Compared to...

Here we can compare, using results from our review archives, the colour reproduction and resolution of the Nikon Coolpix 5700 to three other five megapixel digital cameras: Minolta DiMAGE 7i, Sony DSC-F707 and Olympus E-20.

Colour Chart Comparison

Colour charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, EV compensation +0.3 (all cameras), measured light ~10 EV. This test is also dependent on the accuracy of the camera's auto white balance, the colour charts are shot in daylight but some camera's white balance is better than others. All cameras are given 20 seconds to "settle" before the shot is taken.

Nikon Coolpix 5700 Minolta DiMAGE 7i
Sony DSC-F707 Olympus E-20

In the table below we're only measuring colour. The RGB values were measured from a VGA reduced image (to average colours, remove noise and eliminate JPEG artifacts) using the Eyedropper tool in Photoshop with a 5 by 5 Average Sample Size.

Patch

Nikon
Coolpix 5700

Minolta
DiMAGE 7i

Sony
DSC-F707

Olympus
E-20

Black 27,28,27 28,31,27 18,18,20 31,29,32
Middle Gray 91,92,92 95,97,91 80,89,91 92,92,96
White 206,206,205 221,222,217 176,189,190 201,203,205
Magenta 210,30,93 199,52,104 182,16,82 184,31,102
Red 191,14,24 197,39,45 178,9,4 182,30,43
Yellow 190,176,37 219,206,58 175,180,37 201,193,55
Green 1,134,72 47,140,77 8,135,66 25,125,76
Cyan 16,158,202 54,169,206 12,148,198 26,137,193
Blue 45,46,98 57,55,106 36,21,98 50,34,103

As you can see the Coolpix 5700 has a very similar colour response (under natural light) to the other five megapixel cameras. Saturation levels are very similar as is the black point. Overall the 5700 provides a relatively neutral colour response which can be tweaked either way by the use of the saturation parameter.

Resolution Comparison

Shots here are of the PIMA/ISO 12233 standard resolution test chart (more of which are available in our comparison database). This resolution chart allows us to measure the actual performance of the lens and sensor system. It measures the ability of the camera to resolve lines at gradually higher resolutions and enables us to provide a definitive value for comparison purposes. Values on the chart are 1/100th lines per picture height. So a value of 8 equates to 800 lines per picture height.

Studio light, cameras set to auto, all settings factory default. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV for all cameras.

Horizontal resolution Vertical resolution 5 degree diagonal res.
Nikon Coolpix 5700
Minolta DiMAGE 7i
Sony DSC-F707
Olympus E-20

Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera):

Camera Measurement Absolute Res. Extinction Res.
Nikon Coolpix 5700 Horiz LPH 1350  * 1500 
Vert LPH * 1200  1500 
5° Diagonal LPH + 1000  - 
Minolta DiMAGE 7i Horiz LPH * 1300  * 1450 
Vert LPH * 1150  * 1450 
5° Diagonal LPH 900  - 
Sony DSC-F707 Horiz LPH 1450  1800 
Vert LPH 1300  1800 
5° Diagonal LPH + 1000  - 
Olympus E-20 Horiz LPH * 1350  * 1650 
Vert LPH * 1300  * 1650 
5° Diagonal LPH + 1000  - 

* Moiré becomes visible, + Chart maximum

Definition of terms:

LPH Lines per Picture Height (to allow for different aspect ratios the measurement is the same for horizontal and vertical)
5° Diagonal Lines set at 5° diagonal
Absolute Resolution Still defined detail (below Nyquist frequency*)
Extinction Resolution Detail beyond camera's definition (becomes a solid gray alias)
n/a Not Available (above the capability of the test chart)
n/v Not Visible (not visible on test results)
* Nyquist frequency defined as the highest spatial frequency where the CCD can still faithfully record
image detail. Beyond the Nyquist frequency aliasing occurs.

The Coolpix 5700 exhibits identical resolution to the Coolpix 5000. This places it just above the Minolta DiMAGE 7i but below the Olympus E-20 and Sony DSC-F707 (still resolution King of the 5 megapixel market sector). One thing that's clear from looking at the 5700's resolution chart is that Nikon's image processing produces much a more film-like look to the image with cleaner diagonals and less sharpening artifacts. Considering the 8x lens the resolution performance is impressive.