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Nikon D5 vs Nikon D5600

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD5NikonD5600
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2016November 2016
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions35.9 × 23.9 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution20.8 MP24.2 MP
Largest image5568 × 37126000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–102400100–25600
Sensor detailJapan specifies 20.82 million effective and 21.33 million total pixels, rounded to 20.8 million effective in the US; sensor-cleaning system. FX, 1.2×, DX and 5:4 image areasNikon 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 formatsLarge NEF RAW at 12 or 14 bits with lossless compression, compression or no compression; medium and small RAW fixed to 12-bit lossless compression on Nikon's technical sheet. TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Flat Picture Control. The original US announcement incorrectly describes medium/small RAW as uncompressedCompressed 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 50–3280000; Auto ISOISO 100–25600 in one-third stops; the full range is standard sensitivity rather than an expanded setting; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED 5; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst12 fps5 fps
Lens detailCompatible G/E/D AF NIKKOR lenses, subject to PC lens restrictions; body autofocus motor for compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU AI lenses support aperture-priority/manual; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; DX lenses use the DX image areaNo 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 20K; 153 points including 99 cross-type, with 55 points and 35 cross-type points user-selectable. Fifteen points support f/8, nine selectable; centre sensitivity -4 EV and other points -3 EV at ISO 100, 20°C. Single-point, dynamic 25/72/153, 3D tracking, Group-area and auto-area; firmware C1.10 adds dynamic nine-point AF, C1.20 adds Group-area HL/VLMulti-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, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front-curtain option in mirror-up mode; Nikon tested the shutter to 400000 actuations1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detailApproximately 12 fps with AF/AE tracking; 14 fps locks focus and exposure with the mirror up. Nikon quotes up to 200 full-size 14-bit lossless RAW frames with its specified Lexar 2933× XQD 2.0 cardUp 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 lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Firmware C1.10 adds electronic movie vibration reduction with a crop, excluding 4K and 1920 × 1080 crop modesOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and threaded PC sync terminal; optical/radio Nikon CLS with compatible external Speedlights and required accessoriesBuilt-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; 180000-pixel RGB metering with Colour Matrix Metering III, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-LightingP/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 resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at 4K 30p/25p/24p, Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p and 720p 60p/50p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Native 1920 × 1080 crop also supports 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p. Firmware C1.10 extends recording to 29 minutes 59 seconds across up to eight 4 GB files; Photography Blog's three-minute 4K criticism concerns original firmware. Contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F; uncompressed HDMI output; in-camera time-lapse moviesH.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 stereo microphone; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output; adjustable sensitivity; linear PCM; photograph voice memosBuilt-in stereo microphones with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots2,359,0001,037,000
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detailFixed touch TFT with 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; playback gestures and touch text entry. US specifies 2359000 dots, Japan rounds to 2360000; 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% FX, 97% 1.2×/DX, and 100% vertical/97% horizontal for 5:4; 0.72× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 17 mm eyepoint; grid overlayPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.82× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)3780 photographs970 photographs
Body weight1235 g415 g
Release detailNikon Japan records sale on 26 March 2016; the US announcement scheduled March availability. Nikon's Japanese announcement explicitly identifies D4S as the previous modelNikon Japan records first sale on 25 November 2016; global announcement on 10 November 2016
Recording mediaTwo XQD slots or two CompactFlash Type I UDMA7 slots, selected by body version; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. Firmware C1.40 adds CFexpress Type B support to XQD bodiesOne SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with UHS-I support; MMC unsupported
PortsUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, RJ-45 Ethernet with 10/100/1000BASE-T support, ten-pin accessory terminal, PC sync and WT-6/WT-5 expansion connectorHi-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 connectionsNo integrated Wi-Fi or GPS; optional WT-6/WT-5 provides wireless network transfer. Optional GP-1A connects through the ten-pin terminalBluetooth 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 detailApproximately 3780 CIPA photographs; original US specifications use EN-EL18a, while the later Japanese technical sheet specifies EN-EL18b at the same shot countEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 970 CIPA photographs per charge. Photography Blog's 600-shot passage differs from Nikon's specifications
ChargingExternal MH-26a charger; Japanese technical sheet lists optional EH-6c adapter with EP-6 power connectorExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector
DimensionsApproximately 160 × 158.5 × 92 mmApproximately 124 × 97 × 70 mm
Weight detailXQD version approximately 1235 g body only or 1405 g with battery and two XQD cards; CompactFlash version 1240 g body only or 1415 g with battery and two CF cards. Main weight represents the XQD bodyApproximately 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
MaterialsWeather-sealed construction; illuminated controls–

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