Nikon Coolpix 5700 Review

This is a typical screen view when in Program AE mode. The same information is displayed on the EVF or color LCD display. Instead of using LED indicators located next to the viewfinder, the Coolpix 5700 puts these indicators on the screen itself. The "SB" icon indicates the condition of the speedlight and the "AF" icon indicates the auto focus status.

The Coolpix 5700 uses a 5-area AF system that can automatically select the focus area (default) or you can manually select a focus area using the 4-way selector. The AF point turns red when active.

In Manual record mode the user has full control of both the shutter speed and aperture. To assist you in getting the exposure correct there is an onscreen metering display. Change the shutter speed or aperture until you get the center box lit to insure proper exposure.

In Shutter speed priority, you select the desired shutter speed to freeze rapid action or to blur movement and the camera selects the proper aperture. Or use Aperture priority to increase or decrease the depth of field (range of focus), you select the aperture and the camera picks the appropriate shutter speed.

Pressing the Quick Review button brings the last picture captured up onscreen in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Press the Quick Review button again and it is displayed full screen. You can quickly go back to record mode by tapping the shutter release at any time.

In addition to still images the Coolpix 5700 can record motion video at 15fps with audio at 320x240 (QVGA) resolution. The maximum length of a movie clip is 60 seconds and it is saved in standard QuickTime MOV format. The optical zoom can not be used while recording movies but you can use the digital zoom.

Shooting Menus

Page 1 of the Shooting Menu:

User Setting - Memorize features for each of the three user presets

White balance - Auto, Preset, Fine, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy or Speedlight (at settings other than Auto or Preset the white balance can be "fine tuned" +/-3 steps)

Metering - Matrix, Spot, Center-weighted averaging or Spot AF Area

Drive Mode - Single frame, Continuous High (3 frames at 3fps), Continuous Low (1.5fps), Multi-Shot 16 (sixteen 640x480 images at 3fps combined into a 2560x1920 collage), Ultra High-Speed (up to 100 QVGA 320x240 images at 30fps), Movie (up to 60 secs of 320x240 motion video with audio at 15fps, saved as QuickTime MOV)

BSS - Best Shot Selector (up to 10 images are captured and only the "best" one is saved)

Image Adjustment - Auto, Normal, More Contrast, Less Contrast, Lighten or Darken

Saturation Control - Maximum, Normal, Moderate, Minimum, B&W

Page 2 of the Shooting Menu:

Lens - Auxiliary lens settings for WC-E80 Wideangle or TC-E15ED Telephoto adapters

Exposure Options - AE Lock, Set maximum Bulb duration to 1 min or 5 mins

Focus Options - AF Area Mode, AF Mode (Continuous or Single), Focus Confirmation

Image Sharpening - Auto, High, Normal, Low, Off

Auto Bracketing - Set the step value and the number of frames for the AEB or enable white balance bracketing

Noise Reduction - Enable noise reduction for exposures longer than 1/30 sec or enable the Clear Image Mode (SXGA or smaller only). Clear Image Mode captures two images with the shutter open and a third image with the shutter closed (a dark frame). Use of a tripod is required.

Reset All - Reset all parameters to default values.

Setup Menus

Folders - Select the active image folder on the CF card

Monitor Options - Select the EVF or LCD as initial display, EVF or LCD review/preview, Shutter release speed

Controls - Set the camera features that should be memorized from power on to power off.

Zoom Options - Digital Zoom on/off, Fixed aperture on/off, Zoom speed.

Auto Off - Set the Auto Off time value (30s default or 1, 5 or 30 min)

Seq. Numbers - Enabling sequential numbering of images. Reset the numbers.

CF Card Format - Format the CF card

Speedlight Options - Popup (auto or manual), Variable Power, Auto or Internal + External flash, Shot Confirm Lamp

Shutter Sound - On, Off

Date - Set the time and date

Info txt - Enable creation of the info.txt file on the CF card

Video Mode - NTSC or PAL

Language - Menu language

USB - USB mode, PTP or Mass Storage device