Calling all Nikon 5700 owners....

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

01/31/2007 02:34:31 PM · #1

Evening folks :o)

I am looking for some advice. A friend of mine owns a Nikon Coolpix 5700 and next week we are going to try taking some flower images.

I know nothing about this camera but would love any hints and tips from members here who have this camera.

I'd like to know things like how much control you have over the camera when in manual, what mode do you use when taking flower shots and anything else you guys think maybe useful.

Thanks for reading and cheers in advance for any help you can offer :o)

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

01/31/2007 02:45:40 PM · #2

Flower shots up close? if so just use macro. Macro should work in most modes. Id use Auto or programmed auto with macro on.

Pedro

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

01/31/2007 02:47:36 PM · #3

It pretty much has all the manual features you might want, but it's a digicam, so fairly limited compared to a dSLR. As with most still-life-type shots, I'd carry a tripod with you to compensate for the shutter-lag-jitters. If you have the software to play with it, I'd shoot in RAW - the jpg is pretty good on that camera, but RAW will provide much sharper images and you'll have way more control over the colours etc after the fact.

it has a decent focal range, and the 'macro' mode (the little flower logo button on the side) lets you get in pretty close if that's what you're after.

I almost always used Aperture mode on that camera (as I still do now with my other cams), which gives you ample control over your shutter speeds and DOF. I don't do much of that kind of photography, but have had some luck in the past with opening the aperture way up, backing away from the subject, (F2.8) and zooming in on one flower - you'll get a crisp focal plane, and with the shallow DOF it makes decent bokeh.

Keep the ISO as low as you can manage while still getting decent shutter speeds. higher ISO on the 5700s is a little noisy...certainly more so than you'd find on your dRebel.

the 5700 is a great little camera - I still even use mine once in a while when i don't feel like lugging my bigger gear around.

hope that helps a little.

P

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

01/31/2007 02:52:50 PM · #4

Not a 5700 owner, but have owned Nikon P&S cams of that vintage. Typically the Nikons were *very* capable macro cameras. The macro mode is indicated by a tulip icon, and normally is only accessible through the central part of the zoom range. The tulip turns from whit to yellow when macro focusing is allowed. There's normally a dedicated button on the back that cycles through the macro, landscape and self-timer modes.

Pedro

Nikon D200

01/31/2007 02:54:37 PM · #5

Originally posted by kirbic:

You are correct, good sir. :)

smellyfish1002

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/31/2007 02:55:45 PM · #6

Here is a link to some shots I have taken with a Nikon CP5700.
//www.pbase.com/jdanderson/nikon_cp5700

This camera will do a great job with macros. Use a tripod and low ISO and you should get some great flower shots!
JD

01/31/2007 02:58:11 PM · #7

That's one very nice thing that Nikon did with their P&S cams, the control scheme was carried through the entire line. I was going from the way the 995 operated, and that's a pretty long way from the 5700, but the control scheme was still very similar.
I still have my 995, and still use it for on-the-spot macro work when I don't need the resolution of "the big gun."

fotomann_forever

01/31/2007 02:59:09 PM · #8

This was with an 8700 (not much different than the 5700). It's an ugly pic but shows you what it is capable of.

01/31/2007 03:26:00 PM · #9

Thanks for the great info!! I knew you guys would know your stuff!!

Something just popped into my head....how much control do you have over white balance?

01/31/2007 03:26:53 PM · #10

Here's two from my ol' 995:

Not as close as it was capable of focusing. The dragonfly is a slight crop, but not much of one. The Rose is uncropped.

Message edited by author 2007-01-31 15:37:20.

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

01/31/2007 03:28:58 PM · #11

Great detail in both those shots! I have become so used to my 350D and most of the time I am in manual so helping my friend is going to be a learning curve for me!

scarbrd

Leica M10

01/31/2007 03:29:10 PM · #12

5400, not exactly macro, but very close focusing at the wide angle setting.

fotomann_forever

01/31/2007 03:30:34 PM · #13

Originally posted by talj:

Something just popped into my head....how much control do you have over white balance?

Take a sheet of white paper with you. You can do a custom WB from it. The camera makes it really simple to set custom WB. The WB modes are pretty limited, but the custom WB works well.

Pedro

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

01/31/2007 03:33:06 PM · #14

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by talj:

Something just popped into my head....how much control do you have over white balance?

Take a sheet of white paper with you. You can do a custom WB from it. The camera makes it really simple to set custom WB. The WB modes are pretty limited, but the custom WB works well.

Leroy's right it's quite easy to set...plus if you shoot in RAW you can mess with it 'till your heart's content in PS afterwards.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/31/2007 05:21:05 PM · #15

Thanks Leroy and Peter! Really appreciate all your answers! Will see how things go next week and if we get any more questions I'll pop back and ask you guys! :o)

smellyfish1002

Canon EOS-20D

01/31/2007 06:08:37 PM · #16

Here is a flower shot taken on macro with the 5700:

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/31/2007 06:11:10 PM · #17

I've owned two Nikon P&S and both were excellent macro cams. Just use the scene setting for macro and shoot away.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

01/31/2007 06:18:54 PM · #18

Originally posted by smellyfish1002:

Here is a flower shot taken on macro with the 5700:

Fantastic detail!!

With the help from you guys here I am sure my friend and I will get the hang of it!!! :o)

Rebecca

Nikon D80

01/31/2007 06:24:47 PM · #19

The Coolpix series in general is an excellent macro camera, but in my experience, unless you're shooting in manual, you're pretty much at the camera's mercy as to where the focus will be. On the 5400, you hold down the AF button and then scroll right/left with the shutter/aperature wheel to focus manually, and I'm guessing it would be the same on the 5700.

01/31/2007 06:28:09 PM · #20

Originally posted by karmabreeze:

Great bit of advice, thanks Rebecca! :o)

01/31/2007 06:28:26 PM · #21

To Rebecca's point, yes, AF can be dicey. My method with the 995 was just to half-press the shutter button, let it lock focus where it will, then move the camera carefully to optimize focus.

Edit: If i recall correctly, many of the Coolpix cams had an option to sharpen the view on the LCD to make what's in focus stand out, and I always found this of great value.

Message edited by author 2007-01-31 18:29:41.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

01/31/2007 06:29:58 PM · #22

Originally posted by kirbic:

To Rebecca's point, yes, AF can be dicey. My method with the 995 was just to half-press the shutter button, let it lock focus where it will, then move the camera carefully to optimize focus.

I am so used to doing as I please I suppose, the 350D is pretty flexible and I think trying to help my friend might be frustrating cos I know my own camera so well lol

raish

Olympus C-2500L

01/31/2007 06:33:34 PM · #23

This improbable self portrait:

was taken by the (then) owner of ye 5700.

Bear_Music might be his name.