Howdy there, I am really curious… is it worth getting an older one for the older lenses? Or should I go for the D5600? Does it have specific expensive proprietary lenses and is its autofocus much better than older ones in the line?
I mostly plan on doing video for tutorials on teching airsoft and taking landscape pictures on the side.
Robin Lowenstein
November 24, 2020 12:27 am
Hi Spencer: Thank you for such a well written and useful review of the Nikon D5600. You answered every question I had in mind.
Paulo Álvares
July 19, 2020 6:17 am
Hello Spencer, I’ve been learning about photography with a Nikon D3300 for about 4 years now. Would the D5600 be a good upgrade for someone who is just an enthusiast?
Thanks!
Agnès
February 5, 2020 6:02 am
Hello Spencer, Thank you for this great review of a not less great camera. I am using the D5600 as a hobby shooter for quite a while nowand I am still learning a lot from it (about everyday actually). I use it together with some lenses, among these the AF-P 70-300mm 4.5-5.6E. I find this lense a bit slow when it comes to running horses/dogs photography. I lately missed a few good shots lately and after reading many reviews, I was thinking of getting myself the Nikon 70-200mm f4G. Would that be a good choice?
Carrie Gage
June 12, 2019 1:40 pm
Hi Spencer,
Two months ago I bought the D5600 as my first venture into DSLR photography and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m not looking to capture award-winning photographs, just something decent. No matter what mode I use– auto, manual, aperture, shutter, hand-held, tripod — in well over 2000 photos, only a couple are good. I would think that even out of the box without too much knowledge of using a DSLR, some photos would be ok. That has not been the case. Prior to purchasing the D5600 I looked at other people’s photos on Flick and read reviews and concluded this was a good entry DSLR camera for me.
The photos lack crispness and the colors aren’t vivid. Thinking there could be something wrong with the camera itself I contacted Nikon support and sent some sample photos. So far all I’ve been told to do is set the Picture Control to Vivid and the Auto Adjustment to +1 which resulted in oddly saturated photos. Any subsequent settings led to too-dark, not well-focused images.
As I told Nikon, I am about ready to take the financial hit on this camera and buy something different. My 90-year-old dad and I were sitting at the kitchen table taking pictures of a hummingbird at a feeder in their yard. His photos, using a Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot, were of far better quality than anything I took with the D5600.
I know there is a lot I need to learn with the switch to a DSLR from all my other cameras (most recently Ricoh WG-4 and Nikon B700) but if I am not even getting anything halfway decent I am not sure I want to spend the time with this camera.
Any thoughts as to what the issue could be? If it’s the camera or the photographer ;) ? A secret handshake I need to learn? Anything??
Thanks! Carrie
PS. I can’t say for sure but it looks like some of the photos used in your D5600 review were taken in the great state of NM. Wonderful!
Roidan Marc
May 24, 2019 11:03 pm
Thanks a heap for this review! Currently, there is a cheap D5600 for sale in my area; unfortunately, it has ‘Minor Water Damage.” They go on to say, however, that it takes photos and works as usual. Should I be cautious about purchasing this camera? How resilient are the D5600’s against Water? Thanks
I would wonder what they mean by minor damage. Usually, water damage is all-or-nothing – the camera works fine or is completely dead. Perhaps the LCD is darkened or damaged by water, and the rest is fine? I would make sure you get specifics before buying.
Keith Sanford
May 4, 2019 11:24 am
Many thanks for the in-depth review of the D5600, as having recently had my one-year old Fuji X-T20 18-55mm stolen, I’ve decided to revert to DSLR, especially as with arthritis in my hands, the Nikon offers a larger grip, which I’ll benefit from hugely.
Interestingly, I used to have an older Nikon and loved their 18-200mm, but as the kit I’ve been considering , (yet to buy), comes with the 18-140mm, it’ll be interesting to see how I get on, especially as reviews favour the 18-140 vs 18-200, even if it means losing a little of the extra zoom.
Thanks again for a great review!!
John C MacAlister
April 18, 2019 6:34 am
I recently bought a D5600 as a light weight backup to my D7200. I had intended to use the d5600 for street photography, but the complete failure of Snapbridge caused me to return the D5600. Pity
Thank you for your enjoyable reviews!
Frank
January 23, 2019 2:29 am
Hi, thanks for a great review, any comments to how this camera handle the great outdoor room, water,snow? I consider buy it,Will mostly be used in the mountains of Norway. If it doesnt handle a litte wet conditions it might be a stupid buy? any other cameraes you recommend around this price category for shooting in the mountains all year..
It should indeed be able to handle wet conditions! If you are looking for maximum ruggedness at this price, the Pentax K-70 probably edges it out. Unless you dunk them underwater, though, either camera should do just fine in tricky weather. I hope this comment isn’t too late to be useful, and best of luck!
Yc
January 6, 2019 8:25 pm
One page 4, you mentioned “You will capture the best image quality the D5600 has to offer if you shoot 14-bit lossless compressed RAW”. Can you please confirm that the D5600 can shoot and save 14bit LOSSLESS compressed raw files? I don’t see it anywhere in the Nikon literature, and previous D5x00 models don’t save to lossless compressed raw files.
Yc, I no longer have the D5600 in front of me, but I think you’re right – the D5600 does not have lossless compressed RAW, to the best of my knowledge. I think I’m so used to writing lossless compressed that it has become a habit! I’ve updated the article to fix it.
Howdy there, I am really curious… is it worth getting an older one for the older lenses? Or should I go for the D5600? Does it have specific expensive proprietary lenses and is its autofocus much better than older ones in the line?
I mostly plan on doing video for tutorials on teching airsoft and taking landscape pictures on the side.
Hi Spencer: Thank you for such a well written and useful review of the Nikon D5600. You answered every question I had in mind.
Hello Spencer,
I’ve been learning about photography with a Nikon D3300 for about 4 years now. Would the D5600 be a good upgrade for someone who is just an enthusiast?
Thanks!
Hello Spencer,
Thank you for this great review of a not less great camera. I am using the D5600 as a hobby shooter for quite a while nowand I am still learning a lot from it (about everyday actually).
I use it together with some lenses, among these the AF-P 70-300mm 4.5-5.6E. I find this lense a bit slow when it comes to running horses/dogs photography. I lately missed a few good shots lately and after reading many reviews, I was thinking of getting myself the Nikon 70-200mm f4G. Would that be a good choice?
Hi Spencer,
Two months ago I bought the D5600 as my first venture into DSLR photography and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m not looking to capture award-winning photographs, just something decent. No matter what mode I use– auto, manual, aperture, shutter, hand-held, tripod — in well over 2000 photos, only a couple are good. I would think that even out of the box without too much knowledge of using a DSLR, some photos would be ok. That has not been the case. Prior to purchasing the D5600 I looked at other people’s photos on Flick and read reviews and concluded this was a good entry DSLR camera for me.
The photos lack crispness and the colors aren’t vivid. Thinking there could be something wrong with the camera itself I contacted Nikon support and sent some sample photos. So far all I’ve been told to do is set the Picture Control to Vivid and the Auto Adjustment to +1 which resulted in oddly saturated photos. Any subsequent settings led to too-dark, not well-focused images.
As I told Nikon, I am about ready to take the financial hit on this camera and buy something different. My 90-year-old dad and I were sitting at the kitchen table taking pictures of a hummingbird at a feeder in their yard. His photos, using a Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot, were of far better quality than anything I took with the D5600.
I know there is a lot I need to learn with the switch to a DSLR from all my other cameras (most recently Ricoh WG-4 and Nikon B700) but if I am not even getting anything halfway decent I am not sure I want to spend the time with this camera.
Any thoughts as to what the issue could be? If it’s the camera or the photographer ;) ? A secret handshake I need to learn? Anything??
Thanks!
Carrie
PS. I can’t say for sure but it looks like some of the photos used in your D5600 review were taken in the great state of NM. Wonderful!
Thanks a heap for this review! Currently, there is a cheap D5600 for sale in my area; unfortunately, it has ‘Minor Water Damage.” They go on to say, however, that it takes photos and works as usual. Should I be cautious about purchasing this camera? How resilient are the D5600’s against Water? Thanks
I would wonder what they mean by minor damage. Usually, water damage is all-or-nothing – the camera works fine or is completely dead. Perhaps the LCD is darkened or damaged by water, and the rest is fine? I would make sure you get specifics before buying.
Many thanks for the in-depth review of the D5600, as having recently had my one-year old Fuji X-T20 18-55mm stolen, I’ve decided to revert to DSLR, especially as with arthritis in my hands, the Nikon offers a larger grip, which I’ll benefit from hugely.
Interestingly, I used to have an older Nikon and loved their 18-200mm, but as the kit I’ve been considering , (yet to buy), comes with the 18-140mm, it’ll be interesting to see how I get on, especially as reviews favour the 18-140 vs 18-200, even if it means losing a little of the extra zoom.
Thanks again for a great review!!
I recently bought a D5600 as a light weight backup to my D7200. I had intended to use the d5600 for street photography, but the complete failure of Snapbridge caused me to return the D5600. Pity
Thank you for your enjoyable reviews!
Hi, thanks for a great review, any comments to how this camera handle the great outdoor room, water,snow? I consider buy it,Will mostly be used in the mountains of Norway.
If it doesnt handle a litte wet conditions it might be a stupid buy? any other cameraes you recommend around this price category for shooting in the mountains all year..
It should indeed be able to handle wet conditions! If you are looking for maximum ruggedness at this price, the Pentax K-70 probably edges it out. Unless you dunk them underwater, though, either camera should do just fine in tricky weather. I hope this comment isn’t too late to be useful, and best of luck!
One page 4, you mentioned “You will capture the best image quality the D5600 has to offer if you shoot 14-bit lossless compressed RAW”. Can you please confirm that the D5600 can shoot and save 14bit LOSSLESS compressed raw files? I don’t see it anywhere in the Nikon literature, and previous D5x00 models don’t save to lossless compressed raw files.
Yc, I no longer have the D5600 in front of me, but I think you’re right – the D5600 does not have lossless compressed RAW, to the best of my knowledge. I think I’m so used to writing lossless compressed that it has become a habit! I’ve updated the article to fix it.