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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D5600

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SNikonD5600
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009November 2016
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP24.2 MP
Largest image4288 × 28486000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200100–25600
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reductionNikon DX CMOS without an optical low-pass filter; 24.2 million effective pixels globally, 24.16 million in Japanese specifications, and 24.78 million total; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEGCompressed 12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISOISO 100–25600 in one-third stops; the full range is standard sensitivity rather than an expanded setting; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst7 fps5 fps
Lens detailBody AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedNo body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Japanese specifications list autofocus with AF-S, AF-P and AF-I lenses; the US page lists AF-P and type E/G AF-S lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningMulti-CAM 4800DX; 39 phase-detection points including nine cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; selectable 39-point or 11-point layouts, dynamic 9/21/39-point areas and 3D tracking. Contrast-detection autofocus in live view
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cycles1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detailApproximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited to approximately 2.5 fpsUp to approximately 5 fps for JPEG or 12-bit RAW, 4 fps for 14-bit RAW and 3 fps in continuous low; specified with AF-C, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and default settings; quiet release and interval-timer shooting
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, including manual full output; accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerP/S/A/M, Auto, scene and special-effects modes; 2016-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; exposure, white-balance and Active D-Lighting bracketing
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod modeH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p or 720p 60p/50p; actual rates 59.94/29.97/23.976 for nominal 60p/30p/24p. Up to 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or 10 minutes depending on resolution, frame rate and quality, or three minutes in Miniature Effect. In-camera time-lapse movies. Photography Blog's Motion JPEG AVI passage differs from Nikon's technical sheet
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivityBuilt-in stereo microphones with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0001,037,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsSide-hinged 3.2-inch 3:2 vari-angle touchscreen, approximately 1037000 dots globally, rounded to 1040000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; Touch AF, touch shutter and assignable Touch Fn including Auto ISO control; playback frame-advance bar and cropping during playback zoom; eye sensor switches display off; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.82× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs970 photographs
Body weight840 g415 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthNikon Japan records first sale on 25 November 2016; global announcement on 10 November 2016
Recording mediaDual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupportedOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with UHS-I support; MMC unsupported
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncHi-Speed Micro-USB, HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input and accessory terminal for optional WR-1/WR-R10 wireless remote, MC-DC2 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-FiBluetooth 4.1 with low-energy SnapBridge pairing; automatic transfer of 2-megapixel JPEGs, including while the camera is off. Wi-Fi IEEE802.11b/g supports selected still-image and movie transfer and remote still capture after Bluetooth pairing; RAW/TIFF transfer unsupported in Nikon's launch description. Smartphone time/location synchronisation; NFC Type3Tag. Photography Blog's D3400-derived Wi-Fi limitation passage does not describe this model
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 950 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cellsEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 970 CIPA photographs per charge. Photography Blog's 600-shot passage differs from Nikon's specifications
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapterExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 124 × 97 × 70 mm
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 415 g body only or 465 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
Colours–Black
In the box–EN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 BK strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecup
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key points–

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