Quoted: Just under two years since the D200 Nikon reveals the D300, the range of changes is so significant that it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it a 'compact D3' (less the full-frame sensor of course).

Quoted: From the top there's a new CMOS sensor with twelve megapixels, a new auto-focus sensor with 51-points (15 of which are cross-type sensitive), there's focus tracking by color, scene recognition, Picture Control presets, six frames per second continuous shooting (or eight frames per second with a battery pack), Compact Flash UDMA support, Live View (with contrast detect AF) and the mighty impressive 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (oh and HDMI video output). It's an impressive list, the D200 was a fair step up from the D100, the D300 can be seen as just as big a step, certainly more than enough to make the competition sweat.

Color space/mode information for my D200.

Tips from Nikon's Knowledge Database on their image processing software.

Capture NX is particularly good for handling Nikon RAW format 'NEF' files. Unlike with Adobe's products the NEF files actually reflect in-camera settings when you use this software.

We'll have to wait for the production models to hit the streets in November for detailed hands-on reviews but this looks like an excellent camera. There is a whole slew of new features that should make this one of the all-time classic Nikons. Also announced: the successor to the D200( quite an improvement, very nicely priced at $1800) and five professional-grade lenses.