5700 applicability for swimming / diving events

[Michael Tooker]

New to this fabulous forum.

I am interested in the 5700. I have used Nikon SLRs for years, and a Fuji 2nd generation digital (2MP, no zoom). but now want a quality digital.

A specific application I want the camera for is to photograph my daughters who swim and dive competetively. Typically at indoor pools with sodium lighting. I currently use a 280MM Nikkor F4.5 (should have got the 2.8, I know, I know) with ASA1600, and then digitize and use PS to fix the color.

I will know the distance I will be focussing on, once I am set up (I guess manually).

Can I use the 5700, and will the Tele be equivalent, or I hope better, than my slow lense and grainy film results? Will the AF issues be a problem, or is it much to do about nothing?

Any relevent experience would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

 

[Uncle Frank]

This is an interesting question, since most people shooting sporting events favor slrs over digicams.

The 5700 should work for you. The 280mm max focal length is stated in 35mm terms, so it's the same reach as your current rig. The advantage is that you will be able to adjust (white balance) for the sodium lighting, so you won't have to fiddle with colors in Photoshop afterwards. But high ISO settings are a problem. Imo, anything above iso200 results in unacceptable levels of digital noise, the equivalent of grain for film.

As far as AF is concerned, it needn't be a factor. Since you know the distance to the subject you can use a tripod, and manually focus in advance. That approach minimizes shutter delay as well.

If money is no object, and you're not in a rush, you might want to wait a few months to get a peek at the newly announced Sony 828 before you commit. It's press release promises a faster lens/AF system... but you know how press releases go .

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter
Coolpix fifty seven hundred and nine ninety five
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix&page=all

 

[Robert Hoge]

I moved up from a 995 to a D100 a few months ago. Since you already have the lenses for the SLR, I think you should give the D100 a close look. The shutter delay is eliminated. The noise at high ISO is much much lower. You still can pre-set the white balance to adjust for the sodium lighting. It is more $ but you probably will want one eventually.

I tried to compare the noise. To me he D100 has less noise at ISO 400 than the 995 does at 100. It has less at ISO 800 than the 995 at 200. I feel the noise at ISO 1600 is not much more than the 995 at 200, much better than at 400. The D100 at 3200 ISO is not much different than the 995 at 400 ISO!

Who need f2.8 when you can shoot at 800 to1600 ISO?

Bob

 

[tyoung]

Can I use the 5700, and will the Tele be equivalent, or I hope
better, than my slow lense and grainy film results? Will the AF
issues be a problem, or is it much to do about nothing?

The 5700 should work fine, particularly if you will be prefocusing the distance, there won't be any apprecialble shutter lag. Since you already have a 280mm Nikor, as Robert suggested, Something like the D100 could also be a good choice.

One thing that will be a bit of a problem with any camera are those blasted sodium lights. There's just no way to get a clean white balance under those things. The camera's auto WB setting probably does the best job of getting something close to pleasing, but there's only so much you can do to eliminate that ghastly orangish glow short of converting to black and white.

Either way, you'll want to spend a little bit of time shooting under the same or similar conditions to get some familiarity with the performance and the limits of any adjustments that you can make in the camera. That will help a lot to insure that you get the best results you can when it really matters.

--
Tom Young FCAS member
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/

 

[lee lindquist]

A specific application I want the camera for is to photograph my
daughters who swim and dive competetively. Typically at indoor
pools with sodium lighting. I currently use a 280MM Nikkor F4.5

I think that if you buy a CP-5700 specifically for this application,
you'll be disappointed.

While you will be able to get the same zoom (280 equiv.) with
the CP-5700, the lens is very slow at full zoom. This
will force you to use a high-ISO (with associated noise) and
a lower shutter speed. Other folks have suggested a tripod
-- you can use one, and you'll get sharp pictures of the inside
of the building. Unless your shutter speed is high enough,
you'll get a lot of motion blur on your divers. You probably
already have a good feel for this from your film results.

Additionally, I think you'll have difficulty with auto-focus at full zoom.
While you can use manual-focus with the CP-5700, it's tedious,
and not at all intuitive. In my opinion the best way is to measure
or calculate the distance to your subject, and then use one of
the manual-focus-tables posted here to calculate the number
of manual focus 'clicks' for the distance. It might work for
diving, where the camera-subject distance is constant. Pretty
unwieldy for something where the subject distance is changing.

While it is better than many point-n-shoot digitals, the CP-5700
does have some shutter-lag, making it difficult to catch a precise
moment.

I would suggest that you rent or borrow a CP-5700, or at least
buy it from a place where you can return it, and give it your
own test. (I think even Circuit-City will allow a 14-day return)

I have a D1H and a CP5700. I've taken lots of (outdoor) diving
pictures with the D1H. I would never pick the CP-5700 for this.
But, there are people who have lots more patience than
me (just ask my wife) -- if you really want to work at it, you
can probably get ok results with the CP-5700.

 

[CharlieMike]

Don't do it. The cp5700 is not good for moving subjects. Since you have the lense get the D100.

Mic

 

[Michael Tooker]

Thank you all so much for taking time to answer my question.

I gather that what I want would be "possible" with the 5700, but not ideal.

I have just ordered a D100 and am looking forward to commenting on my experiences.

Thanks Again, Michael

 

[Robert Hoge]

I think you will really enjoy it!

One thing that I did not mention which you will also like:

In continuous shooting, my 995 (I think the 5700 is similar) will take 3 images before the buffer is full, but only the first image is measured. The next two are at the same settings.

The D100 will take 7 images in large fine JPG mode at 3 frames per second, and each is individually focused and measured. For photographing a diving event that will make a significant difference in what you take home.
Bob