The Nikon D5600 is an APS-C DSLR camera with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility, so you can use it with the Nikon SnapBridge app to transfer your photos to your smartphone or use your phone as a camera remote. It takes sharp, detailed images even at high ISO settings, and it's comfortable to use. Its photo autofocus system also does a satisfactory job tracking moving subjects. Unfortunately, it doesn't support 4k video, and video recorded in FHD isn't very detailed.
Our Verdict
The Nikon D5600 is good for travel photography. Images are sharp and detailed even at high ISO levels, and its wide shutter speed range lets you capture clear images of fast-moving subjects or take long-exposure shots of a starry night sky. Its autofocus system does a decent job tracking moving subjects and keeping them in focus, too. However, its bulky build isn't the most portable.
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Good overall image quality.
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Comfortable to use.
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Bulky design.
The Nikon D5600 is good for landscape photography. It's comfortable to use, and it has an impressive dynamic range to capture more detail in high-contrast scenes. You may have some difficulty reading its screen in bright sunlight. The camera itself is slightly bulky, and it doesn't have the most impressive build due to its plastic construction.
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Good overall image quality.
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Comfortable to use.
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Bulky design.
The Nikon D5600 is decent for sport and wildlife photography. Its image quality is impressive, and its autofocus system does a satisfactory job of tracking moving subjects and keeping them in focus. Unfortunately, with a maximum burst rate of just five images per second, it isn't really suitable for burst photography of fast-moving subjects. Also, it has a loud shutter operation, even in silent mode, which could scare off animals.
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Good overall image quality.
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Satisfactory autofocus performance.
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Slow burst shooting.
The Nikon D5600 has good RAW image quality. Its dynamic range is impressive, capturing a wide range of detail from shadows to highlights. It also does a good job of managing noise in low light. That said, images lack a bit of detail and sharpness when cropping in, despite its relatively high-resolution sensor.
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Impressive dynamic range.
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Good low light noise handling.
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Images lack some sharpness when punching in.
The Nikon D5600 is mediocre for vlogging. While it's a bit bulky, its fully articulated screen makes it easy to monitor yourself while you record, even when the camera's facing you. It also does an excellent job smoothing out camera shake in handheld video. That said, its video quality in FHD is disappointing, resulting in footage that isn't very sharp or detailed. It also struggles to track moving subjects using its video autofocus system.
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Amazing FHD video stabilization performance.
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Fully articulated screen.
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Can't record 4k video.
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Disappointing FHD video quality.
The Nikon D5600 is bad for studio video. Its video quality in FHD is disappointing, resulting in footage that isn't very sharp or detailed. Its video autofocus system also struggles to track moving subjects and keep them in focus. You also can't record 4k footage using this camera. It has some inputs for accessories, including a microphone jack, but it lacks an input for headphones.
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Microphone input.
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Can't record 4k video.
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Disappointing FHD video quality.
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No input for headphones.
The Nikon D5600 isn't designed for action video. It's too big to be mounted on a chest or helmet rig, and it doesn't have any advertised weather resistance, though we don't currently test for this. It can't record 4k video and doesn't support high frame rates in FHD, so you can't record smooth slow-motion videos. On the upside, it does an excellent job smoothing out camera shake in handheld video.
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Amazing FHD video stabilization performance.
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Can't record 4k video.
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Lacks very high-speed frame rate recording options.
- 7.5 Travel Photography
- 7.4 Landscape Photography
- 6.9 Sport & Wildlife Photography
- 7.6 Raw Photo Performance
- 5.9 Vlogging
- 3.5 Studio Video
- 2.5 Action Video
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
- Updated Mar 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
- Updated Aug 05, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.
- Updated Apr 22, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Jan 17, 2022: Corrected 'Manual Focus Assistance' field from 'No' to 'Yes'.
- Updated Aug 10, 2021: Corrected input error in '4k Video Stabilization'.
- Updated Mar 10, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 05, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Feb 26, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 23, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Nikon D5600 comes in 'Black'. We tested this camera with its NIKKOR AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
You can also use this camera with other F-Mount lenses, and you can also purchase it without any kit lenses at all. However, we haven't tested the camera in other configurations, so we can't confirm its performance.
If you come across another version of this camera, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Cameras
The Nikon D5600 sits above the Nikon D3500 in Nikon's DSLR lineup. Both use a similar sensor and are compatible with the same DX lenses, but the D5600 has some extra features that make it better overall. These include a more advanced autofocus system, an articulated screen, a mic input, and more wireless connectivity options. That said, the D3500 has a longer battery life and a unique 'Guide Mode', making it a great choice for beginner photographers.
The Sony α6600 and the Nikon D5600 are both APS-C cameras, but they use different camera technologies. The Sony is a mirrorless camera with an electronic viewfinder, while the Nikon is a DSLR with an optical viewfinder. The Sony is more portable, has in-body image stabilization, has a better autofocus system, and has a faster burst rate, making it better for capturing fast-moving subjects. It's also a more capable video camera, with 4k recording capability and more frame rate options. However, the Nikon has a much more user-friendly menu system and a wide selection of compatible DSLR lenses.
The Nikon D780 is a better DSLR than the Nikon D5600, but they're aimed at photographers of different experience levels. The D5600 is an entry-level camera with an APS-C sensor, while the D780 is a full-frame model aimed at enthusiasts. The D780, therefore, has a more advanced control scheme and more customizable options. Unlike the D5600, it can record 4k video. It has a more advanced and effective autofocus system and delivers better image quality, particularly in low light at high ISOs. That said, the D5600 is significantly lighter and more portable.
Test Results
- Body is made of plastic
- Buttons feel okay and provide good physical feedback
- Input doors are hinged flaps
- HDMI port covered by a sturdy, hinged door
- Nikon D5600 camera body
- Nikkor AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
- Lens cover
- Lens cap
- 1x Nikon EN-EL14a battery
- Shoulder strap
- Sensor cap
- Battery charger
- User manual
- Handgrip is comfortable with a textured surface that provides a secure hold
- Customizable button can be mapped to your liking
- Shutter speed is easy to adjust using the dial
- Adjusting ISO and aperture requires multiple button presses, and they can't be changed just using the command dials
- Some buttons on the front right side of the camera are impossible to reach if shooting with one hand
- Menu is easy to use due to the camera's limited feature set
- Video options are merged with still shooting functions since there isn't a dedicated video mode
- No dedicated ISO button; you can only adjust ISO through the 'i' menu or the settings menu
