Nikon Coolpix 5700 5MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical Zoom
by Nikon
Average Customer Review: 
Electronics
list price: $899.90
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Editorial Review Building on the success of the amateur range of Coolpix cameras, Nikon has introduced the Coolpix 5700 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the amateur and professional markets. This time around Nikon has gone for a semicompact feel, combining an almost palm-size unit with a powerful features one would expect to find on a high-specification midrange digital camera.  | | The swiveling, swing-out screen on the Coolpix 5700 makes it easier to frame self-portrait, overhead, and floor-level shots. | The Coolpix 5700 comes equipped with an automatic pop-up flash, plus a hot-shoe for additional flash units. The bundled NikonView 5 browser software makes it simple to download, organize, and print images. The package includes a lens cap, camera strap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, AV cable, USB cable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and battery charger. It is compatible with CompactFlash memory cards (Type I or II), as well as IBM Microdrives. The 5700 allows the use of the viewfinder or the LCD monitor (which rotates through 180 degrees after it's opened out) for framing a picture, providing full freedom of movement and allowing you to capture a picture at any angle--no matter how obtuse. Zoom capability has been increased on the 5700, and the camera features an impressive 8x optical zoom, the results from which are good at all levels and distances. Supporting a maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,920 (4.91 megapixels), an ISO range of 100 to 800, and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000, this camera is definitely a good all-rounder, providing you with great flexibility under different conditions. The 5700 performs admirably, producing results way above expectation. Color balance is good, and the overall results are of a very high quality. We did have a middling complaint about its size, which actually feels a bit on the small size. With an extra couple of centimeters added to the bodywork, the 5700 would have felt much easier to handle and control in everyday usage. The position of the camera strap attachment also seems awkward, being as it is located on the upper right quadrant of the lens housing, making it sometimes difficult to gain a good grip when in use. These criticisms aside, the Coolpix 5700 is bound to be another sure-fire hit for Nikon, balancing the huge 5-megapixel image size against a competitive pricepoint. For those not yet ready to move up to the professional level of 35mm digital SLRs such as the Nikon D100, the Coolpix 5700 proves to be a worthy alternative. --Elly Russell Pros: - Palm-sized 5-megapixel camera with a powerful feature set
- Includes sizeable 16 MB memory card--can accept IBM Microdrives
- 8x optical zoom
Cons: - Could be slightly larger for easier handling
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Features 5.0 megapixel sensor creates 2,560 x 1,920 images for prints at 11 x 14 and beyond8x optical zoom and 4 x digital zoom for 32x total; provides an equivalent zoom range of 35mm-280mm in 35mm photographyIncludes 16 MB CompactFlash card; MicroDrive compatibleConnects with PCs and Macs via USB portUses 1 rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL1 battery (included)
Reviews (108)
Save your money-buy the real thing
If you are looking for an entry level professional camera, save up and buy an SLR. I have had this camera for a little over a month and am ready to throw it out the window.
AUTO FOCUS PROBLEMS
The thing can't take a picture that's in focus.At one to one, out of the 958 pictures I've taken, none of them are sharp.It simply can't do it.Many subjects it can't focus at all.Its impossible to judge from the tiny monitor the true sharpness of the photo. Its not uncommon to review a batch of photos on the computer and find that half of them are completely fuzzy.
The auto focus is also extremely slow.It can take several seconds for the camera find its mark.
MANUAL FOCUS IS A JOKE
The manual focus is awkward to use.Although, that's prety much irellevant because the camera's monitor does not have enough resolution to use it.Its been suggested to me that I try bracketing the focus.Except, the point of bracketing is not to be aimlessly wasting memory, hoping that one of the shots is good.
TIGHTEST APERATURE IS 8.7
I thought I could deal with this because most of the work I do is in moderate to low light.That was a mistake.This compounds the previously mentioned Auto Focus issues.
HIGH RESOLUTION
The difference from a 35mm film scan is astounding.Its amazing to pull up a 6X9 at 300 ppi with no noise or grain.
EASY TO USE
The camera is set up like the 35mm SLR I've used for years to and have found it easy to navigate.The buttons on the side can be touched accidentally causing some minor annoyance.
CONCLUSION
If you are a casual user, this camera may be just fine for you.The focusing issues become pronounced when you are trying to achieve a specific aestetic.Perfect focus may not be that important to you eighter, especially if you print mostly to 4x6 or 5x7.Looking atthe other ratings, many people love this camera.However, the serious amateur or entry level proffesional should not waste their time and money on this camera.
For the pictures
I've had my Nikon 5700 for about nine months now. I started out with it as a complete novice, got shutter lucky, and found some beautiful shots in the camera. Over the past months I've moved from a completely automatic point-and-shoot snapper to all-manual settings. I've picked up some knowledge about the basics of photography along the way, and the ability to pop the card and see the results of a setting instantly really shortened the learning curve.
First and foremost, this camera takes absolutely beautiful photographs. Colors are bright and vibrant, and details are rendered beautifully even when printing at large sizes - you can get a 13x19" enlargement to print at about 140 dpi on an inkjet, resulting in a very "painterly" image somewhere between photograph and painting. I decided at the outset to shoot only in camera RAW mode, and so what I've gotten out of the camera is exactly what went in. If you need to re-touch in Photoshop, this is the ONLY way to do it. You can correct a surprising number of mistakes (white balance, exposure, brightness, contrast, saturation) in RAW prior to bashing the image to smithereens with Photoshop editing tools - they only work on processed, "rendered" images.
Downsides are well id'd in the reviews, but I think you can get around most of them. Battery consumption climbs closer and closer to the top of the list of negatives as you move from automated to manual operation. Tip: use manual focus. I've found that assigning manual focus to the function button on the top makes focusing easier than punching for the button on the lens barrel. There isn't anything you can do about slow memory card writes, and we're not likely to see any firmware updates to accept the faster WA cards out on the market.
I've added some filters and lenses to my rig. A good tripod is essential, and the AA battery pack, with a 15-minute charger, makes everything a lot more fun. Note that if you add Nikon lenses, you are permanently out of luck for filters - there are NO filters for the Nikon lenses and adapters that fit this camera. Luckily, there are very acceptable third-party lenses and adapters that will take UV and/or polarizing filters.
I'm no pro, don't even consider myself a photographer yet, but the folks who work with my wife don't know that. It's because of the pictures - they're gorgeous.
The more time and effort you invest in this camera, the more you'll get out of it.
slow focus, slow memory, but looks nice & it's nikon
been very disappointed with the camera. i've used to travel to 12 different countries and the pic quality is good but way too slow to capture any large files other than normal and zooms so slow that itis painful. but i am selling mine if you want to buy one.
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Asin: B000069092
Subjects: 1. Digital Camera (Cameras)
2. Photograph (Photography)
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