I had hands-on time recently with the Nikon D5600. Is it a solid mid range DSLR? Let’s find out! I compare this to my Canon EOS Rebel SL2 and also comment on what type of person the D5600 might be a good fit for. The D5000 series is Nikon’s step up from their entry level with a little bit more of everything over the 3000 series. The stand out feature of this camera is the fully articulating screen.
Get the Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera here:
B&H Photo Video
Amazon.com
Used on KEH.com (usually with a warranty)
Used on eBay.com
Check out a few sample photos in this 4k slideshow video.
Specifications (full info)
- 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor (6000×4000 photos) with an ISO range of 100 to 25600.
- Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder, Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical, Approx. 0.82x magnification.
- 1/4000th of a second maximum shutter speed with 1/200th of a second flash sync speed.
- Frames per second of: CL: Up to 3 fps, CH: Up to 5 fps (JPEG and 12-bit NEF/RAW) or 4 fps (14-bit NEF/RAW). Note: Frame rates assume continuous-servo AF, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, Release selected for Custom Setting a1 (AF-C priority selection), and other settings at default values.
- Nikon Multi-CAM 4800DX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 39 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensors), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5 to 3 m/1 ft 8 in. to 9 ft 10 in.)
- 1920 x 1080; 60p (progressive), 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720; 60p, 50p. Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25 and 23.976 fps respectively; options support both high and normal image quality. Maximum clip length of 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
- Monitor size of 8.1-cm/3.2-in. (3:2), approx. 1037k-dot (720 x 480 x 3 = 1,036,800 dots), TFT vari-angle LCD touch screen with 170 degree viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, brightness adjustment and eye-sensor controlled on/off.
- EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- Sized aprox. 124 x 97 x 70 mm/4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in. Approx. 465 g/1 lb 0.4 oz with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 415 g/14.7 oz (camera body only)
- Rated temperature range of: 0 to 40°C/32 to 104°F; humidity: 85% or less (no condensation)
Compared to the SL2
I’ve owned a Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (200D), which is similar in price and features to this camera. They are similar, but I think the Nikon is better for photos and the Canon better for video. You will need to decide which task is more important.
- The biggest feature is the fully articulating screen. Both cameras have a very similar design here.
- D5600 has a better sensor. Better PDAF for photos. So I think it’s better for action photos than the Canon.
- D5600 has a bigger battery (~300mAh extra).
- SL2 has better live view autofocus, especially in video mode.
- Canon WIFI app has video capability and a lot more. The Nikon Snapbridge app was updated a while back, but still lacking.
- The D5600 has 5fps continuous shooting with a 39-point phase detection AF system. The Canon SL2 has a 9 point AF system with 3.5fps continuous.
Ergonomics
- The camera is surprisingly thin in some areas. Of course, the mount area is long due to F-mount registration distance. These cameras are a sign of things to come.
- Fully articulating touch screen that is nice and large.
One adjustment dial. - Info, i, AE-L/AF-L, Video record button, exposure compensation button, flash/f-comp, Fn, drive mode button, mini-hdmi with an interesting gasketed port door.
- Wired shutter release, mic port, usb port.
- Touch screen AF point selection when the screen is off. It includes an eye sensor. There is an evident focus on touch. The back control buttons are small a far off to the grip side of the camera.
- 95% coverage viewfinder pentamirror based viewfinder. This isn’t great but fitting for the D5000 series.
- One SD card slot that is easy to access.
If video work is on your list, I’d suggest something like the SL2. Both have 1080p 60fps, but the SL2 has more versatility and better live view autofocus in this case. I’ve had 5000 series cameras in the past and have used them for videos on my YouTube channel. They are certainly good enough, but there are better options as I mentioned.
Of similar cameras in this range, I think this one is a solid still photo camera. The autofocus system is robust for the price and you have a lot of lens options. The D5600 has a high quality sensor with a focus on moderate action use. If your entry point is at this price range, it seems like a good starter option.
Get the Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera here:
B&H Photo Video
Amazon.com
Used on KEH.com (usually with a warranty)
Used on eBay.com
Video Transcription
Hey, this is Scott of Photography Banzai. In this
video I'll be talking about the Nikon
D5600. Thanks to Camera Craft in
Rockford Illinois for let me try this out
at their shop. The D5600 is in the
middle of the entry level cameras in
Nikon's lineup. I have used a few 5000
series cameras throughout the years.
Mostly for video. The really big standout
feature of this line of camera is the
fully articulating screen. I do own a
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 which is very similar in price and
features to this camera. So I'll be
comparing these two throughout this
video. The D5600 has a 24 megapixel
APS-C sized sensor. 5 frames a second
continuous shooting.
39-point phase detection auto-focus
system. 1080p video at 60 frames/sec.
It does use the EN-EL14a batteries. It
also has Wi-Fi and bluetooth with the
Snap Bridge application. Some of the more
important photographer features that it
does have is bracketing as well as an
interval timer. In the Nikon world,
this level of camera does not have an
in-body focus motors. So all of the
D-type lenses and earlier will not focus
on this camera. It also doesn't have the
powered aperture, so in live view when
you're recording video you will not be
able to adjust aperture.* As I mentioned I
have the Canon EOS Rebel SL2. It's very similar to this
camera features wise. They both have the
24 megapixel sensor. However the Nikon
sensor is quite a bit better from an
image quality standpoint. Especially in
low light situations. The Nikon also has
a better phase detection auto-focus
system you got 39 points versus 9 points.
So that is a big difference in that case.
The battery also has a little bit more
power on the Nikon. 300 mAh hours
more, so you'll probably get more shots
on the Nikon than the Canon.
However, the SL2 has a significantly
better auto-focus system in live view.
Especially in video mode. That's the main
reason that I did buy the SL2 is video
mode auto-focus. Canon's Wi-Fi app does
have video recording features in it. In
the Snap Bridge application on Nikon
side of things. Does not have that
feature at the moment as far as I know.
Another negative to the Canon compared
to the Nikon is in continuous shooting
mode. You can only do 3.5 frames/sec
on SL2. But with the Nikon you can do 5
frames/sec. That said, I do think in
the Nikon is more
focused on still photography. And the
Canon has got a lot of video related
features... To help it work better in
practice. I'm really big on economics and
this camera is very nice in that regard.
Of course, it is in the middle of Nikon's
lineup. You're missing one of the control
dials to adjust either aperture or
shutter speed. You've only got the one
single dial in this case. However with
the touch screen. It gives you another
access point for adjusting settings
which is very nice to have. Of course, the
SL2 also has a touch screen so there
really isn't any big difference in that
case. Nikon somehow managed to thin
down this camera quite a bit. Looks very
thin between the grip and the rest of
the camera. Of course the registration
distance on the Nikon f-mount is so long
you really can't do anything about that
from a size standpoint. But they have
managed to slim down a lot of the camera
around that mount. The fully articulating
screen is very nice. It's big, especially
compared to the SL2 screen. I have
nothing negative to say about the touch
screen. Nice and large, sharp, works well.
I'm always big on tactile controls. The
camera does have a decent amount of
buttons and dials for direct control. In
this case you will have to press a
button and adjust with the one single
dial. Not a huge extra amount of effort.
It works well enough in many cases. On
this camera you do have the info button
and the 'i' button. I mentioned in my D750
video. You have direct control to certain
features with those two buttons. Does
have the usual video record button..
Exposure compensation.. Flash with flash
compensation button. There is one
function button.. Ports wise, you have mini
HDMI with a really interesting door.
There's kind of a gasket, which is nice
to have. Wired shutter release port.. Mic
port.. USB port. There is no headphone jack.
The viewfinder in this camera it's not
amazing. It's very standard of this line
of camera. You have the pentamirror 95%
coverage. It does have one SD card slot. Very
easy to access, no issues there. I would
not expect more than that in this level
of camera. So who might benefit from the
D5600? I'd say someone really focused
on still photography. if they are already
in the Nikon system, most likely a 3000
series camera or something even older.
I do think this is a good option.
Especially if they're focused on still
photos. They have a pretty decent
auto-focus system that should work well
enough in many action situations. Of
course the buffer is small, but if you're
careful with it I do think the 39 points
are pretty solid in this case. I have had
one or two 5000 series cameras in the
past mostly used for video. It did work
well enough. That articulating screen is
nice in those situations. Of course if
you don't need auto-focus and video
situations. There are many types of
videography that do not benefit from
auto-focus. Now for still photography, I do
think the Nikon is a better option
overall. Has a better sensor.. has the
better autofocus system. Of course Canon and Nikon both have a lot of lens options
available. That's about it for this video.
I hope you enjoyed it. I do think for
still photography the D5600 is a very
nice option. Especially if you're already
in the Nikon system at the entry-level.
Again, thanks to Camera Craft in
Rockford Illinois for let me try this
out at their shop.
Hope you enjoyed this video. If you did,
please consider subscribing. that does
help me out a lot. The shares and the
likes also helped a lot as well.
Thanks again!