Compatible Nikon D300 Compact Flash Memory Cards (32GB Max)

The Nikon D300 uses Compact Flash memory cards.

32GB is the largest capacity cards that will work.

A card larger than 32GB will cause an error. The D300 will not be able to format the card.

My Nikon D300 Lens Recommendations

Recommended CF Cards

The D300 was released in 2007. Any card sold new will have fast enough continuous write speeds.

Paying extra for fancy names and a cool label won’t improve performance.

If you have SD or MicroSD cards that are 32GB or smaller, using an adapter might be cheaper.

Nikon product support, Approved Memory Cards - D300

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SanDisk Extreme 32GB

• Read speeds up to 120MB/s.
• Write speeds up to 85MB/s.
• Sustained data recording of 20MB/s.
• Water, x-ray, & shockproof.

Transcend 32GB

• Fast enough write speeds for burst photography and video.
• Upto 60MB/s write and 120MB/s red speeds.
• Supports UDMA7 transfer mode.

Lexar Pro 32GB

• Transfer speeds up to 160MB/s.
• Video Performance Guarantee sepc VPG 65.
• Limited lifetime warranty.

SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB

• Transfer speeds up to 160MB/s.
• Can record 4k Ultra HD and Full HD video.
• Video Performance Guarantee sepc VPG 65.
• Limited lifetime warranty.

Compact Flash Adapter

There are adapters that allow SD cards to be used.

Use cards that are 32GB or smaller.

The maximum write speeds the adapter I tested was capable of achieving was 20MB/s. I do not know if a faster card will allow the D300 to clear the image buffer faster.

Card Reader

Get a card reader that is USB 3.0 or 3.1.

The All-in-1 card readers are slow. They use USB 2.0. You’ll end up waiting forever for your photos to transfer.

I prefer cards with cables. They won’t block other ports.

I like USB-C so I can use them with my phone.

Card Errors

Bent card reader pins is the most common cause of errors.

Look down in the memory card slots of the D300. All of the pins should be straight.

If you see bent pins, the card slot will need to be replaced. Parts can be found online, but they are expensive.

To avoid bending pins, be gentle. Strong force should never be used.

Make sure the card is correctly aligned. You might need to turn it around.

Type I vs Type II

Compact Flash cards are 43mm wide and 36mm long. The 43mm side is the one with the holes for the pins.

The difference is thickness.

• Type I - 3.3mm thick
• Type II - 5mm thick

Type II “cards” are no longer made. The slots were thick so Microdrives could be used.

A Microdrive was a small mechanical hard drive, the size of a CF card. In the 2000s, they had higher capacity storage than Compact Flash cards.

Microdrives have been discontinued for a long time. Finding a working one is difficult. They’re mechanical, all of them will fail with time.