Larry A. Barr
New member
I promised myself I'd payback all the useful reviews with one of my own... Hope this helps.
Had the coolpix 5700 for a couple of weeks now. Bought it from ephotoclub.com, paid about $940 including shipping. Have zero complaints about the transaction. They treated me well. This is a move up from a Kodak DC240 which still takes a pretty decent picture within it's limitations.
So far I am impressed with the 5700. Maybe even VERY. It works far better than many of the reviewers here seem to think, at least for me. After the first week, yeah, I'd recommend it --Highly. If I were describing it to a friend I would say this: 9 out of 10 people would like this camera if purchased for it's purpose. The other 10 percent would need to spend twice as much to get a camera they would be happy with.
I would not say the auto-focus is perfect, but it is quite useable. (This is slightly tainted by the fact that I have never used an AF camera until now, therefore don't have much to compare it to) In low light situations, no, it doesn't focus particularly well. So what? The camera can't be all things to all people. I am learning to work the manual focus, which is crude but will do in a pinch and really isn't that bad. Or if the shot is really important --I might just try and add more light to the subject. Not a really big problem. Take a couple dozen pics in manual mode and you'll get the hang of it.
Random thoughts: The lens alone is almost worth the price of admission. The EVF is very nice. There are a lot of features on this camera, almost too many. It takes a while to learn. It's a camera you grow "in to" instead of "out of."
Buy it. It will be more complex than your girlfriend or wife will want to play with, --and if you take the time to get to know it, it will reward you with some really great pictures.
It does take a really great picture. Which is probably why you are here. This baby won't let you down. Even the pics at the most basic resolution levels are great. It's pretty amazing how Nikon put this much camera in such a small size.
As a side note: I should also add that I have not needed to load any of the software that came with the camera yet. And therefore can't speak for it's quality. I run Linux and so far haven't needed to even open the software CD's. A pcmcia adaptor for the CompactFlash card and Gimp or Quickview so far have met all my needs and I haven't had any problems. The transfers only take a few seconds as well. I mention this for the Linux fans out there. You only need the software if you want to review the capture information or try out the image manipulation program.
Problems:
No problems encountered so far. I fully tested it and all the various functions and so far everything seems flawless. Impressed with this too.
Had the coolpix 5700 for a couple of weeks now. Bought it from ephotoclub.com, paid about $940 including shipping. Have zero complaints about the transaction. They treated me well. This is a move up from a Kodak DC240 which still takes a pretty decent picture within it's limitations.
So far I am impressed with the 5700. Maybe even VERY. It works far better than many of the reviewers here seem to think, at least for me. After the first week, yeah, I'd recommend it --Highly. If I were describing it to a friend I would say this: 9 out of 10 people would like this camera if purchased for it's purpose. The other 10 percent would need to spend twice as much to get a camera they would be happy with.
I would not say the auto-focus is perfect, but it is quite useable. (This is slightly tainted by the fact that I have never used an AF camera until now, therefore don't have much to compare it to) In low light situations, no, it doesn't focus particularly well. So what? The camera can't be all things to all people. I am learning to work the manual focus, which is crude but will do in a pinch and really isn't that bad. Or if the shot is really important --I might just try and add more light to the subject. Not a really big problem. Take a couple dozen pics in manual mode and you'll get the hang of it.
Random thoughts: The lens alone is almost worth the price of admission. The EVF is very nice. There are a lot of features on this camera, almost too many. It takes a while to learn. It's a camera you grow "in to" instead of "out of."
Buy it. It will be more complex than your girlfriend or wife will want to play with, --and if you take the time to get to know it, it will reward you with some really great pictures.
It does take a really great picture. Which is probably why you are here. This baby won't let you down. Even the pics at the most basic resolution levels are great. It's pretty amazing how Nikon put this much camera in such a small size.
As a side note: I should also add that I have not needed to load any of the software that came with the camera yet. And therefore can't speak for it's quality. I run Linux and so far haven't needed to even open the software CD's. A pcmcia adaptor for the CompactFlash card and Gimp or Quickview so far have met all my needs and I haven't had any problems. The transfers only take a few seconds as well. I mention this for the Linux fans out there. You only need the software if you want to review the capture information or try out the image manipulation program.
Problems:
No problems encountered so far. I fully tested it and all the various functions and so far everything seems flawless. Impressed with this too.