Nikon 5700 5mp at DVinfo.net

Peter Jefferson · September 15th, 2003, 05:44 AM

these are going for about 2grand here in oz, and i was wondering if anyone here has used or owns one..

basically, i do wedding videos, and am thinkin of expanding the business.
I see that it has a 5 point auto focus, allowing different DoF to be messed around with etc... it also has MANY other features and a nice big CCD and lcd panel

in all honesty, i would prefer a 35mm film camera then scan the pics in, but these days its all digital.. and time is a factor.

if you have any thoughts on this cam, i would really love to hear them!

Boyd Ostroff · September 15th, 2003, 08:05 AM

I have one and like it. Just got it a couple months ago so haven't completely put it through its paces, but like the results I've gotten so far. Next month I'll be shooting one of our operas which is the real test.

Yes, the big (2/3") ccd allows you to have shallow DOF under a variety of conditions. The log zoom lens is also very nice. Color rendition is beautiful. Personally I turn shapening off completely. The only disappointment is low light performance. It can take beautiful time exposure in any lighting, but if you set the ISO to 400 there is a lot of noise, more than my old Nikon 990 had. However, to be fair, that was only a 3MP camera. If I downsample the 5700 frame to that size then I suppose the noise is comparable. The 5700 has an ISO 800 setting, but it's almost useless, unless you like the "snowstorm" effect ;-)

The lens is a little narrow, but nikon makes a very nice wide adaptor. However it is HUGE and HEAVY but looks very impressive. Also, the strange telescoping lens poses a problem for filters. There are several different solutions for this problem however.

Personally I really like the EVF (electronic viewfinder) which is little LCD screen, like a video camera. It's great for working outside in bright sun where the LCD panel won't show up, in fact that was one of my main reasons for choosing the 5700. I don't like the optical viewfinders on the less expensive cameras, and they don't work with wide adaptor lenses. It also has an external LCD screen that is articulated and can be viewed in a variety of positions which is also handy.

So all in all I would certainly recommend it. Have a look at dpreview.com for more info and a nice nikon user forum.

Jeff Donald · September 15th, 2003, 09:12 AM

I have several students with camera and they really like it. I'll second the filter issue. I teach the use of filters and on some cameras it's a real problem. The close-up/macro pictures from that camera are simply stunning. I think it should work well for your weddings and such.

Peter Jefferson · September 15th, 2003, 10:49 AM

thanx for the replies, much appreciated :)

some of the images and setting configs i have seen on it blew me away and i SERIOUSLY considered this as opposed to another video camera...

im still tossing it up, but i like the idea of being able to offer an additional service to my clients.
For weddings, the DoF issue is a must for me, as i have noticed that not many Photographers in Oz take advantage of the impact DoF can have. With digital it can be a little harder to master especially when most of the time theyre runing on auto which is something i DONT do... ...

thanks again for the feedback... !

Alex Ratson · October 1st, 2003, 04:35 PM

I don’t no if this applies in Australia but in Canada and the US the Nikon D100 is rapidly dropping in price. In the US effective October 1st there will be a $200 price drop. In Canada the price is scheduled to come down once again to $1900 at Christmas.
After looking at the price of the CP5700 and the D100 it might be better to go for the D100.

Adrian Douglas · October 1st, 2003, 10:58 PM

But unless you already have compatable lenses you'll have to spring for a standard zoom and maybe a telephoto zoom which pumps up the price quite a bit.

Jeff Donald · October 2nd, 2003, 05:34 AM

The 5700 has already dropped in the US. In one of my classes yesterday, a student said she picked one up for $899. I've seen some very nice 11x14's from that camera.

September 15th, 2003, 05:44 AM	#1
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	Nikon 5700 5mp these are going for about 2grand here in oz, and i was wondering if anyone here has used or owns one.. basically, i do wedding videos, and am thinkin of expanding the business. I see that it has a 5 point auto focus, allowing different DoF to be messed around with etc... it also has MANY other features and a nice big CCD and lcd panel in all honesty, i would prefer a 35mm film camera then scan the pics in, but these days its all digital.. and time is a factor. if you have any thoughts on this cam, i would really love to hear them!

September 15th, 2003, 09:12 AM	#3
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I have several students with camera and they really like it. I'll second the filter issue. I teach the use of filters and on some cameras it's a real problem. The close-up/macro pictures from that camera are simply stunning. I think it should work well for your weddings and such. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 1st, 2003, 10:58 PM	#6
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	But unless you already have compatable lenses you'll have to spring for a standard zoom and maybe a telephoto zoom which pumps up the price quite a bit. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

October 2nd, 2003, 05:34 AM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The 5700 has already dropped in the US. In one of my classes yesterday, a student said she picked one up for $899. I've seen some very nice 11x14's from that camera. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 15th, 2003, 08:05 AM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I have one and like it. Just got it a couple months ago so haven't completely put it through its paces, but like the results I've gotten so far. Next month I'll be shooting one of our operas which is the real test. Yes, the big (2/3") ccd allows you to have shallow DOF under a variety of conditions. The log zoom lens is also very nice. Color rendition is beautiful. Personally I turn shapening off completely. The only disappointment is low light performance. It can take beautiful time exposure in any lighting, but if you set the ISO to 400 there is a lot of noise, more than my old Nikon 990 had. However, to be fair, that was only a 3MP camera. If I downsample the 5700 frame to that size then I suppose the noise is comparable. The 5700 has an ISO 800 setting, but it's almost useless, unless you like the "snowstorm" effect ;-) The lens is a little narrow, but nikon makes a very nice wide adaptor. However it is HUGE and HEAVY but looks very impressive. Also, the strange telescoping lens poses a problem for filters. There are several different solutions for this problem however. Personally I really like the EVF (electronic viewfinder) which is little LCD screen, like a video camera. It's great for working outside in bright sun where the LCD panel won't show up, in fact that was one of my main reasons for choosing the 5700. I don't like the optical viewfinders on the less expensive cameras, and they don't work with wide adaptor lenses. It also has an external LCD screen that is articulated and can be viewed in a variety of positions which is also handy. So all in all I would certainly recommend it. Have a look at dpreview.com for more info and a nice nikon user forum.

September 15th, 2003, 10:49 AM	#4
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	thanx for the replies, much appreciated :) some of the images and setting configs i have seen on it blew me away and i SERIOUSLY considered this as opposed to another video camera... im still tossing it up, but i like the idea of being able to offer an additional service to my clients. For weddings, the DoF issue is a must for me, as i have noticed that not many Photographers in Oz take advantage of the impact DoF can have. With digital it can be a little harder to master especially when most of the time theyre runing on auto which is something i DONT do... ... thanks again for the feedback... !

October 1st, 2003, 04:35 PM	#5
Alex Ratson Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Squamish, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 149	I don’t no if this applies in Australia but in Canada and the US the Nikon D100 is rapidly dropping in price. In the US effective October 1st there will be a $200 price drop. In Canada the price is scheduled to come down once again to $1900 at Christmas. After looking at the price of the CP5700 and the D100 it might be better to go for the D100.