Nikon D5600 vs Nikon D5200

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon D5600 and the Nikon D5200, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Nikon D5600 was introduced in November 2016 and Nikon D5200 was introduced in May 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Nikon D5600 Highlights

      • 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • No Optical Low-pass Filter
      • 100 - 25,600 Native ISO
      • 39 Focus Points (39 Cross-type)
      • 3.2" 1,037k dot Fully Articulated Screen
      • Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder
      • 5.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • 30 min Video Recording Limit
      • Built-in Flash
      • Built-In Wi-Fi

      Nikon D5200 Highlights

      • 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • 39 Focus Points (39 Cross-type)
      • 3.0" 921k dot Fully Articulated Screen
      • Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder
      • 5.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200.

      PROS

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      •   Cheap
      •   Video Capture
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth
      •   Light - 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz)
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Video Capture
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 500 shots


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 84
      •   Battery Life - 820 shots
      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.1 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 84
      •   Weight - 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz)

      Advantage of Nikon D5600

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D5600 over Nikon D5200.

      Nikon D5600 vs Nikon D5200
      Higher Sensor Resolution 24.2 Megapixel vs 24.1 Megapixel
      Higher Native ISO 25,600 vs 6,400
      Touch-to-Focus vs
      Center Autofocus vs
      Touch Screen vs
      Larger Screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
      Higher Resolution Screen 1,037k dot vs 921k dot
      Higher Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent) 0.55x vs 0.52x
      Average Metering vs
      Higher DxO Low Light ISO 1306 vs 1284
      Higher DxO Dynamic Range 14.0 vs 13.9
      Built-In Wi-Fi vs Optional
      Built-In Bluetooth vs
      Lighter 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz) vs 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz)
      Longer Battery Life 820 shots vs 500 shots

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon D5600.

      Advantage of Nikon D5200

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D5200 over Nikon D5600.

      Nikon D5600 vs Nikon D5200
      Higher DxO Color Depth 24.1 vs 24.2

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon D5200.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Nikon D5600 Nikon D5200
        Video Capture
        Face Detection
        Live View Autofocus
        Screen TypeFully ArticulatedFully Articulated
        Built-in Flash
        HDMI Output Mini Mini Type C
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Nikon D5600 Nikon D5200
        No Image Stabilization
        Low Video Resolution1920 x 10801920 x 1080
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Environmental Sealing

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Screen

      Nikon D5600 has a 3.2" screen with 1,037k dot resolution and Nikon D5200 has a 3.0" screen with 921k dot resolution. Both have Fully Articulated screens. Fully articulated screen makes cameras selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting. Nikon D5600 also features touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment and most importantly a Touch-to-Focus functionality allowing users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording.

      Image cannot be displayed Image cannot be displayed

      Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200 with Fully Articulated screen


      Viewfinder

      Cameras have built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinders. They both have 95% coverage.

      Sensor

      Nikon D5600 features a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 366.6 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 25,600. Nikon D5200 features a 24.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 243.4 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 25,600 in boosted mode.


      Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

      Sensor size chart
      Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
      Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
      Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
      Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
      Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

      Photography Features

      Nikon D5600 is equipped with EXPEED 4 processor and can take pictures up to 6000 x 4000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4496 x 3000, 2992 x 2000 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Nikon D5200 is equipped with EXPEED 3 processor and can take pictures up to 6000 x 4000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4496 x 3000, 2992 x 2000 with 3:2 aspect ratios.


      Lens Mount

      Cameras have Nikon F lens mount. Due to their APS-C sensor their crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is equal to 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


      No Low-Pass Filter on Nikon D5600

      There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Nikon D5600. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.


      No Image Stabilization

      The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Nikon D5600 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D5200 nothing can be done. On Nikon D5200 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D5600 nothing can be done.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      Built-in Wi-Fi on Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5600 has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


      Bluetooth on Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5600 has a built-in Bluetooth (version 4.1 LE) which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


      NFC on Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5600 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.


      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Nikon D5600 has a Mini HDMI and Nikon D5200 has a Mini Type C HDMI connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200 come with EN-EL14 battery pack with battery life of 820 shots on Nikon D5600 and with battery life of 500 shots on Nikon D5200.


      External Storage Slots

      Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Nikon D5600 has Electronic shutter. Nikon D5200 has Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D5600, and up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D5200. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 5.0 fps.


      Focusing

      Nikon D5600 has 39 (9 cross-type) focusing points and Nikon D5200 has 39 (9 cross-type) focusing points. They both have detection range from -1 to +19 EV


      Exposure

      Both cameras' exposure metering ranges from 0 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D5600 and exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D5200.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m at ISO 100.. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on both cameras.

      Physical Parameters

      Nikon D5600 body has dimensions of 124 x 97 x 70 mm (4.88 x 3.82 x 2.76") and Nikon D5200 body has dimensions of 129 x 98 x 78 mm (5.08 x 3.86 x 3.07"). Nikon D5600 weighs 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz) and Nikon D5200 weighs 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz).

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      124 mm

      97 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      129 mm

      98 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      97 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      98 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      70 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      78 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      Size comparisons of Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200

      Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200 for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      GOOD
      76
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      GOOD
      72
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      GOOD
      74
      •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Battery Life - 820 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      68
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 500 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      AVERAGE
      67
      •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Battery Life - 820 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      61
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 500 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      GOOD
      83
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      79
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      EXCELLENT
      85
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz)
      GOOD
      82
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      GOOD
      82
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 820 shots
      GOOD
      79
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 500 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Nikon D5600 and Nikon D5200 and give them scores of 73 and 68 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      OVERALL
      73
      OVERALL
      68

      Sensor

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      GOOD
      72
      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 84
      GOOD
      70
      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.1 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 84

      Photo

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      AVERAGE
      69
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      AVERAGE
      69
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 5.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec

      Video

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      BAD
      16
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      BAD
      14
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080

      Focusing

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      EXCELLENT
      87
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      GOOD
      82
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      EXCELLENT
      89
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Large Screen - 3.2"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
      GOOD
      80
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot

      Connectivity

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      EXCELLENT
      92
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth
      GOOD
      78
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Nikon D5600

      Nikon D5200

      POOR
      46
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 820 shots
      POOR
      42
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 555 g (1.22 lb / 19.58 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 500 shots


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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