Nikon D600 vs Nikon D5100

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D5100, 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 D600 was introduced in November 2012 and Nikon D5100 was introduced in April 2011. Let us first list highlights of the models.

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.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D600 over Nikon D5100.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D5100 over Nikon D600.

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.

Screen

Nikon D600 has a 3.2" Fixed screen with 921k dot resolution and Nikon D5100 has a 3.0" Fully Articulated screen with 921k dot resolution. Fully articulated screen makes Nikon D5100 selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting.

Viewfinder

Nikon D600 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinderNikon D5100 has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder. Nikon D600 has 100% coverage with 0.70x magnification and Nikon D5100 has 95% coverage with 0.78x (0.52x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

Nikon D600 features a 24.3 megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor with dimensions of 35.9 x 24.0 mm and a total area of 861.6 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 50 - 25,600 in boosted mode. Nikon D5100 features a 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.6 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
	Medium Format	44 x 33 mm	1452 mm2	4:3	0.79x
	Full Frame	36 x 24 mm	864 mm2	3:2	1x
	APS-H	27 x 18 mm	486 mm2	3:2	1.3x
	APS-C	23.6 x 15.6 mm	368.2 mm2	3:2	1.5x
	APS-C (Canon)	22.3 x 14.9 mm	332.3 mm2	3:2	1.6x
	Micro Four Thirds	17.4 x 13 mm	226.2 mm2	4:3	2x
	1-inch	13.2 x 8.8 mm	116.2 mm2	3:2	2.7x
	1/1.7-inch	7.44 x 5.58 mm	41.5 mm2	4:3	4.7x
	1/2.3-inch	6.17 x 4.55 mm	28.1 mm2	4:3	5.6x

Nikon D600 is equipped with EXPEED 3 processor and can take pictures up to 6016 x 4016 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4512 x 3008, 3936 x 2624, 3008 x 2008, 3008 x 1688, 2944 x 1968 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Nikon D5100 is equipped with EXPEED 2 processor and can take pictures up to 4928 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 3696 x 2448, 2464 x 1632 with 3:2 aspect ratios.

Lens Mount

Cameras have Nikon F lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor in Nikon D600 its crop factor is equal to 1x, this means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length. Due to APS-C sensor in Nikon D5100 its crop factor 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 Image Stabilization

The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Nikon D600 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D5100 nothing can be done. On Nikon D5100 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D600 nothing can be done.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Nikon D600 has a Mini Type C HDMI and Nikon D5100 has a Mini Type C HDMI connector for video signal output.

Battery

Nikon D600 comes with EN-EL15 battery pack with battery life of 900 shots and Nikon D5100 comes with EN-EL14 battery pack with battery life of 660 shots.

External Storage Slots

Nikon D600 has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slots. Nikon D5100 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Shutter

Nikon D600 and Nikon D5100 have Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane. shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D600, and up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon D5100. Nikon D600 can shoot continuously up to 5.5 fps. Nikon D5100 can shoot continuously up to 4.0 fps.

Focusing

Nikon D600 has 39 (9 cross-type) focusing points and Nikon D5100 has 11 (1 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 on Nikon D600 and ±5 EV range on Nikon D5100. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D600 and exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D5100.

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.

Nikon D600 body has dimensions of 141 x 113 x 82 mm (5.55 x 4.45 x 3.23") and Nikon D5100 body has dimensions of 128 x 97 x 79 mm (5.04 x 3.82 x 3.11"). Nikon D600 weighs 850 g (1.87 lb / 29.98 oz) and Nikon D5100 weighs 560 g (1.23 lb / 19.75 oz).

Nikon D600

Nikon D5100

141 mm

113 mm

128 mm

97 mm

113 mm

97 mm

82 mm

79 mm