Article: 286890 of rec.photo.digital From: "Larry R Harrison Jr" Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital Subject: Re: Low-Light Autofocus Struggles with Nikon Coolpix 5700 Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 20:39:12 -0700 Lines: 72 Message-ID: <2ikqn0Fnnf7nU1@uni-berlin.de> References: <8a4fe96a.0406071127.7a98104b@posting.google.com> X-Trace: news.uni-berlin.de ZGhNQ+hzRVD83zOiESaGtwD0Ic8Z/FTi7N1g8JKdMF1cp/6VA= X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 Path: news.meer.net!sea-read.news.verio.net!dfw-artgen!newspeer1.stngva01.us.to.verio.net!news.verio.net!newsfeed.icl.net!newsfeed.fjserv.net!newsfeed.freenet.de!news-lei1.dfn.de!news-ber1.dfn.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!not-for-mail Xref: archive.mv.meer.net rec.photo.digital:286890 Okay thanks for the link you gave me of http://www.photoprojects.net/index6.html The one I have, which seems to use similar methods: http://www.pbase.com/budguinn/handle_for_laser Both deal with using a normal cheap laser thingie as an "aftermarket" sort of AF assist light. If it works well enough, I guess it's an okay workaround which could make me not feel as inclined towards the Sony DSC-F717. One thing, too, about the Sony DSC-F717 I noticed: it doesn't have as good of a macro ability. The Nikon lets you get within 2 inches of the lens, the Sony only 9 1/2. I do quite a bit of macro so that's very important. LRH "Larry R Harrison Jr" wrote in message news:8a4fe96a.0406071127.7a98104b@posting.google.com... > I just got a Nikon Coolpix 5700 not quite 3 weeks ago. It's a GREAT > camera, with one exception--low-light AF with this camera is such a > bitch. > > I know, apparently others have posted this with the responses going > something like "there are workarounds" and "what do you expect; it's > not an SLR." > > Now, I do understand--it's expected to have such problems at > full-zoom, where it's similar to a 280mm lens on a 35mm SLR. But I > have been known to have these problems even at moderate zoom with > average-indoor lighting. Setting the aperture as small as I can get it > doesn't seem to provide enough depth-of-field to compensate for this. > > I can promise: I'm NOT "looking for an excuse" to go all materialistic > and get a D70 or D100 instead. But this one issuse all by itself has > made me think I'd be better off with one of those--or a Sony DSC-F717 > with its laser-beam assistance for AF. > > Yes, the 5700 has manual focusing. Sometimes, though, it's just too > hard to tell sharpness--especially in low-light situations, even using > the peephole vs the LCD. (Having an object like a magazine nearby > helps; the words are easy to focus on.) I find it MUCH easier to do > this with my Nikon N80 (I know, "well-duh!"). I have also figured that > the short "actual" focal-length of the 5700's lens combined with a > small aperture like f/8 would allow me to "hyperfocus" in manual focus > mode and basically turn the 5700 into a "fixed-focus" camera. This > only seems to work at the extreme shortest ends of the focal lengths, > though. > > One guy--I can't find his link (I have it at home, I'm at work > now--may provide it later)--showed on the Internet where he setup a > flash bracket with a make-shift laser pointer which he activates to > help his 5700 focus. That sounds cool and I guess I'd consider it for > my usage, but then it's like--wouldn't you then in essence have the > Sony DSC-F717 instead without the fuss? > > I love the 5700 better overall than the DSC-F717--the dedicated > hot-shoe (though it doesn't really support dedicated features like > auto-zoom anyway), RAW mode, more manual options overall, the longer > zoom reach (280mm effective vs 190mm), use of Compact Flash rather > than Memory Stick. But I've at times considered that maybe I should've > got the DSC-F717 instead because of its built-in laser beam which > helps the autofocusing. That, or I should just get out (sell the 5700) > and wait 'til I can afford a D70 or used D100 (if the latter EVER > comes down in price). > > Tips? > > LRH