Nikon Coolpix 5700 Review

The Coolpix 5700 features a big 8x optical 9-72mm (equivalent to 35-280mm) F2.8-4.2 with macro; 14 elements in 10 groups; all glass, Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) applied; two glass-molded ED lens elements included.

Employing the Nikon exclusive 5-area Multi AF focusing system, the camera can automatically select the "best" focus target or you can select the desired focusing zone manually. The autofocus range is 19.7 inches to infinity in normal mode or an amazing 1.2 inches to infinity when in macro mode.

The lens cap clips onto the end of the lens and will extend with it if you forget to remove it when powering up.

This is the HR-E5700 rubber lens shade, it does not require any adapter and attaches directly to the 5700's lens barrel. (You'll no doubt get thoroughly searched at the airport if you try to carry this through the metal detector.)

There are two optional lens adapters: The Wideangle Converter WC-E80 and Telephoto Converter TC-E15ED, both require the Step Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E8. The FC-E8 fisheye lens is not useable on the 5700.

The WC-E80 is comprised of two elements in two groups and weighs approx. 17.5 oz (500g). It is a wide angle conversion lens with a magnification factor of 0.8x. When used in conjunction with the Coolpix 5700's lens at full wide angle it is equivalent to 28mm in 35mm camera format. The combined maximum aperture is f/2.8 with the Coolpix 5700 at full wide angle. The combined minimum focusing distance is 1.10 inches. It is provided with front and rear lens caps and a protective, soft case.

The TC-E15ED is comprised of four elements in two groups (including one ED lens) and weighs approx. 9.6 oz (275g.) It is a telephoto conversion lens with a magnification factor of 1.5x. When used with the Coolpix 5700's lens at full telephoto it is equivalent to 420mm in 35mm camera format. The combined maximum aperture is f/4.2 with the Coolpix 5700 at full telephoto zoom. The combined minimum focusing distance is 16.54 inches. It is provided with front and rear lens caps and a protective, soft case.

The builtin flash automatically "pops up" when needed and has a Guide number 39.4 (at ISO 100, ft/m).  It operates in the following modes: Auto Flash, Flash Cancel, Fill Flash, Slow Sync and Red-Eye Reduction.

The flash working range is 1'10" - 13' 1" in Wide angle and 1'10" - 9'2" in telephoto.

Using the ISO hotshoe the Coolpix 5700 can be fitted with an external speedlight such as the Nikon SB-50DX or SB-80DX (shown above), SB-28DX, SB-28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, or 22s can also be used. The built-in Speedlight can be cancelled when using an external flash or used in tandem. (When using an external flash the internal flash must be "popped up" because the flash sensor is on the flash arm.)

Note that the camera can NOT make use of the speedlight's zoom head or AF assist lamp.  The camera and SB-50DX or SB-80DX can also work together without a sync cable. These flashes have an integrated slave-sensor that works with the Coolpix 5700 (and other Nikon cameras). The range of the TTL wireless flash operation is approx. 7m (23 ft.) and there is no limit to the number of flashes that can be used.

The Coolpix 5700 can be connected to studio lighting by use of the Nikon AS-15 hot shoe to PC adapter. This allows connection to any flash with a standard PC sync cord.

The Coolpix 5700 is Nikon's first camera to employ an electronic viewfinder (EVF.) This is a 180,000-dot low-temp 0.44-inch TFT color LCD with 97% frame coverage (100% in playback) and has dioptric adjustment.

The Coolpix 5700 features a fully articulated, 270°, 1.5", 110,000-pixel, polysilicon color TFT LCD. It is illuminated by an LED backlight with adjustable intensity and has a frame coverage of approximately 97% when used as a live viewfinder.

When not in use the color LCD can be turned to face inwards and closed against the back of the camera. It can also be closed facing outwards like other cameras with fixed LCD screens.

Note that either the EVF or LCD must be turned on as there is no conventional optical viewfinder, so if you like to carry the camera "powered up and ready" just set the Auto-Off value to 30s or 1m and let it go to sleep to save power. A quick tap of the shutter button wakes the camera up and it's ready to shoot in about three seconds.