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Nikon CoolPix 5700 Nikon expands their 5 megapixel offerings, with a long zoom, a new body, but the same legendary Nikon feature set! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet CoolPix 5700 Photo Gallery! CoolPix 5700 Test Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on CoolPix 5700 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 5/29/2002

Image Storage and Interface
The Coolpix 5700 uses standard CompactFlash Type I or II memory cards, and a 16MB "starter" card is included with the camera. Given the size of the images though (not to mention the current low prices of memory cards), I strongly recommend buying a (much) larger card. Captured images can be individually write-protected through the Playback menu, but write protected files are only immune to accidental deletion, not card reformatting. File formats include several levels of compressed JPEG files as well as an uncompressed TIFF mode (Hi quality setting) and NEF (RAW) mode. (Both TIFF and RAW settings are only available at maximum resolution.) Available image sizes are 2,560 x 1,920, 3:2 Ratio (2,560 x 1,700), 1,600 x 1,200 (UXGA), 1,280 x 960 (SXGA), 1,024 x 768 (XGA), and 640 x 480 (VGA) pixels. The table below details the Coolpix 5700's approximate file sizes and compression ratios in all its various image size/quality combinations, for a 16MB card.

 

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 16MB Memory Card		RAW	Hi	Fine	Normal	Basic
Full Resolution 2560x1920	Images (Avg size)	2	1 14.7 MB	6 2.6 MB	13 1.3 MB	26 0.6 MB
	Approx. Compression	1:1	1:1	6:1	12:1	24:1
UXGA Resolution 1600x1200	Images (Avg size)	-	-	16 1.00 MB	31 0.52 MB	59 0.27 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	6:1	11:1	21:1
SXGA Resolution 1280x960	Images (Avg size)	-	-	25 0.65 MB	48 0.34 MB	87 0.19 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	6:1	11:1	20:1
XGA Resolution 1024x768	Images (Avg size)	-	-	38 0.43 MB	70 0.23 MB	123 0.13 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	6:1	10:1	18:1
VGA Resolution 640x480	Images (Avg size)	-	-	87 0.15 MB	146 0.11 MB	232 0.07 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	6:1	8:1	13:1
(3:2) 2560x1704	Images (Avg size)	-	-	7 1.5 MB	14 1.1 MB	28 0.6 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	9:1	12:1	22:1

 

The Coolpix 5700 uses a USB interface to connect to a host computer for image downloading. Like many higher-end cameras these days, it's a "storage class" device, which means that Mac users on OS 8.6 or greater, or Windows Me, 2000, or XP users can just plug the camera into their computers and have it appear as a removable hard drive. Data transfer is pretty speedy, as I clocked it at 577 KBytes/second on my G4 Mac. (Not quite the fastest I've seen, but easily in the upper echelon.)  

Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff happens," as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now, so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for Windows or PhotoRescue for Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF manual and quickstart guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen. (Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly scheduled review...