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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon D5600 Review

Nikon D5600 Review

By Spencer Cox 73 Comments
Last Updated On February 11, 2020

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Table of Contents

  • Overview & Specifications
  • Handling and Build Quality
  • Autofocus
  • Image Quality
  • Comparisons
  • Summary
  • User Comments
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73 Comments
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Val
Val
April 24, 2021 1:01 pm

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.

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Robin Lowenstein
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.

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Paulo Álvares
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!

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Agnès
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?

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Carrie Gage
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!

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Roidan Marc
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

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Roidan Marc
May 31, 2019 4:36 pm

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.

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Keith Sanford
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!!

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John C MacAlister
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!

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Frank
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..

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Frank
February 13, 2019 11:44 pm

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!

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Yc
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.

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Spencer Cox
Spencer Cox
Author
Reply to  Yc
February 13, 2019 11:48 pm

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.

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