Nikon D5600

Aside from SnapBridge, Does Nikon’s new DX-format camera offer much that’s new? Rod Lawton takes a closer look...

- Rod Lawton

The D5600 is the latest DSLR in Nikon’s D5000-series camera range. It’s one step up from the new entry-level D3400, and one step down from the enthusiast and pro-orientated D7200 and D500. In one respect, though, the D5600 has one up on all of those cameras, as it and the other D5000-series cameras are the only DX-format Nikon DSLRs with a vari-angle screen. This is handy for subjects where you have to manoeuvre the camera into a tricky position.

Technically it replaces the D5500, but Nikon has a habit of keeping older models on sale even after newer ones have come out, so you can expect to see both on sale for the time being. That said, there’s not that much to choose from between them; the D5600 is more of a ‘refresh’ than a whole new camera. There is one key difference, though, and that’s the addition of Nikon’s SnapBridge technology for image transfer – more of which later.

In many other respects, the Nikon D5600 is much like its predecessor. It has a 24.2-megapixel DX sensor, again minus an anti-aliasing filter to maximise its potential to capture detail, and this is paired with the same EXPEED 4 processor. It also has the same ISO range (100-25600) and the same maximum burst rate (5fps), which means it can certainly turn its hand to action photography.

Superficially, it’s not unlike the cheaper entry-level Nikon D3400, but it actually boasts much better features. Unlike the D3400, it features a built-in sensor cleaning system, and the pop-up flash is more powerful, too. The D5600 also has a neat and straightforward Time Lapse Movie mode previously only found in more advanced Nikon DSLRs.