Borrowed a friends' D300 to test drive. At first impression I like it quite a lot. The 12+ mega-pixel sensor gives clean detailed images, it balances well in the hand especially with 50mm and 85mm primes thought a  bit wobbly with larger and heavier lenses like the 17-55DX and the 300EDIF is quite difficult to handhold on the D300 where as I can comfortably handhold the 300 on the D2Hs. Focusing is fast, though I did not quite like the viewfinder nor the default focusing indicators - I found the viewfinder bit small and cramped, and not easy to get my eye 'into it' after having gotten used to the rubber eyecup and bright viewfinders of the F3HP, F5 and D2Hs. The LCD is nice though! large and bright. But I could not figure how to get the display to give me the same info as I get on the D2HS [warning blinkies and RGB histograms]... it probably has the options right there somewhere and I'd need to dig it out from the owners manual. Ah, one major major gripe: lack of a vertical grip with vertical AF and shutter-release buttons. Guess one could spend the additional $350 or so and fit one optionally.... I felt like my right elbow was a bird-perch when shooting vertically..... these Images were taken with the D300, a Nikkor 85 f/1.8 and an low off-camera SB800. Sunlight was coming in from slightly behind and over Mannat's left shoulder. I overpowered the SB800 a stop or two but the shots were off-the-cuff sort of and I did not spend much time setting-up. Mannat had demanded a massive sitting-fee of 10 Taka a shot as it is! So I had to be quick and fast. LOL! So, will I sell the trusty D2Hs and get a spanking-new D300? Maybe, maybe not. The D3 still is number-one on my wish-list.

They stained her teeth RED and I could not help laugh... dracula! nor could Mannat contain herself and the dentist had to keep telling her to stop giggling. Uh this pic is taken with a cell-phone camera because I lost my rubber .....I mean the D2HS lost its rubber. So myD2Hs went to Niks Thailand today for a new one....
The rubber grip on the CF door - after several DIY repairs and fixes - fell off  [Anyone on Sukhumvit Soi 49 who might happen to find a strange looking piece of used rubber - it belongs to my D2Hs and please return it here. Thanks.] and also the rubber grip/surround on pretty much all parts of the D2Hs are peeling off. The cam is functional though, but feels «funny» without its rubber coat. So I decided it was time to get it a new one. 5000 Thai Baht. Yikes! SoFoBoMoSTART is definately postponed, to somewhere around 4/14/08 - which happens to be Bengali New Year so thats a good day to start something new anyway.