DY- / ---mini2.0- 10. Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0- 11. Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0- 12. Nikon D700Y- / ---mini2.0- 13. Nikon D2XsY- / --2.0- 14. Nikon D200Y- / --2.0- 15. Sony RX10 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY- 16. Sony RX10Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers. Both the 60D and the D300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D300 was replaced by the Nikon D300S, while the 60D was followed by the Canon 70D. Further information on the features and operation of the 60D and D300 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 60D Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D300 Manual.
Review summarySo what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 60D better than the Nikon D300 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants. Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 60D:
Advantages of the Nikon D300:
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 60D emerges as the winner of the contest (8 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one. 60D 08:05 D300 How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 60D and the Nikon D300 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop. In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 60D and the D300 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. Expert reviewsThis is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice. Expert Camera Reviews # Camera Model AP score CL score DCW score DPR score EPZ score PB score Camera Launch Launch Price (USD) Street Price 1. Canon 60D5/5+..79/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2010 1,399ebay.com 2. Nikon D300..+ +..+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com 3. Canon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com 4. Canon G3 X3.5/5+....4.5/54/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com 5. Canon 7D II4.5/5+3.5/584/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 1,799ebay.com 6. Canon 70D5/5+ +..83/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2013 1,199ebay.com 7. Canon 1D Mark IV5/5....89/100.... Oct 2009 4,999ebay.com 8. Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com 9. Canon 50D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com 10. Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com 11. Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com 12. Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com 13. Nikon D2Xs............ Jun 2006 4,699ebay.com 14. Nikon D200..+ +..+ +o.. Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com 15. Sony RX10 II5/5+ +..82/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2015 1,299ebay.com 16. Sony RX105/5+..80/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts. Other camera comparisonsDid this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
Specifications: Canon 60D vs Nikon D300Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features. |
