Introduction

After owning a Nikon 5700 for quite a while I can honestly say that it is one of the best cameras that I have ever owned. It has also redefined the way that I do photography. I am always amazed at the rapid advances in digital photography and the Nikon 5700 illustrates just how powerful this new technology can be.

I did a lot of research before purchasing this camera. My old 2 megapixel Canon A40 turned me into a digital fanatic. In one year I took nearly 10,000 digital images, which is more than I have taken in 20 years of film photography! (I suppose having 2 national parks in my backyard doesn’t help things either.) Since I continue to do a lot more photography than I have done in years, I’ve captured quite a few remarkable storms and unique lighting situations. I decided that it would be a good idea to start capturing higher resolution digital images in case I want to make some bigger enlargements.

If you explore the Internet you will find several extremely detailed reviews of the Nikon 5700 so I’m not going to duplicate all of that information here. Therefore, instead of putting up a full review of the Nikon 5700 I am just going to comment on why I bought it and my experiences with it. Obviously, the majority of my comments will be quite positive because of all the research I did before purchasing this camera. I never rush into a new camera purchase and I have yet to be disappointed with a camera purchase.

My Situation

I have been a 35mm film SLR photographer for nearly 30 years. I have several Canon and Nikon SLRs and quite a few lenses for each system. I have been using point-and-shoot digitals for several years, mostly in the 2-3 megapixel range. Since my first digital exposure I have been awestruck with the capabilities of digital photography. One of the biggest problems I have had with film photography started with my first trip out west in 1986. It turned out that the spectacular red rocks landscapes of southern Utah that I loved so much were a film processing nightmare. In this beautiful section of the world the landscape is primarily red. The problem is that even back in 1986 most of the film processing labs were completely automated. When the average processing machine looks at negatives of red rock landscapes it thinks something is wrong – it sees what it thinks is too much red! So, it compensates by equalizing the colors which results in horrible brown landscapes. My heavenly red rock landscapes looked like a pile of mud. Argh! Anyway, digital photography eliminates all of the processing nightmares I have experienced. With the proper light balance setting the color of every image looks exactly as I captured it. Give me enough resolution and I’ll never look back at film!

My Requirements

With a requirement of about 5 megapixels I set out looking for my next digital camera. Although my A40 gave me some exposure and zoom capabilities, I wanted something closer to my Nikon 35mm SLR experience. I wanted…

• An electronic viewfinder – This was my #1 requirement. My reason for this is explained in the sections that follow.
• Extended Zoom Range – I’ve been used to 28mm-300mm with my film camera so something close would be nice.
• Quality lens – Good lens construction/performance is one thing that rarely gets mentioned in digital camera ads. This is one area where traditional camera manufacturers have a big advantage.
• Articulating LCD panel – After taking hundreds of wildflower pictures with my A40 I discovered that some of favorite shots were those taken from ground level. With my A40 I would position the camera close to the ground and try to visually line up the shot (i.e. guess) since I couldn’t use the viewfinder that close to the ground. With an articulating LCD panel, I can precisely compose no matter where the camera is located.
• RAW image format storage – All professional-class camera support some sort of RAW (unprocessed) image format for the ultimate in image quality.
• Autofocus - I’ve learned to completely trust autofocus with my Nikon film SLR so this is now a must.
• Complete manual operation – I want the ability to control everything if the need arises.
• Hot shoe for an external flash unit – An absolute requirement for serious photography.
• Time exposure capability – Support exposures of at least 1 minute or more. I like to have a few stars in my evening photos. This requires decent noise reduction circuitry.
• Durable construction – I don’t want a lot of plastic.
• Comfortable size – Although much of the marketing for digital cameras involves small size and lightweight design, serious photographers don’t use 2 fingers on each hand to hold a camera! I want a grip similar to that of my 35mm film cameras and enough heft for steady, serious photography.

Digital SLRs – Not Necessarily the Best Solution

This can never happen with a camera with an
Electronic Viewfinder, like the Nikon 5700.

I looked at digital SLRs first, since they represented an exact replacement for the Nikon SLR I had been using for several years. However, after a bit of research it became apparent that perhaps a digital SLR was not the ultimate digital camera for me. Digital SLRs use the same mirror/pentaprism system that film SLRs use. While this is a great system for film, it negates much of the power of digital photography. Digital cameras have an incredible range of settings that can be tweaked to optimize your photographs. Additionally, the biggest advantage of digital photography is being able to instantly review your photographs after you take them. Both of these advantages rely heavily on the LCD screen. Unfortunately, since a digital SLR’s main viewfinder is through-the-lens, the ultra-important LCD screen is located on the back of the camera, just like a $200 point and shoot digital. Once again the big problem is that the electronic display is completely invisible in bright sunlight! One of the main advantages of digital photography, instant critical review of photographs, disappears. Since 90% of my photography is in bright sunlight, this was totally unacceptable to me. I wanted a digital camera that takes advantage of digital technology.

Electronic Viewfinders

After looking at digital SLRs, an electronic viewfinder (EVF) suddenly had a lot of appeal to me. An EVF gives me the same through-the-lens versatility that an SLR does but it goes far beyond an SLR in terms of control flexibility. Obviously there is a trade-off. An EVF does not have the same perfect clarity as an SLR viewfinder, but there are so many additional features that, to me, easily offset the decrease in clarity. The ability to clearly see the electronic display in bright sunlight is absolutely fantastic. Critical focus with a well-designed EVF is a piece of cake. The EVF also gives me the flexibility to critically review photographs and verify exposure compensation and image manipulation settings instantly. In complex lighting situations it’s great to be able to review the exposure, examine the histogram, tweak the light balance (a great feature of the 5700), and make fine adjustments in the field. I’ve been using digital cameras for years, but until I had an EVF I have never been able to take advantage of all the powerful features they have to offer (while outside) because standard LCD screens are just about invisible in sunlight. What good is an LCD screen if you can barely see it? An ELV lets me critically review and magnify my photographs while I’m still out in the field.

Maybe part of my love of electronic viewfinders is related to the fact that I’ve been doing 35mm film SLR photography for nearly 30 years. While the real-time EVF image may not be an exact representation of the final image, it is close enough to let me know when I’ve got my intended shot lined up – i.e. I pretty much know what will, and won’t, work because of all my previous film exposures. The fundamentals of good photography are still the same. But for me an EVF is a whole new way of integrating technology and photography into something that better than ever before. If you need an optical viewfinder you’re living in the 20th century. 21st century photography is petty amazing!

Things I Love About the Nikon 5700

As I mentioned earlier, there are many detailed reviews of the Nikon 5700 online. These reviews are great – every little detail about the camera’s operation and controls is covered. Therefore, I’ll just go over the things that blew me away…

• Ergonomics – Weight & physical control layout – The first time I picked up this camera I was blown away. It feels like a piece of professional equipment. The magnesium alloy body has just enough heft to feel solid, yet lightweight enough to be a joy to carry. The rubberized grip on the right side of the camera is as good as any I’ve used on a 35mm SLR. Whenever I pick up this camera it’s hard to put it down! Standard controls (shutter release, aperture and shutter speed controls) are in the exact position they are on my 35mm SLRs. Additional controls are on the left side of the lens barrel, where my left thumb falls naturally. After you become accustomed to this camera, it’s a breeze to make adjustments quickly.

• Electronic Viewfinder – Again, I love the electronic viewfinder for all of the reasons that I talked about in the previous sections.
• Lens Quality – This has got to be the most overlooked features of any digital camera. As digital cameras get smaller and smaller, lens quality seems to be taking a hit (less and less elements in the lens). It’s amazing to me that companies concentrate on increasing the resolution of the CCD while lens performance is practically ignored. There’s nothing like a high resolution CCD to show you just how bad your lens is. Anyway, the lens of the Nikon 5700 is spectacular. It performs just as well as many of the interchangeable Nikon lenses for my 35mm SLR. I first noticed how good this lens was when I took some photos directly into the sun. I couldn’t believe the results – no lens flare, intense colors – it was amazing. This lens is as sharp as a tack. The only softness I’ve ever noticed in my pictures is due to lens shake (attempting to hand hold telephoto shot in very low light), which will happen with any camera. Clearly, half the price of this camera is in the great lens.
• Zoom Range - The 35mm - 280mm zoom range is wonderful. It's amazing to have such a wide range in such a small camera!

• Articulating LCD panel – This feature turned out to be everything that I expected. I've taken shots from ground level, from over my head, and self portraits with the camera directly facing me. You can even spin the LCD panel around and snap it into place so it works like other digital cameras. I love the fact that it is normally facing inward, toward the camera, so that it is protected from scratches.
• Image Quality – The image quality from my 5700 is top notch. After spending a year scanning many of my 35mm slides, I am amazed when I review my 5700 pictures and see detail that rivals my scanned images.
• Macro shooting as close as 1.2” from the lens - As far as close-up photography goes – this camera rocks!
• Shutter speeds from 1/4,000 to 8 sec, with a bulb setting of up to 5 minutes - I’ve already taken quite a few star trails. The noise reduction works great, and is required for all exposures greater than 1 second.
• Continuous shooting of up to 3 frames per second in full size - I’ve never missed a shot.
• Quick Review button to check any image quickly - Pressing the shutter release button once gets you back into the record mode.
• Wealth of electronic controls – This is probably one of the most feature-packed digital cameras available. There are so many useful settings that can be changed or adjusted to meet just about any photographic situation. I cannot emphasize how important it is to take some time to learn about all of the options. It may seem overwhelming in the beginning, but once you understand all that you can do with this camera you will be able to handle just about anything. If you read the Owner’s Manual and you won’t be disappointed, you’ll be empowered. The controls include…
  • White balance adjustment – Not only can you tweak the standard presets, but you can measure your own custom white balance by pointing the camera at something white. This feature is awesome!
  • Saturation Control
  • Contrast Control
  • Image Sharpening adjustment
  • Monitor brightness, hue, and saturation adjustment
  • Metering Modes: 256-segment Matrix, Center-Weighted, Spot or Spot AF Area
  • Focus Modes: Continuous AF mode, Single AF mode, or Manual
  • Much more! Refer to some of the reviews at the bottom of this page for details.
• Custom User Settings - You can define up to 3 “User Sets” of custom settings. For example, I have a separate User Set for macro photography that uses spot metering, manual focus zone select, and Best Shot Selector. The ability to switch back and forth instantly is incredible.
• Programmable Function Button - Imagine having a conveniently located button on your camera that you program to do whatever you want to match your shooting style. This camera has one!

Accessories Purchased

The following items were essential for my photographic needs…

• Leather Nikon case designed for the 5700 – Since I do a lot of hiking I always opt for the smallest possible camera case. Generally, cases designed for the specific camera you are using are always the smallest. Nikon’s case for the 5700 is a great fit, with enough extra room for several compact flash cards, an extra battery pack or 2, and a lens cleaning cloth. However, as a desert dweller I wish manufacturers would produce more non-black camera cases. In 100+ degree temperatures, black cases are a heat magnet! I wish I had a different case for July and August, but generally this case works fine.
  
  Update: I have found a much better camera case for my 5700. To check out my review, click here.

• 256MB Compact Flash Cards (2) – I average about 160 full resolution images 5-megapixel images per card.
• Extra EN-EL1 rechargeable battery pack – One battery pack usually lasts for nearly 160 5-megapixel photos with quite a bit of zooming and occasional flash use. I also spend a generous amount of time reviewing my photos.
• Car Charger – I do a lot of multi-day camping trips so a car charger is a necessity.
• Filter Adapter – The only real frustration that I have ever had with my 5700 dealt with adding filters. The end of the 5700's lens is not threaded. Luckily there is a company that makes a great solution...

Click here to learn more about this handy filter adapter

• TC-E15ED Telephoto Converter - I purchased the TC-E15ED for my 5700 and I am glad that I did. Click here to read my impressions.

Conclusion

The Nikon 5700 is a fantastic camera for those who are into serious photography. But be warned, this camera is clearly intended for “techies”. The ability to tweak just about every setting can be pretty overwhelming for those used to traditional photography. Although you don’t have to use all the features that this camera offers, not doing so would negate much of the reason for purchasing this camera. If you’re considering a digital SLR remember that they are not everyone’s idea of the ultimate digital camera, especially is you do a lot of photography in bright sunlight and want to critically review your photographs outside. The Nikon 5700 offers total creative control for just about any photographic situation. In my opinion, the 5700 is the best digital camera available with an electronic viewfinder. If you can see the advantages of using an electronic viewfinder, you will love owning a 5700. I sure do!

Important Tip for Nikon 5700 Owners

I spend quite a bit of time cruising around the internet looking for useful hints & tips from other Nikon 5700 owners. One of the most useful tips that I have come across deals with protecting the zoom motor of the 5700. When the 5700 is normally powered on, the lens extends forward by about one inch. This allows for compact storage when the camera is not in use. On the surface this sounds like a great idea, however it has caused problems for several Nikon 5700 owners. The problem is that the power switch on the 5700 is fairly easy to activate. If your camera is tightly packed into your camera bag and the power switch gets bumped, the lens will not have any space to extend. The result can be a burnt out motor, which will need to be replaced by a qualified technician ($$$)! Luckily there's a very easy way to avoid this from happening using the mode selector switch, which normally selects between shooting or playback modes. When the mode selector on the 5700 is in the playback mode, the lens does not extend when you turn on the camera. Since this switch is perfectly positioned under your right thumb when you are holding the camera, it is super-easy to get into the habit of switching it to the playback mode before you put the camera back in your camera case. After doing this for a couple of weeks, it's pretty much a reflex action for me.

Putting the mode selector in the "playback" position before
stowing your camera can prevent a hefty repair bill!

Important Note

Remember that your ultimate choice of a camera should be based on what camera you personally like the best. That may sound pretty obvious but I am constantly amazed at how many people allow themselves to be steered away from their ideal camera because someone else doesn't like it. There is little point in buying somebody else's idea of the perfect camera. If you are not completely comfortable with a camera it will make a lousy photographic tool no matter what anyone else's opinion may be. Photography is an art. The tools are important, but not as important as your skills and your ability to implement them. I think that buying a camera comes down to this: Determine what your specific photographic needs are and then simply buy a camera that supports those needs. Nothing irritates me more than reading some of the internet newsgroup discussions about digital cameras. New cameras are discussed to death and then as soon as a new model is released, everyone is talking about upgrading to the latest model as if it is the key to improving their photography. So many people are obsessed about owning the latest model that they lose sight of the actual art of photography. I’ve always felt that if you can’t take a good photograph with a $10 camera, you surely will not be able to take a good one with a $1000 camera.

I had a person stop in my office at work recently touting the advantages of a $1000 digital camera their company had just bought. This was quickly followed by, “Of course nobody knows how to use the thing…” I’m not kidding! All of this reminds me of the following joke...

A photographer went to a friend’s house for dinner one night and brought a few pictures to show everyone. While looking at the photos the hostess said, "These are really nice! You must have a good camera to take pictures like these." The photographer said nothing. Later that evening, when he got up to leave, he said to the hostess, "That was a really nice dinner! You must have some very good pots."

My Additonal Nikon 5700 Pages

• A Filter Adapter for the Nikon 5700
• Finding a Camera Case for the Nikon 5700
• The TC-E15ED Telephoto Lens for the 5700