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Nikon D5600 vs D7200: Which Should You Buy?

The Nikon D5600 is a very minor upgrade over its predecessor (the D5500), but still offers strong competition to the more expensive D7200, providing identical image quality. If you’re having a hard time deciding which one to buy, my general advice is always this: buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs, and buy the best lenses that you can afford. Below, I’ll cover the differences between these cameras and explain which types of photographers will find the different features useful.

New In the D5600

But first, if you’re deciding between D5600 and slightly older D5500, here’s the difference:

  • the D5600 now supports continuous wireless communication with a smartphone or other mobile device with the use of Nikon’s SnapBridge App and NFC. This facilitates easier direct uploads to the the internet
  • minor improvements have been made to the touch functionality of the swiveling touch-screen
  • the time-lapse functionality has been improved to match the capabilities of Nikon’s higher end DSLRs, in case you don’t use your phone or another device as a time-lapse controller

That’s it! The D5500 and D5600 are virtually identical otherwise, so as the price drops on the D5500, many photographers who don’t care about these minor upgrades will be able to pick it up at a great price. Currently, the D5500 body costs $ while the newer D5600 body costs $799.00.

The Nikon D5500 and D5600 side by side, front view
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter The Nikon D5500 and D5600 are almost identical, with only minor internal differences.

Nikon D5600 vs D7200: What’s the Difference?

To begin with, we can take a look at the most significant specs for the D5600 and the D7200.

Nikon D5600 Nikon D7200

Price (body)
$799.00 $934.95
Price (with 18-140mm kit lens) $1,149.00 $1,454.95
Body Material Sereebo, (carbon fiber reenforced plastic) body-chassis Partial Magnesium Alloy Frame, Plastic
Dust/Weather Sealed Body None Yes
Sensor Resolution 24.2Megapixels
24.2 Megapixels
Anti-Aliasing Filter
(Reduces sharpness, prevents moire)
NO NO
ISO Range 100-25600 100-25600
Total AF Points 39 51
Cross-Type AF Points 9 15
AF Motor In Body
(For Using Older AF Lenses)
NO YES
AF Light Level Range -1 to +19 EV -3 to +19 EV
Autofocus Fine Tuning
Adjustments
NO YES
Shutter Speed Range 1/4000th - 30 sec.
+bulb
1/8000th - 30 sec.
+bulb
Max Frame Rate 5 fps 6 fps
(7 shots in 1.3x crop mode)
Max RAW Burst
(buffer size)
6 shots, compressed 14-bit 18 shots 14-bit
Max JPG Burst
(fine, Large)
100 100
Flash Sync Speed 1/200th sec. 1/250th sec.
Wireless Flash
(Built-in Commander)
NO YES
Auto FP Flash Mode
(High Speed Sync)
NO YES
Media Slots 1 SD / SDHC / SDXC 2 SD / SDHC / SDXC
LCD Size 3.2"
1,036,800 pixels
3.2"
1,228,800 pixels
LCD Articulated YES NO
LCD Touchscreen YES NO
Built-in WiFi YES YES
Body Weight 420g (no battery)
470 (with battery)
675 (no battery)
Body Size 124 x 97 x 70 mm 136 x 106.5 x 76 mm
Battery Life 820 shots
CIPA Standards
1,110 shots
CIPA Standards
Viewfinder Coverage 95% Frame
.82x Magnification
100% Frame
.94x Magnification
Video Codec MPEG-4 / H.264
.mov
MPEG-4 / H.264
.mov
Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50i, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Headphone Jack NO YES
Back view of Nikon D5600 and D7200
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter Back view of the Nikon D5600 and D7200. The D5600 has a swivel-screen, while the D7200 does not.

Build Quality

Perhaps the most obvious difference between the D7200 and the D5600 is in their construction. The D5600 body is significantly smaller and lighter, built of carbon-fiber reenforced plastics (Sereebo), while the D7200 is heavier and built for durability, with a metal (magnesium alloy) back and top, and importantly, it is weather sealed. Since the D5600 also uses a smaller battery, the carry-around weight of the D7200 is about 40% more1 Actually 38.6% than the D5600.

Whether this is an advantage or disadvantage depends on your photographic needs; some photographers (especially those with larger hands) prefer a larger camera with some ‘heft’ to it, while others prefer something more lightweight and easy to carry around, especially travelers and hikers. Needless to say, those who work in harsh conditions will usually prefer the D7200’s weather sealing and heavier-duty construction, as a matter of practicality.

Nikon D7200 with grip
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter Nikon D7200 with optional battery grip

The Sensors : Exactly the Same

Like the previous generation, Nikon’s D5600 and D7200 both have 24-megapixel sensors, and neither one makes use of an anti-aliasing filter. Consequently, if you shoot RAW files, you will not be able to detect any difference in image quality between these two cameras, and since both cameras use the same processor, the JPGs should be equally indistinguishable, though shooting JPG creates many opportunities for differences to creep in.


More AA Filter Info
The success of the D800e may have led directly to Nikon’s decision to produce an APS-C camera without an optical low-pass/anti-aliasing (OLP/AA) filter, but whatever led to the fact, the D7200’s sensor is naked. Before the D800e, all of the major SLRs produced their sensors with an AA filter: essentially an extra layer in front of the sensor that blurs the image slightly, in order to reduce the jagged edges and moire 1 that have traditionally been associated with digital capture. With modern improvements in image processing software, though, Nikon was confident that the moire and jaggies could be avoided without the AA filter, so they opted to remove it2 To be more precise, the Nikon D800e does have an AA filter, but it also has an AA-canceling filter, so it does not have one in practical terms. The D810 does not have an AA filter at all, nor do the D5500/D5600 and D7200. and allow the cameras to capture finer image detail.

With the success of the D7100, Nikon also decided to remove the AA filter from the D5300 and D5500’s sensors, and now the D7200 and D5600. For all practical purposes, there is no difference between the sensors the D7200 and D5600, so there should be no difference in image quality if you shoot RAW. Though this lack of AA filter does provide the potential to for the camera to produce sharper images, don’t expect too much.


Why does that matter?
Comparisons of images produced by the D800 (AA Filter) and D800e (no AA Filter) have shown that the principle works; there are subtle improvements in fine detail in the D800e’s images. However, we should not expect such significant improvements in the D7200’s images. The receptors on the 24 megapixel sensor of the D7200 are already much, much smaller than those of the D800e. In fact, the D7200 and D5600 fit about 56% more pixels into the same sensor area as the D800e.

Why does that matter? Even with the much larger receptors of the D800, lens resolution has become a serious bottle-neck for image quality. Nikon has already produced a special list of lenses that can allow you make the most out of your D800 sensor. The dramatically higher pixel density of Nikon’s 24-megapixel APS-C sensors (which is even higher than that of the Canon 5DS R’s 50 megapixel sensor) will tax lens resolution even more, meaning that the D7200 and D5600’s images won’t get much sharper unless lenses get sharper first.


Auto Focus Systems

When the Nikon D5500 was announced, its 39-point autofocus system (9 cross-type, adopted from the Nikon D7000) was significantly better than its competitors like the Canon T6i and 70D, which had only 19 auto-focus points (though all 19 were cross type; click here for an explanation of what cross-type points are and why they’re so important). However, while the D5600 was announced with no upgrade in the AF system, Canon has upped their game, with the 80D and now T7i/77D housing AF systems with 45 AF points, all of them cross-type.

The D7200, however, shares the same AF system with the once-flagship Nikon D4 and the D810: 51 AF points, including 15 cross-type… the best system available in a Nikon body.

For all but the most dedicated action photographers, though, the system in the D5600 will be more than sufficient, even if you’re buying a camera primarily for shooting sports. If your paycheck is going to depend on your focusing system, though, the extra several hundred dollars will be well spent on the D7200.

Speed

When it comes to speed, the differences between the D5600 and D7200 are more modest that you might expect. The D7200 does have a top shutter speed that is one full f-stop faster than the D5600’s (ie, 1/8000th vs 1/4000th). When it comes to shooting bursts of photos, though, the D7200 only provides an additional frame per second over the D5600’s 5 fps (unless you’re shooting in 1.3x crop mode, in which case it will give up an additional frame per second, at 7fps).

However the D7200 has a significantly larger buffer, allowing longer continuous bursts of shooting. While the D5600 (and D7100) can only shoot 6 14-bit RAW files in a row before filling the buffer and getting bogged down, the D7200 can shoot 18 RAW images in a row, three times more than the D5600.

Shooting JPG gives you even more freedom to hold down that shutter button. The D7200 can shoot bursts of 100 frames or more (at 6 fps), just like the D5600. The D7100 was only capable of shooting 33 in a row.

The D5600’s Downfall

Flash. With the popularity of off-camera lighting (aka,“Strobist”) techniques over the past several years, flash photography has become increasingly important to amateur and professional photographers, and this is where the D5600 falls short: it lacks high-speed-sync3 For a quick explanation of what high-speed-sync is, watch our video here. (Auto FP Flash, henceforth AFP) and external flash control with the built-in flash. External flash control may not be a big deal; many of us prefer to use radio-units anyway… though the built-in IR system can be very useful with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS). Hot-shoe mounted flashes with commander-mode capabilities (such as the SB500, SB700, SB5000) can be used on the D5600 and D7200 to control CLS slave flashes.

The Nikon D7200 and D5600 with pop up flashes and hot shoe mounted flashes
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter The pop-up flash of the D5600 can not be used as a wireless controller for other flash units, but you can use radio triggers or hot-shoe mounted flash units for that purpose.

The lack of AFP, however, is a serious problem. Consider this situation: you’re shooting a portrait outdoors during the day, and you want to use a large aperture to blur the background… perhaps f/2 or f/1.4 . Even at ISO 100, this will push your shutter speed beyond 1/1000ths of a second, much higher than the camera’s 1/200th sec. maximum sync speed. So, if you want to use a flash to soften the shadows or create a catch-light in the eyes of your subject, forget it: the flash will not sync. The same is true if you want to use flash for sports and a high shutter speed, and while you can purchase external command modules or radio transmitters for off-camera-flashes, there’s nothing you can buy to work around the lack of AFP. You’d need to buy the D7200 instead.

In some instances, a neutral density filter can be used to bring the shutter speed down within the range of the D5600’s sync speed. There are several problems with the method, though: the image through your viewfinder can become quite dark, making it hard to frame your shot and making it hard for your camera’s AF system to pull focus, you lose flash power, if you’re shooting with a telephoto lens, shutter speeds at the camera’s sync speed might not be safe for hand-holding, and they’ll always be too slow for sports or fast action (if you’re balancing flash and ambient light).

Nikon SB-910, SB-700, and SB-500
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter A Nikon Flash Trio

All the Little Things

There are a few other assorted differences that deserve mention here, but they’re mostly the same differences that we saw between the D5000 and D7000. First, the D5600 does not have an autofocus motor built into the camera body, so it will not be compatible with the full range of (old school) Nikon lenses, while the D7200 does posses the motor. And speaking of “focus”, the D7200 is capable of micro focus adjustments to correct for front or back-focus problems on lenses, while the D5600 is not.

The Nikon D5600 with swivel screen extended
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter The Nikon D5600’s swivel screen can be rotated up, down, and even forward.

As should be obvious from the images above, the D5600 has an articulated LCD screen, which some people find helpful for ground-level shots and video but others find a breakage hazard (or just a bit amateurish), and it’s also a touchscreen.

The D7200 has dual SD card slots. It can be nice to have two slots if you want to record JPGs to one card and RAW to the other, perhaps sending JPGs to an Eye-Fi card, for example. However, if you only need storage space, a single slot is fine. These days, a good, single 128GB SDXC card costs only $50, and I rarely shoot more than 64GB per day, even at all-day events.

Additionally, the D7200 has two User Preset positions on its mode dial (U1 and U2), allowing photographers to store commonly used groups of settings for quick access later. I’ve never found this necessary, but some photographers find them very useful, and they’re not available on the D5600.

Top view of Nikon D7200 and D5600
Matthew Gore | Light And Matter Overhead view of the Nikon D7200 (left) and D5600 (right). Note that the mode dial of the D7200 has “U1” and “U2” positions for storing two user-preset modes, which are popular with some photographers.

As mentioned above, the D5600 can sustain a full-time connection to your smartphone, if you’re the type of photographer who likes to immediately take a shot and publish it to Instagram or some other social media site.

Finally, if you are interested in video, the D7200 has been given a headphone jack for monitoring audio while you shoot. The jack is absent in the D5600 (and D5500). All of these cameras can shoot video at up to 1080p 60fps.

Which Should You Buy?

The Nikon D5600 and D5500 are great cameras, and I’d recommend them for the vast majority of photographers, with the exception of those who need superior flash capabilities.

To summarize, you should buy the D5500 or D5600 if you:

  • want a great, all-around camera
  • shoot primarily with natural light (or manual flash)
  • need an articulated LCD screen for video or photos
  • really care about the weight of your camera
  • think you’ll really enjoy using a touchscreen
  • want to save money to buy the best lenses possible! At Amazon, the current price for the D5600 body is: $799.00

Buy the D7200 if you:

  • shoot lots of action, especially in long bursts
  • are hard on your equipment and need a more durable body
  • use flash for action or fill, and need high-speed sync
  • use Nikon’s CLS and want to use the built-in command module
  • shoot macro (or other focus critical work) and need to make micro adjustments to your lenses
  • shoot a lot of video and want a simple headphone jack on your camera
  • don’t need to worry about spending a little more. At Amazon, the price for the D7200 body is $934.95.

For the sake of simplicity I’ve tried to focus on only the differences that, in my experience, will actually be important. There are, of course, numerous differences between the two cameras, though, and some features may be more important to particular photographers. If you think that I’ve left out something important, please feel free to let me know.

Please Comment!

If you have additional questions or comments, please let me know, below. I’ll do what I can to answer questions and clear up any confusion.


Editor-in-Chief
  1. Hello Wayne,

    Really appreciate the concise comparison information. As much as I would love to get the D7200, my budget points to the D5600, that is until I started to price the cameras around and came up with some options on the D7200 as ‘Nikon Refurbish’ that could meet my budget. I am wondering if you have any guidance/opinion on this. Again, thank you.

  2. Hi,

    Very good comparison – thank you. I’m curious to see if you still have the same thoughts today? I started looking at the 5600, but then saw the 7200 and I’m kinda torn. I’m looking to get back into photography and one thing that caught my eye was the ‘more’ ruggedness of the 7200. I agree about the buying a body you can afford, and then better lenses. I have around $800 to $900 to spend on this, so what would you recommend?

    I know, it’s not a ton of money, but I need to keep this in perspective too!

    Thanks for any guidance you can offer,

    – Wayne

    1. Hi Wayne,
      Yes, I’m definitely of the same opinion today. The D7200 is a better camera in some regards and is more rugged, but the D5600 is excellent and will give you excellent image quality. As usual, I’d recommend the more expensive body ONLY if you already have some excellent lenses. If not, spend the money you save on the body to buy the best lenses you can afford. That’s where you’ll get the most difference. Good luck!

    1. Either one would be a great camera for that purpose, with the right macro lens and flash or lights. Since they have the same sensor size and resolution, the image quality that they produce will be virtually identical with similar camera settings.

      The D7200 will have one small advantage, that I can think of. First, it will allow for micro-focus adjustment of your lenses, which is a relatively rare problem but more common with macro lenses (used at macro distances) than others. This will not be a problem if you manually focus or if you focus using the live-view LCD on the back of the camera.

      More important is to get the right lens and flash equipment (or LED lighting). A 40mm or 60mm macro lens will give you good image quality, but a 105mm macro will give you a little bit of additional working distance from your patient. With the 105mm lens, you’re still one foot away from your subject at maximum magnification, rather than just a 6 or 7 inches. But if you need to take photos of large areas of skin, the 60mm or 40mm will allow you to do so without having to back up too far… so it really depends on whether you need the highest magnification or not.

      Good luck, and let me know if you have further questions.

  3. Is it possible to use a radio transceiver on an off-body flash to sync to 1/4000 shutter speed?
    I wasn’t aware that on body would be limited on the d5600, my sony a100 (10+ years old) has no problem syncing.

    1. Hi David,

      Unfortunately, the sync speed is a designed limitation of the D5600 (there’s no reason it should be a problem or expense… high speed sync is a feature of the flash, not the camera). Nikon is the only brand that ues this limitation to push people to buy more expensive cameras, and you can’t get around it by using off-camera flash, either with radio triggers or otherwise.

      Incidentally, when we’re talking about true flash instead of HSS, the D5600 has a 1/200th sec sync speed, while your a100 syncs only to 1/160th sec. But that’s a different story.

      – Matthew

  4. Hi, I was decided to buy D5600 but recently the D7200’s price went down here in my country and it’s just a bit more expensive than 5600 now. It’s going to be my first proper camera, so I was wondering if 7200 would be too complicated as I’ve read on some websites before? But I think I would really appreciate that it’s quicker and more durable (on the other hand there’s no touchscreen which I’m used to work with). I take photos mainly of animals, nature and horse riders, so the extra fps is great for me. Which one should I buy?

    1. Hi Ela,

      It sounds like the D7200 would be a good idea; when it comes to shooting action, it has some significant advantages, and it’s a better camera overall. Don’t worry about the camera being too complicated; until you have a chance to learn all that you need to know, it’s simple enough to just switch the mode dial to full-automatic and let the camera make all the decisions. The D5600 does have a touch screen, but the functionality is very clunky and limited and many people end up not using it anyway, so it’s not much of a loss.

      Good Luck!

      1. Thank you! I actually bought D7200 and I love it. I also bought a 50mm, f/1,8 lens as something to begin with. I take photos in manual setting only and it’s not that complicated as I expected, I’m incredibly happy!

        1. Hey Ela,

          I’m glad to hear it- It’s hard to go wrong with a D7200 and a prime lens :-) Yes, once you take a little time to get familiar with the manual and semi-manual settings on these cameras, it’s really pretty easy… and it just keeps getting easier forever! Good luck… enjoy your new camera :-)

        2. Hey Ela, from which country you’re?
          I’m from India, I’m a bit confused between these two.But I thik today the price difference between these two is not too much.
          So according your experience what do you suggest me!
          Please let me know!

  5. Hi Matthew, I learned a lot from your comparison – thank you. I believe I’ll buy the D5600 especially because of it’s weight.I like to take photos of nature street and landscape. I want to buy 18*105 lens and I’d rather use just one lens. .Which lens do you recommend? Thank you. Ronit

    1. Hello Ronit,
      If you prefer to use just a single lens, then the 18-105 isn’t bad, but I prefer the 18-140mm. Nikon has been steadily improving this since it was a kit lens with their early DSLRs (it was actually an 18-135 back then, with no VR), and it was an excellent lens even back then. It has great image quality at both ends of the zoom range, and the distortion isn’t too bad (easy to correct). And it looks like it costs about $850 when bundled with the D5600 body.
      Good luck!
      – Matthew

  6. I’m still trying to decide between the D5600 vsD7200? I’ll mainly be shooting kids, pets, wildlife and landscapes can you give some pointers. Thank you

    1. Hi Megan,

      In general, the D7200 is a better camera, and it’s not much more expensive (as far as cameras go, anyway… about $100 difference. Still a significant amount of money), and it will be a little better for somethings like shooting action and wildlife, potentially.

      However, the differences are minimal, in practical terms. Get whichever one fits your budget and will allow you to buy at least one nice lens, which is really what is important: a good lens will make all the difference. So, if your budget is tight, get the D5600… or if the articulated screen is important to you, or the crude touch-screen, or a lightweight, compact body, or the improved wireless connectivity. If none of those things are particularly important to you, then get the D7200, which will give you a more rugged, faster camera, with some advanced features if you need them.

      Good luck!

      – Matthew

  7. I’m looking at getting my first ‘nice’ camera and was wondering if you had any input on the canon M50 vs the Nikon D5600 for nature photography. I think I’ll mainly be doing macro shots of flowers and wildlife photography with more emphasis on the latter.

    I know there are not a lot of native lenses for the M50 at the moment, but they have an adapter and I have no current lenses so I don’t necessarily see that as a drawback.

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Hi Andrew,

      If one of your primary interests is macro photography, then the D5600 is probably not your best bet, since it does not support lens micro-focus adjustment, which is important for shooting macro. The D7000 series does have micro-adjust.

      However, mirrorless cameras do not need micro-adjustments, since the autofocus is done from the sensor plane, not a separate AF module. That’s a nice advantage for the M50. I’m a fan of the M50, but I do have some concerns about buying one right now. As you probably know, Canon recently released their full-frame EOS R series cameras with a different lens mount: the “R” mount. Canon would be foolish to try to maintain the EF Mount, the M mount, AND the R mount all at the same time. It’s likely that Canon will drop the M mount in a few years (or sooner), and begin producing APS-C R mount cameras. There will probably be another adapter, but it’s a messy time to buy.

      Personally, I’d prefer to go with the Sony a6000 (which is very inexpensive, since it’s a few years old), which is an awesome camera for shooting wildlife (since it shoots 10fps) and its sensor has great color and dynamic range. The a6300 and a6500 are also options, of course, but the image quality will be the same. And Sony full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras all use the E-mount, and there are quite a few lenses available from Sony, Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon, etc.

      However, with a little care, just about any modern camera that you buy will give you all of the image quality that you need to get first-rate photos. The D5600 certainly has an excellent sensor and autofocus system, and many people don’t need to use micro-adjustments (or they make changes with manual focus when necessary). You can also get around the micro-AF issue by using live-view to focus, though it’s awfully slow on Nikons.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

  8. Hi Matthew,
    I had a hard time deciding between the D5600 and the D7200 but your article helped me pretty well. I guess, I will go with the D5600 but I still have one concern.
    I am heading to India in a few month and I will mostly take street photography as well as landscape and architecture with focus on architectonic features. A big role play temples and temple caves. Temples and temple caves are not very well lit but I will need a good image quality of the ornamentations, reliefs and sculptures. Will the D5600 do? What lenses would you recommend? I don’t want to carry a lot of lenses with me and don’t want to switch too often. Will the 18-140mm zoom and the 50mm/f1.8 or 35mm/f1.8 do (especially in dark places)? What about the flash SB-300?

    Thanks, Karina

    1. Hi Karina,
      Tomorrow morning I’m leaving for India myself (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, mostly). So, the honest answer to your question is that in dark passages and caves, the D5600 may struggle at times, but so would the D7200. You’re bound to get some digital noise. Since the cameras will use the same sensor, the image quality will be the same (if you’re shooting RAW, and very similar if you’re shooting JPG). Using an f/1.8 lens will help a ton, especially if it is also a VR lens (Tamron has a 35mm f/1.8 VC lens that costs about $60 more than the Nikon non-VR, and it’s an excellent lens. They also have a 45mm f/1.8 VC which people use in place of a 50mm.).

      Beyond the image quality, though, the D7200 will have an advantage in low-light autofocusing… it will focus in about 1/4 of the light that the D5600 requires to focus, but both do pretty well in dim light, so this may not be a significant problem.
      The 18-140 will be great for street photography and external shots of landscapes/temples etc and indoors when the light is decent (assuming that nothing is moving… VR only works for camera shake, not subject movement).

      A flash will solve your low-light problems, but there are some complications. If you use a flash for shooting something like details in sculpted stone, with all of the light coming from the same direction as the camera (aka, on-axis), the light will be very flat and you won’t see any of the relief, texture and depth… at least, not very well. So, the best thing to do is to hold the flash off of the camera with one hand so that the light comes in from an angle. This makes the shadows show up to one side also, and the photo doesn’t look so much like it was shot with flash, either.

      However, the Nikon D7200 will be able to trigger an external flash while you hold it off of your camera with its pop-up flash. The Nikon D5600 will not.

      There are alternatives. You can leave a flash on the camera hot-shot and just twist the head to the side/backwards so that the light bounces in from the side… but this only works if there’s something nearby to bounce the light off of… like a wall or ceiling, and the light will pick up the color of that wall. I’m not sure that the SB-300 can pivot to the side, which would be ideal. Finally, you can also buy radio triggers for the D5600… one for the body, and one for the flash, so you can put the flash wherever you want. A pair of them cost $85 (these are Godox/Flashpoint… good quality). But you can get a Godox flash with a built-in receiver as a set with a transmitter, you’ll get a more powerful flash, and all of the head flexibility you want, for the same price as a Nikon SB-300. This is what I use with my Sony A7RIII, and it’s been just as reliable at my old Nikon gear. It will add some weight to your camera bag, though. There may be a more compact model… I’d have to look. Also, although these flashes can be used entirely in automatic mode with the radio triggers, there will still be a bit of study involved if you haven’t shot with off-camera flash before. It’s fun, actually, but you’ll need the time to practice.

      Anyway, I’d stick with the D5600 and a flash, along with at least one stabilized prime f/1.8 lens for low natural light.

      Good luck!

      – Matthew

  9. Hi Matthew,
    How nice and informative information. I am basically a Wedding video photographer. Presently I want to switch over still wedding photography. I have read this article carefully and inclined towards D7200 due to old lenses compatibility as well as flash. But confused about video recording which is also important to me. I came to know from your article that there is canon 80D which have all 45 cross AF and capable for good video recording. My question is, can Canon 80D give same Image quality like D7200 or D5600? Google also confused me more. I do not need 4K video. Full HD and HDR are sufficient for me. Help me a camera with good video and D7200 like photo with this price range.

    1. First, the 80D is a truly excellent camera for video, particularly if you shoot with autofocus…. there’s just no comparison between Canon and Nikon DSLRs in this regard. And the AF for photography is also excellent.

      The image quality from every sensor is going to be different. What counts as “better” is sometimes subjective, but for the most part, while the Nikon does have some minor advantages in image quality, that’s all they are… and there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be able to take excellent photos with the Canon.

      They’re both 24 megapixel sensors, but technically, the Nikon will have slightly higher resolution because of the lack of low-pass (aka, anti-aliasing) filter. This has some disadvantages as well… it can create moire in fine textures. The Nikon will also have better dynamic range at low ISOs.

      In general, though, the 80D is perfectly capable as a professional camera for shooting weddings and just about anything else that an APS-C DSLR is suitable for, in terms of image quality. If you can’t get professional quality photos with it, it’s almost certain that YOU are doing something wrong, rather than it being the fault of the camera. So, don’t worry about that… I’m sure you’ll get great results with it. Like any new camera, there will be some adjustment to get the most out of it, but that will just take a little time.

      – Matthew

      1. Matthew, thank you for your valuable suggestion. Within 7 days I will purchase Canon 80D. Forgive me for my bad english as it is not my mother language and for weaknes. Please suggest me good lenses for wedding photo and video shoot . Thank you again.

        1. Lens suggestions are much harder to give. In large part, it will depend on where your weddings take place. Outdoor weddings are easy: you can get an 18-135mm STM or the new USM and it will cover most of your bases, but it’s not ideal for low light… you might have to turn up your ISO to a level that would be unacceptably high.

          For low light, you might consider any of the f/1.8 lenses instead: the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM will give you lots of light and it’s cheap. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 and Sigma 50-100 f/1.8 will give you lots of light as well, but are not at all cheap (and I’ve never used them for video. I don’t really shoot much video, so I’m not the best person to ask). They’re excellent low-light zooms, though… so if you shoot weddings in poorly lit venues, they’re great choices. If you can live with primes, any of the Sigma ART series lenses are excellent, and the new Tamron SP lenses are too. Some of Canon’s primes use very old designs (like the 85mm f/1.8, which has been around for 20 years or more) and are not ideal for video.

          Good luck!

  10. Matthew, Thank you for all the wonderful informative information! I’ve been wanting to get into photography for a long while. My husband and I will be going to Hawaii next year and I’d love to get a camera before hand and learn the ends and out before the trip! We also have a toddler who I’d love to also photograph as she grows. So between the 5600 and 7200 I have discovered a couple of kit options at our local camera shop and was wondering which one you might recommend?! First kit is 5600 with a AF-S 18-140 lens, second kit is 5600 with two lenses 18-55mm VR and a AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm, and last but not least the third kit 7200 dual zoom AF-P 18-55mm VR and AF-P 70-300? I know you say buy the base I need and a better lense so if there is a setup you would recommend instead I’d greatly appreciate it! I’m leaning more towards the 7200 because it’s weather sealed but I’d love your thoughts! Thank you!

    1. Hi Maegan,

      I’m also a big fan of the D7200, as you’ve probably read already :-) However, when it comes to weather sealing, remember this: even if the camera body is sealed, A) it’s not perfect, and there’s no warranty if your camera gets ruined by water damage, and B) most LENSES are not weather sealed unless you’re spending much more on pro-level lenses, and getting water in your lenses will ruin them pretty quickly. So, you’ll probably end up avoiding wet weather regardless, though I know that it’s a nice safety measure just in case you get caught out in the rain.

      I would buy the Nikon D5600 with 18-140mm zoom to start with. That single lens/body combo will do just about everything that you’ll ever need, and it’s a good quality lens. The image quality of the D5600 will be equivalent to the D7200, so there’s no worry there. Then, I’d also add a fast prime lens to your kit: either a 50mm f/1.8, or a 35mm f/1.8 or 85mm f/1.8, depending on what type of photos you like to shoot. You can do that down the road, if you still need some time to figure out your own particular style. The 35mm is better for general day to day shooting, and the 85mm typical for tighter portraits.

      However, if you find that you’re still leaning towards the more robust D7200, I’d say the same thing: go with a D7200 and 18-140 kit, and add a prime lens.

      The prime lenses, incidentally, will give you great image quality, but they’ll also allow you to shoot in lower light levels than your zoom lens (these primes will let roughly 8x more light through). Their wide apertures (f/1.8 vs f/5.6) also create a more blurry background when you focus on someone close to you, which creates a more professional portrait look, with separation between the subject and background, and fewer distractions… though you can always close down the aperture and shoot them at f/5.6 or lower, too.

      If you’re feeling very ambitious, though, you might think about the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 ART series lens. It’s a little expensive, but the image quality is gorgeous and it gives you a lot of light like the prime lenses, but with more flexibility, since it’s a zoom lens.

      Good luck! Let me know if you have more questions, still.
      – Matthew

      1. Matthew, Thank you so much for the information! I definitely will look into your recommendations and will keep you posted on what I decide to get! Keep up the amazing work with your website! It’s the best information I’ve come across so thank you!

  11. Hi Matthew
    I am planning to buy my first DSLR, i don’t have any idea on DSLR’s and i request your suggestion whether to choose Canon / Nikon / Sony / FujiFilm. Traditional DSLR / Mirrorless.

    Thank you in advance,
    Ravindra

    1. Hello Ravindra,

      That’s a big question, and unfortunately, to be able to give you a useful answer, I’d need to know what you plan to do with your camera, and what is important to you. The fact is, a decent camera from any of the major brands that you mention will be excellent, and will be able to provide better images than most amateur photographers will be able to get out of it (limited by their skills, rather than the camera).

      At the moment, the photography world is moving towards mirrorless. Canon and Nikon have just announced new lens mounts, but only for $2000+, full-frame camera bodies. If you want to go mirrorless (a good idea), then I’d look at the Sony a6500, which has built-in image stabilization, excellent photography features, and the best video features. Fuji is a little more photography-oriented than video, but they have an excellent selection of lenses available, which makes a big difference.

      If you prefer the look and feel of a DSLR, again… it will depend on whether you want to shoot video. You won’t get 4K from Canon or Nikon (with one exception) unless you go full-frame, and the Nikons have terrible focusing for video/live-view. Otherwise, Nikon is probably a little better for pure photography in some ways (sensor quality), although Canon’s optics are sometimes better… it depends on what lenses you’re choosing.

      Anyway, let me know what is important to you, and maybe I’ll be able to help narrow it down :-) Either way, good luck!

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew,
        Thank you for your time. I recently started photography as an hobby, as it is a festival season in India big brands like Nikon, Canon, Sony, FujiFilm are giving big discounts and combo offers. Today i had a demo on D5600, D7200, EOS 800D, a6000 and now i am in a confuse state to finalize. Shooting videos is not my interest and if available its an added advantage but not compulsion.

        Couple of kit options offering by big brands

        Nikon
        D5600
        AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6G VR
        AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR
        AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6G VR + AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-6.3G ED VR

        D7200
        D7200 WITH AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105MM F/3.5-5.6G ED VR
        D7200 WITH AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140 F/3.5-5.6 G ED VR
        D7200 WITH AF-S 18-200mm VRII

        Canon
        800D
        EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM (at focal length of 55mm)

        EOS M50 Kit (EF-M15-45 IS STM)
        EOS M5 Kit (EF-M15-45 IS STM)

        Sony A6000
        E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6
        16–50 mm + 55–210 mm

        Fujifilm
        XT20
        16-50/50-230mm Dual Kit
        18-55 Kit

        XE3
        18-55kit (Black/ Silver)
        23mm F2kit (Black/ Silver)

        T100
        15-45mm
        15-45mm & 50-230

        Thanks
        Ravindra

        1. First of all, I’ll be heading to India in a few weeks for the first time, and I’m looking forward to it… although I’ll miss Diwali and a lot of other major festivals. Still, I’ll have plenty to see.

          Anyway, as I say, just about any of these kits would serve you well. The Sony a6000 is a good camera but it’s getting old… the a6300/a6500 replaced it two years ago, and they’re on the verge of being replaced.

          Of all of these kits, I think that either the Nikon D5600 with the 18-140 or the D7200 with 18-140 would be the most versatile and give you the most flexibility, with excellent image quality. You might want to supplement it with a fast prime lens, like a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8, which will not be too expensive and will handle low-light situations nicely. The biggest weakness will be video, but it can still shoot video just fine.

          But, as I say, you really can’t go wrong with modern cameras. They’re all great, and much of it ends up being a matter of personal taste… and I can’t help you there :-) Many people like the color rendering of Fuji cameras, and the camera bodies have a nice, classic look. The Sony cameras will give you the best frame-rates for shooting sports and action. The Canons are a good mixture of all features (I’d go with the 800D rather than the M-series, just because there are more and better lenses available for the 800D, But take the M series if you want a more compact camera… the image quality is the same).

          Sorry I can’t be of more help. There’s so much that’s similar between them all, it makes it hard to decide if you don’t have some very specific needs in mind.

          – Matthew

          1. Hi Matthew,

            Purchased D7200. As suggested, should i go with AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D OR AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G.

            Thanks a lot in advance.

            Regards,
            Ravindra

            1. The D is a much older lens design, with pre-digital lens coatings. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 G is a more modern lens, and will give you better auto-focus performance as well. My advice is always to buy the best lenses you can afford. If the G isn’t in your budget, though, the D is a good alternative.

  12. I have Nikon D-5600 and love to shoot wildlife and Birds photography. Is it worth to use Nikon 200 – 500 Lens with D-5600?

    1. Yes, absolutely. You’ll get all of the wonderful image quality of that lens with the D5600 (just as you would with the D7200) and of course, the reach that you get from a 500mm lens on an APS-C camera is wonderful, too.

      Needless to say, you’ll get some benefits from shooting with either the D7x00 series cameras or higher, also… primarily you’ll get faster shutter speeds and larger buffers (to shoot longer bursts), and you may get moderate improvements in autofocus speed. I haven’t actually tried the D5600 with the Nikon 200-500, but I suspect that it will still be quick and snappy on the D5600 based on how the camera performs with other lenses.

      So, yes… certainly it’s worth it, even though there are options out there that are even better.

      1. thanks for reply only draw back of 200 500 lens is its too heavy to operate. will you plz tell Sigma 150 600 or Nikon 200-500 which one is better for D5600

        1. It’s true that the Nikon is a little heavier than the Sigma. The Nikon weighs about 5lbs (2.3 kg), and the Sigma is 4.3lbs (1.95kg). They’re both big lenses, though.

          But they both also have a tripod foot, and they’ll feel a little large on any camera that is not a full-size DSLR with battery grip. I use the Sigma 150-600 with a Sony A7RIII, now and then, and the size doesn’t bother me.

          However, if you want something that is a little better matched to the camera size, or just more compact in general, the Sigma 100-400 or the Tamron 100-400, both excellent lenses, are also pretty inexpensive and provide a nice zoom range.

  13. Hi Matthew,
    I am planning to get an ultra wide angle lens for my nikon D7200. I have sort listed
    1. AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR
    2.Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 ATX Pro DX II Lens for Nikon APS-C (DX) Digital SLR Cameras
    3.Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

    I am confused which one should I get? Please help me.

    1. Hi Nirmal, nice to see you back here at the site again :-)

      First, it depends on what you’re going to be using it for. If you’re going to be shooting events or any sort of moving subject in low light, then the Tokina lens’s f/2.8 aperture will give you at least twice as much light as the Nikon (4x at the f/5.6 end of the zoom), which can make a big difference in stopping motion while keeping high-ISO noise low.

      If not… if you’re shooting landscapes or architecture, possibly from a tripod, then it doesn’t matter as much. From a tripod, you can stop down to f/8 or so and there won’t be much difference in image quality between any of them there, and of course, the maximum aperture won’t matter at all., bu the Sigma and Nikon will give you a wider zoom range.

      If you’re doing something in the middle, then perhaps the best option (for aperture) would be the Sigma.

      When it comes to sharpness/resolution, I from what I’ve seen the Tokina is sharper than the Nikon, but I’m not sure about the Sigma. It’s been a long time since I’ve used the lens, but my impression was that it’s a good, solid performer. There’s also an f/3.5-4.5 version that’s less expensive, and performs about the same, optically.

      You should also be aware that the Nikon AF-P lens is not 100% compatible with your D7200 (I think you won’t be able to switch off the VR, for example. Probably not a big deal).

      Anyway, my inclination would be to go for the Tokina 11-16 (you likely have another lens already that cover 18mm and beyond anyway).

      Good luck! Let me know if I can help you narrow it down any further.
      – Matthew

      1. You are great Matthew, thank you very much for your quick response..
        I was looking for landscape, photography possibly will be doing at night too. I hope Tokina 11-16 F/2.8 is fully compatible with D7200. Yes I am planning to get a new tripod too.

        Did you say Tokina 11-16 has another cheaper version f/3.5-4.5 ? I am not finding it in google. Could you please share a link? Will used lens be good. New one is bit expensive. Which is best site for used lens?

        Any other wide angle lens would you recommend ?

        1. Sorry; it’s the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 that also has a cheaper version available. It was a 10-20 f/4-5.6, it turns out (I had to look it up… it’s been a while), but that lens appears to be discontinued, now.

          The Tokina lens is available in a 11-20mm version, also, but but it costs $100 more and I don’t think the extra range is very useful… but that’s up to you.

          I rarely buy used equipment, but not because there’s anything wrong with it. I just never have much luck finding what I’m looking for. However, Adorama is a good source if you’re in a hurry… they have probably the largest collection of used equipment in the USA and a good reputation, and their prices are not bad (but be sure to read about the condition of the equipment).

          Otherwise, you’re likely to get better prices on Ebay or Craigslist, but you’ll have to bide your time and wait for the good deals to show up.

          1. Hi Matthew,
            When I was searching for Tokina 11-16, I found various names in different site. So wanted to clarify. Please tell me which is better or all are same?
            in adorama
            Name – Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 ATX Pro DX II Lens for Nikon APS-C (DX) Digital SLR Cameras
            Link- https://adorama.evyy.net/c/62026/51926/1036?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Ftn1116nk2.html

            in Amazon
            Name – Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens (AF-S Motor)
            Link- https://amzn.to/2FEXkWN

            Another version in Amazon
            Name -Tokina ATXAF116DXIIN 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX-II Lens for Nikon F, Black
            Link – https://amzn.to/2DI90Wc

            1. Hi Nirmal,
              Sorry for the delay, I’m traveling in India right now. The three lenses that you listed here are the same… you can buy from whoever you like. The two on Amazon are just from different sellers, although there is also a Pro DX (not II) out there, which is also a good lens. There is also the 11-20mm f/2.8, which costs a bit more. https://amzn.to/2DG52x7 I prefer the 11-16, though, since most other kit zoom lenses are already 17 or 18mm at the wide end.

              1. Good to hear that u r in India. You might have already planned your stay in India, but let me know if I can help u with anything? Which all cities are you traveling?
                Thanks for your reply. Is this lens compatible with nikon full frame body? I might upgrade from d7200 to FX body in future, so asking?
                I am also researching for a travel tripod. There is a MeFoto with carbon fiber tripod/monopod and aluminium Model. Cost difference is almost $100. Is it worth to take carbon fiber model?
                Any other budget tripod you can recommend? Mefoto/ manfrotto are bit expensive. Please give me some link or model Or shoukd i still go with mefoto?
                If possible please soon so that I can take advantage of festivals deals.

              2. Thank you :-) I’m in Delhi at the moment, and have pretty solid plans, but I’ll let you know if I need some advice! I’ve just come back from Amritsar, and will be headed towards some of the major attractions soon… Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, etc.

                Anyway, these Tokina lenses are not full-frame compatible, unfortunately (they will work in APS-C mode on full-frame cameras, but then you lose the advantage of having a full-frame).

                The MeFoto are fine, but expensive for the quality… they are just re-branded versions of the same tripods that are available under dozens of other names. Carbon fiber does make a significant difference in the overall weight, but not much difference otherwise. I’d get the carbon fiber if you can find a good deal. This “Neewer” model is a great price with strong ratings, but I’ve never actually tested it…. https://amzn.to/2SaU32C Again, most of these are made in the same factory in China. Vanguard has a good reputation (I own two of them) and this one isnt’ too bad a price: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1345971-REG/vanguard_veo_2_235cb_23mm_5_section_carbon.html/BI/5256/KBID/6027/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x831274/SID/DFF

                Good luck!

  14. Can’t figure out why a swivel/articulated screen would be considered ‘amateurish’. Wouldn’t a Pro need ‘all the angles’ and an amateur tend to just stand there and shoot straight? I am a Pro and I love the swivel, especially for video. I lament high end cameras with a fixed screen… ridiculous. Notice D500, D7500 and others are starting to at least have TILT. It’s about time!

    1. Hi Bob,

      I imagine that you’re at least partly asking rhetorically, but a big part of the answer is that when an LCD screen is just attached to the camera by a pivot joint on one edge, it’s much more likely to break off. For those of use who are photojournalists and and up running from place to place, sometimes in very dangerous situations, we want a camera that can stand to be battered around quite a bit and still get the job done. People who are spending their disposable income on cameras are more likely to treat their equipment with care, perhaps.

      That said, the biggest reason that I haven’t used an articulated screen in the past is that live-view autofocus has mostly been worthless. It has improved over the past few years, though, and now that I’m using a mirrorless camera much of the time, I also use the rear LCD much more frequently, and the articulation is great. So, I agree… it’s a welcome change :-)

      – Matthew

  15. Matthew,

    Thanks for this perfect article. We are looking to replace/upgrade our D3100 before a trip next month. One of my biggest issues with it is the delay, particularly in lower-light, between pressing the button and the picture being captured. Some of this may be my own lack of complete understanding of how to manage that, but my question is whether either or both of these bodies will be faster to shoot from the button press and if so, will there be a noticeable difference between them as well.

    I probably have a few more questions but let’s start with that.

    Thanks.

    -Dan

    1. Hey Dan,

      There are a few different things that contribute to that time gap between pressing the button and the shutter release, and only a couple of them are really just dependent on the body itself.

      • Shutter lag: this is the time it takes the electronics and mechanics of the camera to respond to your pressing the button. Completely dependent on the camera body. There’s usually a slight difference between entry level models and higher models here, but I don’t have the numbers in front of me.
      • AF Speed: Depending on what shooting mode you’re in, the shutter won’t release until the camera pulls focus on something. AF speed depends on the camera’s AF module, but also the focusing motor and electronics in the lens, among other things (subject movement, available light, contrast, etc).
      • User Experience: To get the best performance from your camera, you need to practice and use your camera efficiently… use the right AF mode, pre-focus, and use stable technique (and know where to focus).

      So, the shutter lag on the D3100 is going to be around .11 – .20 seconds, at best, from the time you focus on something. The D7200 is about .05 – .06 seconds, which is significantly faster. The D5600 is not quite as responsive, but it’s not bad, at about .08, all other things being equal. So, regardless of what newer camera you go with, you should see an improvement, but the D7200 will feel more responsive. The AF models on the D5600 and D7200 are about the same, so shouldn’t be an issue… but they’re both significantly better than the D3100.

      You can improve that by using high quality, large aperture lenses (rather than kit zoom lenses, for example), and of course, with practice… that’s where you’ll get the biggest returns if you’re relatively new to SLRs, but diminishing returns after you’ve had a year of practice shooting action.

      1. Matthew,
        Thanks for the informed response. The wife values the smaller, lighter feel of the D5600 so I think that’s the way we’re going. I’m glad to hear there will be noticeable improvement in the shutter lag and definitely willing to put the time in to figure out the rest.
        Another question if you don’t mind. We have the stock 18-55 lens that came with the D3100 which is nothing special. We added a Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED for longer shots (this is going back at least 5 years). Are any of the optional lenses with the D5600 worthwhile or will we be much more satisfied going with something else. I am fairly sure we want to replace the shorter lens at least as a ‘ready’ lens but open to suggestions. We will be in Iceland and France ina few weeks but we mix in a bit of everything including indoor sports in well-lit gyms. So… 1) is our long lens still decent by today’s standards and 2) what is a good multi-purpose lens for shorter distances for the new body, and 3) will we want a third lens for scenic shots?
        Thanks again for your advice. If we do purchase from Amazon (in consideration) we will gladly use your link.
        -Dan

      2. I can’t edit so I’ll add this here. Looking at your lens page and reading below, the SIGMA 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM jumps out as a pretty solid option to use instead of the comparable stock lens. Any others you’d suggest to look at in comparison? If this will cover wide shots and closer shots (e.g. people against farther backgrounds) then it seems like a solid general-purpose lens.

        1. Hi Dan,
          The Sigma 17-50 is still an excellent lens, and I still recommend it. I’ve used it as a general walk-around lens, and it’s great.

          Sigma makes some even better lenses now, though they’re a little less versatile… the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is remarkably sharp and lets in twice as much light as most pro lenses, and the Sigma 50-100 f/1.8 is the same, though I don’t have as much experience with it. Both are heavy and expensive though, which is often the case with high quality optics.

          If you’ve been looking through the site, here, you’ve probably already heard me give my general recommendation: buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs and the best lenses you can afford. Choosing lenses is the hardest part because there are so many, but also because it’s such a matter of personal taste. I can’t do my job without a good 70-200 f/2.8 lens, while thousands of pro photographers refuse to use a zoom lens at all, and do everything with a 35mm f/1.4 lens (or whatever their choice prime lens happens to be).

          My guess is that you’ll be in good shape with the Sigma 17-50 and your 55-300, as long as you don’t expect too much of it when you’re indoors… you’ll still have to deal with high ISO noise there.

          Good luck! Incidentally, I’m in the process of making a lot of changes throughout the website this week, so I’m sorry if things look a little odd or aren’t working properly. Things should be stable again within a few days.

          – Matthew

  16. Great site you have !!!! Thanks !!!!
    I have a Nikon D5100, an old D3100 and an old D40…..enough for me, not a pro, they take great pictures…carry one of them with me everyday (most of the time I use the D40 since it’s lightweight and flash synchs at 1/500 !!! along with a Nikon 18-300 lens, and a Nikon 35 mm 1.8 (don´t mind the lens weight of the 18-300 mm lens, good workout !)….
    question is: what lens would you suggest for taking pictures indoors, in close quarters that’s not as bulky as the 18-300? One that’ll give me some wide angle and some close up too, the kit lens seems to be a bit blurry at 18 mm. at the sides of pictures. Any suggestions?
    Love this site. Thanks Matthew !!!! Keep it up !!!!!

    1. Hi Marco,
      That’s tricky. There aren’t many good zooms that are good indoors, since that really requires a large aperture. Sigma makes the two best wide aperture zooms, but they’re not going to save you any weight…. the 18-35 f/1.8, and the 50-100 f/1.8, and they’re a little pricey. My go to lens, on APS-C, for wide angle, is the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8. It’s wonderfully sharp for a lens in the price range, has a great f/2.8 aperture, stabilization, and it’s not too bulky. It won’t give you much “close up”, but nothing really will if you want good indoor performance.

      Good luck!

  17. Thanks for this great review.
    Right now im a D3300 user, and since a few months, i start to feel short with the features, and this two are my candidates so far.
    Its going to be very helpfull to make the decision.

    SALUDOS desde Chile.

  18. Hi Mathew,

    I have a D5100 with NIKKOR 50MM for portraits and Tamron 18-400 for travel lens. I am facing auto focus and fast focus issues with both these lenses. Since i have not used any other body, i want to know if i should upgrade my body for D7000 series for faster focus and good auto focus?

    1. I actually have pretty limited experience with the Tamron 18-400; all-in-one zoom lenses are not my favorite. Part of the problem is that they tend to be a little on the slow side in terms of focusing. Your D5100 should give you quick, snappy focus with the right lens, and my recommendation is always to buy the least expensive body that meets your needs and the best lenses you can afford. Best lenses means best glass and largest apertures, which unfortunately also usually means that they’re expensive, but they’re usually worth it.

  19. Hi,

    For pre wedding type of photography, i thought d7200 is enough but with budget constraints, i thought to step down for D5600.

    so with a d5600 and 1.8 sigma 18-35 mm lens, does that make a good gear for my work?

    1. Hello Anil,

      Yes, that would be a good, solid combination… unless you shoot with flash (and if you don’t, you probably should for portraiture work, at least sometimes). Generally speaking, if you’re shooting professionally, I think that the features of the D7000 line are worth the extra cash. However, if you’re comfortable with finding good, natural light, then the D5600’s image quality should treat you well.

      – Matthew

  20. Hello! Thank you for such a good review! I have been using a d3300 for about 2 years and have learned some good basic photography with it. I have mainly used it for landscapes on a myriad of travels in the last couple years (and plan to continue to travel and take landscapes). I am also about to start doing portrait photography and thought it would be a pretty good time for an upgrade. Lenses: I have the Sigmas 10-20 3.5, Nikon 35 1.8, NIkon 50 1.8, Nikon 18-55 kit lens, and Nikon 55-300 basic lens. I just got the d7200 used and like the controls, but am unfortunately finding it a bit cumbersome and heavy. I have small hands and also have tendonitis in my hands and wrists. I am so thankful that photography has not been painful and would like to continue that! So my dilemma is- do I keep the d7200 even though I am already finding it a bit heavy and worrying about using heavy lenses (would also like to upgrade the kit lens for a good zoom/slightly higher focal length lens for landscapes to complement the wide angle). ….Or do I resell the d7200 and either just keep the 3300 for awhile or go to the d5500? I do like the articulating screen because I enjoy getting shots really low to the ground sometimes, but I really like the button layout on the d3300 and am not sure if there would really be an image quality upgrade from the d3300 –> d5500. Any advice would be awesome!!! Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Kristy,

      All three cameras (D3300, D5500, D7200) have 24 megapixel sensors that are almost identical, so none of them are really an upgrade for image quality :-) All three do not make use of an optical low-pass filter (aka anti-aliasing filter), so they’re all as sharp as possible. The newer D7500 has a lower resolution sensor.

      So, the question is… why were you upgrading from the D3300? If it was because you wanted a better autofocus system or faster shooting speed, then there are some reasons to think about sticking with the D7200, though the D5500 is pretty good too. Did you need some new flash capabilities? The D7200 has more than the D5500.

      My advice is always this: buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs and buy the best quality lenses you can afford. I’m not entirely sure which camera would meet your needs at this point, but it sounds like there are some portrait lenses out there that you’d love. I’m a big fan of the 85mm focal length for portraits, and if you get an 85mm f/1.8 rather than an f/1.4, it’s relatively lightweight and inexpensive, but going with an f/1.4 will give you more light, better background-blur, and sharper images. If you go with an f/1.4, look at the Sigma. If the f/1.8, the Nikon G is great.

      – Matthew

  21. Hello Matthew,

    After reading through your reviews I’ve decided to go for a 5600D, before then I usually ran on a cheap D3100. Thus I already got the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G and a 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G. My thoughs are right now to buy a 35mm f/1.8G lens and possible a 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G. My prime use for the camera will be landscape and portrait pictures since this is my hobby when I am not studying. Whats your thoughts and opinion? Should I go for a 50mm f/1.8G instead? Also what filters would you recommend? Is there other lenses I should try out? Love your reviews and keep rocking!

    Thanks in advance,
    Kevin

    1. I purchased the 5600 and like the 18-140 lens cause it gives me some wide angle and portrait zoom capability. I also have the 55-300 and 35mm f1.8 lens (which have not used much)

    2. Hi Kevin,

      Let me start with the easy question. The only filters that I ever use are polarizers, which are wonderful for removing glare from the surface of water. It can also increase contrast in the sky, but that sort of thing is easy to simulate with software… but there’s no substitute for capturing more information (which is what it allows you to do with water and other reflections), and it improves color. Luckily, they’re all about equally effective… you don’t need to buy a super expensive one.

      When it comes to lens choice, it’s all a matter of personal taste. I’m not a huge fan of the 35mm focal length on APS-C cameras, but I know a lot of people are. The 50mm is a better portrait lens, and the 85mm f.1.8 G is better still.

      I always opt for large aperture lenses. I’m a big fan of the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8, though it’s several years old now. The Nikon equivalent 17-55 is great too, but considerably more expensive for very marginal gains.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      1. Thanks for a quick reply!

        I have a friend of mine that got the 35mm which I enjoy shooting with a lot, but I’d definitly try the 50mm and 85mm before buying one! As for the polarization filter I should go with the Pol-circ instead of the linear type?

        Instead of the Sigma 17-55f/2.8 or 17-55, whats ur thought’s and opinion on SIGMA 17-70mm F/2,8-4,0 DC OS HSM Contemporary Macro? Or would you still go with the one you recommended?

        Thanks!

        1. Kevin,

          You’ll definitely want a circular polarizer. Linear polarizers are not generally compatible with autofocus cameras (the lines interfere with autofocus detection).

          For me, the difference between f/4 and f/2.8 (twice as much light) is significant enough that I’d always rather have the 17-50 f/2.8, but if you don’t shoot in low-light a whole lot, you might be fine with the 17-70. I haven’t used the 17-70 enough to be able to give you good info about the image quality, but I don’t remember any egregious problems with it.

          – Matthew

          1. Alright, thank you very much for the feedback. I’ve got one last question if you wouldn’t mind. Would you go for the same lenses if it would be a D7200? Or is there something to consider different when having a D5600 versus a D7200 (or the newer D7500). As I’ve understod the cameras got different stabilisation built into the camera, and I’ve read around on the internet that some lenses should have a built in stabilisation to shoot better photographies.

            1. Hi Kevin,
              No, I’d consider the same lenses with the D7200 and the other bodies mentioned. No Nikon bodies have stabilization built into the body, unfortunately… you’re probably thinking of the AF motor that is built into the body on the D7000 series bodies but not the D5000 series. That’s not a concern when you’re using modern lenses like the ones we’ve been talking about, though.
              Good luck!
              – Matthew

    3. You won’t find a better deal than the Nikon 35 mm f/1.8 for a combination of quality, price, small size and utility. Rarely do I use anything else. The 18-55 mm kit lens is cheaper, but much slower. I just took sixty night shots, alternating between the two of them. Note that the 35 mm doesn’t have VR, and I had taken a lot of shots by resting the camera on things (I have no tripod, and was taking 2 second exposures of fireworks). I personally only use wide angle lenses for photographing rooms in close quarters.

  22. Thank you Matthew for the detailed comparison between Nikon D5600 and Nikon D7200. I am looking to get my first DSLR soon. Nikon D5600 seems to be great option and it is in my budget too. However, I am still confused between Nikon D5600 and Canon 800D/T7i. Which is best for still photography? Thanks beforehand for your support and knowledge.
    – Gurpreet Singh

    1. They’re both great cameras. In truth, the camera body makes very little difference these days…. they’re all high quality and flexible. The Canon is better for shooting video with autofocus (or using live view on the back screen), but otherwise, the Nikon probably has a slight advantage in sensor quality. It’s a modest difference, though, and disappears if you use the camera at high ISO. The Canon supports high speed sync for flash, and the Nikon doesn’t with the D5600, so that might be a consideration if you like to shoot with flash. If I were you, I’d choose the lenses that you want to shoot with first, see what options are available with the Canon and Nikon systems, and go from there.
      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew,
        First of thank you so much, After reading your reviews I finally purchased D7200 with 50mm 1.8 lens and I am amazed to see the results.
        Now i am planning to buy a good tripod ($100 -$150)and a budget landscape lens. Could you plz suggest some options.
        Thanks in advance.

        1. Hi Nirmal,

          Glad to hear that the D7200 is working out for you :-)

          For a landscape lens, there are lots of options. Some people like to shoot telephoto, others wide angle… so it’s a big field. Do you have a preference? Since most people go wide, you might think about a 17-50 f/2.8 (the Sigma and Tamron are both good, and will save you some money) or even wider… Sigma and Nikon both make 10-20mm lenses (roughly) that are good, but you have to be looking for ultra-wide perspectives.

          As for tripods, there are tons of good ones, now. Manfrottos are usually great and not too expensive, as are SLIK and Vanguard. There are also a lot of Chinese carbon fiber tripods that are all exactly the same but sold under different brands… try the Ken Faith (K&F Concept) website and take a look at the tripods, then compare them to similar models on other sites for price comparison.

          Good luck!
          – Matthew

          1. Thanks Matthew,
            Yeah i wanted an ultra wide lens. I know aperture makes a lot difference specially on lens price.
            So which one would u suggest. Send some.. I would try buy from your link.
            One question I always wanted to ask is – what is the major difference between lens made by cigna, tokina, tamron etc brand VS made by Nikon? Is there any IMAGE quality difference ? or its just because of brand? Why there is huge price difference between other brands lens vs Nikon lens?
            So you suggest K&F is good brand?
            Send some link for travel tripod… I believe you will suggest me for Carbon Fiber.
            Will aluminum tripod be also good for travel purposes?
            Thanks again for your time and help.

            1. Hi Nirmal,

              First of all, you might want to check out my master list of Nikon lenses, here: https://www.lightandmatter.org/2016/lens-recommendations/complete-list-of-lenses-for-nikon/

              With that list, you can sort lenses by focal length and get an idea of the prices at the same time.

              I’m a big fan of the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, because I like to shoot in lower light. The Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 is also supposed to be good, but I don’t have as much experience with it. Otherwise, the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 is a good quality, inexpensive option.

              It’s hard to generalize about 3rd party lenses. Traditionally, Nikon lenses were more expensive but also optically better… usually sharper with less distortion and other optical flaws. However, over the past 5 years, Sigma and Tamron lenses have really caught up in terms of quality. Sigma’s ART series lenses are often sharper than their Canon and Nikon counterparts, and lenses like Tamron’s 70-200 f/2.8 VC USD are just as sharp as the Nikon from the time of release.

              However, many people still believe that Nikon and Canon lenses are built to last longer and stand more abuse from professionals working in harsh environments. Many people also think that you’re just paying for the brand name with Nikon. In any case, it all depends on the lens. In some cases, you’ll get equal or better image quality with Sigma/Tamron, in some cases you’ll get better prices but with slightly less sharp optics.

              Good luck!
              – Matthew

  23. Hello, I am debating on these two models currently. I am a novice photographer and this will be my first DSLR. I will mainly use it for my pets (dogs) and their Instagram page. And also traveling with family. I was planning on going with the 5600 and spending around $500 on new lenses. Can you suggest some good prime or zoom lenses that would take the image quality of my pets to the next level? Which should I get first? Thank you!

    1. Hi Konner,
      I agree… the D5600 sounds like a great choice.

      Lenses are a harder question, since that’s such a matter of personal taste. There are lots of great photographers who use different lenses, and no matter what lens you get, it takes practice and skill to get the most out of it. That said…
      The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is a great prime to start with, and so is the 50mm f/1.8. However, a lot of people have a hard time making the switch from using zoom lenses to primes, so you might want to get a good walkaround zoom lens like the 18-140mm kit lens that comes with the D5600.

      You might also want to consider the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 or the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 ART series lens.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

  24. Hi, really good article and comparison. I had this doubt about taking 5600 or 7200, and chose D5600. I am planning to make a purchase for a good lens which will give the maximum result from my camera. I usually shoots with my 35mm DX 1.8G, and also interested in FX 50 1.8 & 85 1.8Gs. But then I saw the 16-80 which is a very good lens but costly compared to 16-85. What is your opinion in this regard.

    1. Hi Harikrishnan,

      The D5600 sounds like a good choice. The zoom lenses that you’re talking about are not likely to be as sharp as the primes, and they’ll also let in a lot less light, and the bokeh will not be as good with the zooms. So, first, you should consider whether the convenience of a zoom is worth it to you do lose those things.

      The 16-80 f/2.8-4 is a newer, better quality lens than the old 16-85 3.5-5.6 VR. The newer lens lets in twice as much light when you’re using it at 80mm than the old lens does, so if you’re shooting at 1/500th second on the new lens, you’d have to shoot at 1/250th second on the old one. (On the 85mm prime lens, you’d be able to get over a 1/2000ths second!). Image quality and stabilization will also be better on the newer lens. If you don’t get the prime lenses, I’d go with the Nikon 16-80 f/2.8-4 VR. Good luck!

  25. Hi Matthew,

    I just came back from the trip last week and wanted to report that I LOVE the camera. It was so unfortunate that I didn’t have a lot of time to learn to use it before leaving for the trip and didn’t realize that the 16mm lens has something called “clutch” system where you can pull the focus ring to change the camera to manual focus and my lens got to that mode by accident. During the trip it was so crowded everywhere we went and we were on tight schedule so I didn’t have time to take a good look and research what was wrong with the camera. I noticed that the autofocus didn’t work when I pressed the shutter half way but also wasn’t sure if the problem was me not seeing it clearly because I didn’t wear my glasses so half of the pictures came out blurry. I also wasn’t sure what settings we should use for the conditions we had, most of the time it was cloudy or we were in a shade so tried to use low f-stop but that also contributed to the blurriness because the camera chose the low shutter speed to compensate that plus being in a crowded place and people rushing you all the time didn’t help either :-( That’s a learning process I suppose. Nonetheless, I still want to say that I love the camera, it’s very easy to use given the little time I had to practice before the trip but because the knobs and dials are out there making it easy to access even in a hurry. You can quickly change the settings and snap the shot. What I lack is the skills and experience picking the settings and good composition which I’m hoping to gain with more practice.

    Anyhow, now I’m back and looking for another lens. I learned from the trip that there were times when I wished I had a longer reach so I’m thinking of getting a telephoto lens to add to my collection and also a tripod/monopod combo. I noticed from the trip that in most places we went, tripod is not very practical because of the crowd around you and a lot of places don’t allow them actually. In situations like that I can see monopod being a better choice plus it is lighter and more compact to carry around.

    I realized that I’m probably in a wrong thread but don’t know where else to post and wanted to continue our conversation, so sorry for hijacking your Nikon thread :-) And if you are still thinking about the mirrorless, I strongly recommend the X-T2 and want to thank you again for pointing me in this direction.

    1. Hi Lee,

      Good to hear back from you! I’m glad that the X-T2 worked well for you, despite the issues with the clutch system on the lens (most of the recent Tokina wide-angle zooms have the same push-pull system to dis-engage autofocus).

      The only telephoto lens that I’ve used on the Fuji system (I used it on an X-T1) is the 70-200 equivalent: the Fujinon XF 50-140 f/2.8 LM OIS WR , which is an awesome lens (and the 70-200 range is probably my favorite anyway), but it is heavy and it’s not cheap. It has image stabilization, of course, which reduces the need for a monopod, though.

      Sorry for the delay; I’m still bogged down with shooting for lens reviews!

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew,

        Thank you so much for the recommendation. No worries about the delay, I totally understand and I’m in no hurry this time. Seems like a lot of people really like the XF50-140mm lens and I can tell by the price that it must be a great lens but the weight scares me a lot so I’m also looking at the XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 because the weight is more manageable but I don’t like that it’s not water resistant and probably not as good. I would love to get the XF50-140 but I feel that my skills are not good enough to justify the price. I think I might try the 55-200mm first and revisit the 50-140mm later when I can find a way to handle the weight issue, as 3.9 lbs is quite a lot for a petite person. Or maybe I will try to add a couple of dumbbells to my camera bag and walk around with them for a day to see how it feels. Must be a good workout :-)

        Thank you again and good luck with the lens reviews, I will check your other pages out later!

  26. Lots of great information, but anyone considering the D5600 should realize that it is primarily a prosumer point and shoot, with less than ideal manual controllability while the D7200 is a midrange professional designed with tried and true Nikon usable overrides and manual controls. My adult daughter purchased the D5600 back in Aug ’17. Almost immediately she seemed to be fighting the camera. I thought it must be user error until I tried to use her D5600 and found that I too was fighting it. Throw the D5600 into full auto and it is a really nice point and shot, but try to use manual controls and you quickly find that the body lacks sufficient physical controls to allow intuitive override and manual control camera functionality. It was also incredibly difficult to say with certainty just how the camera was setup at any given time and the info was always buried in the touchscreen menus. Also the info in the viewfinder was virtually worthless outdoors it was impossible to glance and read it due to washout. She tried to make peace with the D5600 for over 2 months, taking several thousand pics, but in the end, gave up, traded up to a D7200 and immediately started getting the shots she wanted on a reliable basis. Let the D5600 control its world and all is well, but attempt to toss in some manual, creative control and the D5600 with its layered menus/touchscreen forces you to focus on the camera rather than the shot and that is NOT a good thing.

    1. Hi David,
      Layout of controls is always important to consider, though it’s also a matter of personal taste to some degree as well. Regardless of what camera I’m using, I spend about 90% of my shooting time in aperture priority mode (and I’d say this is true of most of the professionals I know), and the D5600 seemed manageable shooting that way for me.

      But there’s no doubt that it’s important to find a camera that you can control comfortably for what you do. That’s a good thing to keep in mind… thanks!
      – Matthew

  27. Great review. I am upgrading my canon 300d this christmas. My main use will be photographing my kids playing rugby here in NZ and also a bit of motorsport mainly Rallying (if the WRC ever comes back here) I like the loo of the 7200 for the weatherproofing but I have never had a problem with the canon over the years. Do you think It would be worth me going for the 7200, or just sticking with the 5600 which is a bit smaller and lighter, considering most of my use will be for action. Thanks

    1. Hi Glenn,
      If you’re primarily interested in shooting sports, it’s probably worth it to go with the D7200, though I’m sure you’d get by with the D5600. I’ve already outlined the reasons above so I won’t waste your time doing it again, but you’ll likely end up with a higher percentage of good shots with the D7200. However,
      if going with the D5600 will allow you to spend more on a good lens (maybe a 70-200 f/2.8…. the Tamron G2 is awesome and isn’t too expensive), then do THAT.
      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew—I just bought the Nikon d5600 and now I have 3 lenses with it, the 18-140 VR, 35 f/1.8, and 55-300 f/4.5-5.6 VR so I think I am all set for my trip to China and Vietnam. I am thinking that during the daytime land excursions I would use the 18-140 lens as my “Go To ” lens?

        1. Hey Steve,
          Yes, that’s a great walking-around lens for just about everything when the light is decent. You might also experiment with just carrying around the 35mm sometimes (it’s a good exercise to get familiar with a prime lens and finding good compositions with it), but the reach of the 140mm will be pretty useful.

          1. Thanks Matthew as you have been so helpful in my search for the 5600 vs 7200 and the lenses. Taking all this on a cruise/ land trip from China to Singapore.

          2. So I have now with my D5600 the 35mm f1.8, 18-140mm f3.5-5.6, and 55-300 f4.5-5.6 lenses. I am going on a cruise/land tour to China, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore and want to carry a minimum of lenses that will do the trip justice. After buying the above lenses, I see B & H is selling a Tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD AF lens for $300. Am I wasting money buying this lens after obtaining the lenses above although the Tamron covers the range from wide angle to telephoto. Not sure about the quality of the Tamron at the long edge of the range. What do you think?

            1. Hi Steve,
              My opinion of all-in-one lenses is pretty low, including the Tamron 18-270. You’ll get decent image quality in parts of the range, and middling (at best) in other parts of the zoom range, for the price of convenience. I can understand wanting convenience, but settling for mediocre image quality also seems to defeat the purpose of buying a nice DSLR in the first place.

              So, I’d skip the 18-270. Use your 18-140 when you need convenience and get good image quality, and know where you other lenses are just in case you need them.
              – Matthew

              1. Great–I was hoping that you might say something like that after I purchased all 3 lenses. I am tempted to go with my 18-140 plus the 35mm for dim or indoor lighting and leave the 70-300mm at home. I use the 70-300 in the Adirondacks during summer to take photos of Herons and Loons and Bald Eagles in the early morning around sunrise and that is a good lens for that. Thanks very much for your help and comments.

        2. Just learning to use my Nikon 5600 and would like to know what settings I should try to capture the Super Moon? I have the 35mm f1.8, 18-140mm lens and the 55-300mm lens. I do have a tripod. So looking for suggestion as to ISO, Aperture and shutter speed. Thanks

          1. Hi Steve,
            I may be a bit late here, but I’ll tell you what I can.

            First of all, you’ll want to use the tripod and the 300mm end of your zoom.

            Then, set your camera to aperture priority (A) and set the aperture to f/5.6.

            The shutter speed will be set automatically.

            Now, set your metering mode to “spot metering”, and meter off the moon itself. This will keep the moon from being a big white blob.

            Finally, set your ISO to something high, but not too high… like 800. If your exposure ends up being more than a second long, then step up your ISO to 1600, and keep doing that until it’s below 1 second. You should be fine at about 800 though.

            1. Hi Matthew, we r going to have a Christmas house party this year. My friends have asked me to shoot this event. The party will be in hall, under a normal house lighting surrounding. Pleae give me some tips on aperture, iso, and shutter speed. I am planning to use 50mm 1.8G and 18-55mm. Do I need a tripod. I want to impress my group with my clicks.
              Thank you so much in advance.
              — Nirmal

              1. Hi Nirmal,
                That’s a tall order! Shooting pictures with normal interior lighting is hard, and it will depend on whether you want to shoot candid pictures from around the party, or if you want to take posed pictures.

                For candid shots, a tripod isn’t a practical option. Shooting with the 50mm lens will give you the most light (f/1.8 is much, much better than f3.5 – 5.6), but you’ll have to work from a bit of a distance. It will allow you to keep a higher shutter speed, which means that the people you’re photographing won’t have to be absolutely still to be sharp. So, my standard practice is this: set the camera to aperture priority mode (A) on the mode dial, set the aperture to f/1.8, and then set the ISO to 400. As you’re looking through the viewfinder to take some test shots, check on the shutter speed, and make sure that it’s higher than 1/125th second. If it’s not, then set the ISO to 800, and check again. If it’s still not, set the ISO to 1600, etc. Alternately, you can set the ISO to AUTO, but then you may end up with more noisy, grainy photos, since the camera may set it higher than necessary.

                That is if you want to shoot with natural light. Much easier is to use a flash with a swivel head. If you do that, make sure that the flash head is NOT pointed at your subject. Instead, point it upwards at the ceiling, or better yet, if there’s a white wall nearby, point it at that, either directly beside you or slightly behind you. It will feel weird to not point the flash at your subject, but the results will be much better. If you use flash, you can also safely switch to your 18-55mm lens.

                Actually, now that I think of it, all of that is going to be the same for posed shots, except that you should use a tripod.

                – Matthew

              2. Matthew, can you recommend a travel tripod that is “easy to work with” and cost in the range of $100-200 and folds to no more than 15″? I look on B & H and everyone has some critical comments of the Mefoto backpacker or Roadtrip ones around screws that don’t stay tight or having to remove plate to fold up. I am looking for a tripod that is “easy to set up” and fold back and will hold my 5600 and 50-300mm lens. Any recommendations?

            2. Thanks Matthew. There is another Super Moon on Jan 1 and we will be on a cruise in China at the time so I was hoping to get some photos from the ship while it is docked even though there may be some movement.

          2. Hi Steve,

            The one that I use most frequently while I’m traveling now is actually one that I won from B&H several years ago. It’s an Oben, but there are a dozen identical tripods out there from the same factory but under different brand names. You can see the tripod review here, and you can see the same tripod on other sites like K&F Concepts, and sold under the name Zomei on Amazon (that’s a smaller one). It’s an inch or so longer than you want, folded down.

            That said, I’ve never really found the perfect tripod. I prefer flip locks to twist locks. I like tripods that can get really low to the ground (my old Slik U212 head could be mounted on a leg stud). I like legs that can be locked into more than 2 or 3 different angles.

            Manfrotto and Giottos and Vanguard are good brands to check on Amazon, along with Slik, and of course, Really Right Stuff if you have a huge budget.

            Good luck!

            1. The Vanguard VEO 265AB gets mostly very good reviews with a few claiming it is fragile with the collar breaking. But mostly good reviews, compact and has locking clips versus twisting. Any thoughts on Vanguard?

              1. After spending lots of time, reading many many reviews, I have decided to buy the Slik Sprint Pro II with Ball for $69.95 at B & H. All the reviews give it lots of kudos with always a very few who find something they don’t like. Thanks for helping me evaluate this decision.

              2. Any time. After you’ve spent some time with it, let me know how you like it! I love my 20 year-old Slik tripods, and I’m curious about their models that I don’t know so well.

              3. OK—I will be taking it on the cruise from Beijing down to Vietnam, Bangkok and Singapore. I expect to use in on the ship when it is docked for some night shots and possibly on our excursion to the Great Wall of China. I get back end of January and I will let you know how it went.

              4. Matthew, after to speaking with B & H, he asked me how I would be using the tripod and I told him with a 300mm lens. He told me that the Slik Sprint Pro II was only rated for 4.5 lbs and it would not be as stable versus another tripod. So we went over several and we wound up with a Mefoto Road Trip Titanium which also extends to about my height. It was $178 with a $50 rebate so net cost of $128. It should arrive on Monday and I will try it out before taking it to China.

            2. Hi Steve,
              I don’t know anything about the Bonfoto specifically, but it looks fine. It’s always hard to tell by looking, though.

              Vanguard makes nice tripods. I also have one of their ball-heads, which is great, if a bit heavier than I normally need.

              Keep in mind, though… even though I prefer flip locks on legs, many people prefer twist, since flip locks are more likely to get loose and need adjustment after a few years of use. I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, but it’s a matter of taste.
              -Matt

              1. Thanks. I am leaning towards the Vanguard but will do a little more research on the reviews compared to a few others

  28. Hello! I am a former 35 mm minolta user who has been using a teeny Canon Elph (which is a great knockaround travel camera) and making the move back to a nicer camera. We are going on a Northern Lights adventure next year. While I will also be taking some refresher classes, I’d like my purchase to be geared to taking these types of photos (with everything else coming second).
    BTW I still have my old Minolta and lenses which are in perfect shape. Can you recommend any place/ any one who could appreciate this camera? Love to sell it, but it is not worth much on ebay, so would like it to go to some good hands.
    Thank you so much.

    1. Hi Victoria,

      First, I know what you mean about your old film gear… I still have 4 or 5 film bodies that work nicely (though batteries are getting hard to find for the Canons), but they’re not really worth much. I thought that I’d donate them to my nieces if they ever had an interest in film, but they didn’t, and I haven’t found anything else that makes sense, either. If you find anything let me know. I’m tempted to trade them in somewhere just so that they don’t keep taking up space around here.

      Most modern cameras will do passably well for shooting the northern lights, but you’ll get a significant improvement in image quality if you spent the money of a full-frame sensor rather than APS-C. However, if you’re not ready to do that, then the Nikon D5600 and D7200 will both give you roughly equivalent image quality, though the D7200 can focus in 1/4 of the light that the D5600 needs, given the right lenses. Ultimately, the lenses that you choose will be more important then the camera body.

  29. Hi Matthew, Great Article. So Far I was inclined to D7200 but now I am thinking about D5600. Honestly, I am still confused which one to buy? I just want to explore photography as my hobby.
    When I researched I found 5600 is basic level and one who is serious about photography should take 7200. definitely, 7200 is expensive I can afford but do not want to spend if it is a waste of money. So looking for an expert who can say that 7200 is not worth so that I can confidently take 5600.

    While researching I found 7200 is better over 5600 on following major points –

    1. Number of Focus Points – 51vs 39
    2. Number of Cross Type Focus Points – 15vs 9
    3. Viewfinder Coverage – 100%vs 95%
    4. Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000svs 1/4000s
    5. Low Light ISO – 1333vs 1306
    6. AE Bracketing Range – ±5 EVvs ±2 EV
    7. Min Focus Sensitivity- EV -3vs EV -1

    Do these parameters affect photographs? I will do photography on marriage events, birthdays for friends and family. I will do outing so would like to do portrait, landscape etc.
    Please suggest should I take 7200 or 5600 and which all lens would be best for me.
    thank you again for this great article and awaiting your reply. Please reply so that I can take decision before ThanksGiving :)

    1. Hi Nirmal,

      Yes, all of these things will make a difference in some circumstance; they’re just not circumstances that will be important to everyone… some will be pretty rare.

      For the focus points (and cross-type points), 39 AF points is plenty, and 9 cross-type points is respectable. This is an AF system that you can rely on for shooting events, action and even sports… but as I said in the article above, it won’t be ideal for a professional sports photographer, and it might not be my pick for an amateur whose main interest is in sports photography (but it might be OK). But it will be great for just about anyone else.

      The difference between 100% and 95% viewfinder coverage is not significant. Again, this shows the difference: 95 vs 100% coverage

      The maximum shutter speed is important for people shooting action in bright light with large aperture lenses. I rarely manage to shoot at 1/8000th of a second… there’s usually only that much light in full sun. And there’s hardly any action that can’t be stopped with 1/4000th of a second that will be stopped at 1/8000th. So, again, if action and sports are very important to you, there could be some circumstances, on occasion, when you’d want 1/8000th sec, but not many.

      The difference between the sensors in low light may be measurably different, but there’s no real-world difference.

      For bracketing, 2 EVs is fine… unless you’re really into HDR photography. If you shoot a lot of HDR, then you may want more.

      The minimum focus sensitivity at -1EV is going to be fine in most environments… virtually any place where there’s enough light to be able to take a photo, you’ll be able to focus (especially if you have good lenses). However, if you shoot a lot of night photos, especially from a tripod, the -3 might help you sometimes.

      That’s about all I can tell you, in addition to what I wrote in the article above. As you may have read, my general advice is always this: buy the least expensive camera that will meet you needs, and the best lenses that you can afford. Depending on what these camera prices are where you are, I’d still recommend buying the D5600 unless you think you need one of the features mentioned above… and spend the difference on a better lens. Good luck!

      1. Thank you so kuch for quick comment . I am looking forward to deals on this thanksgiving. Please allow me ask you one more question-
        Which lens will you recommend for
        5600 and 7200 respectively?
        As my requirement is for marriage, birthdays, outings photography. For portraits, landscape and zoom too.
        Budget below $200.
        Will you also recommend refurbished body and lens. If yes which site is trustworthy?

        1. Hi Nirmal,

          The lenses, as I mentioned above, are much more important than which camera you choose. There’s no such thing as a lens that is perfect for everything… it really depends on your personal taste. It’s an artistic choice as much as anything.

          That said, the Nikon kit lens (18-140mm VR) is a good, all-around lens. It’s more expensive than $200, though… I don’t know of any Nikon lens that costs less than $200.

          Refurbished is OK if you’re getting your stuff directly from Nikon, or if you’re getting it from one of the dealers they work with, like B&H Photo or Adorama. Adorama has the better selection, generally. I don’t trust used/refurb from smaller dealers.

          – Matthew

      2. Hi Matthew, I am planning to take nikon 50mm 1.8G for portrait. But not able decide ultra wide angle lens for landscape.please suggest any between $200-$300.
        Thank you so much.

        1. Hi Nirmal,
          Hmm. It depends on how wide you want to go. I like the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS for general shooting, and they’re a pretty good price right now, new… a little more than $300, though. If you can find a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, they’re also great lenses… but I’m not sure about the price these days.
          – Matthew

  30. Hi Matthew,

    I bought new D7000 body two weeks ago. It cost 375€ in Finland and it has Nikon full garantee. So I mean D7000 is still good option, if it is new or little used and price is reosanable.

    T. Kare

  31. HI

    I currently have the D5100 and it’s been useful but I feel I’m missing something when my pictures don’t seem to be as crystal clear as professional photos. Will I close that gap with the D5600 or should I go for the 7200?

    1. Hi Jossy,
      Unfortunately, there are several important factors that are needed to give you sharp, professional-style photos, and the camera body is probably the least important of them these days. If you’re not getting the results you want with the D5100, doing the same things with the D7200 won’t change your results. Using high-quality, professional lenses will make a big difference… though they tend to be as expensive as a new camera body (I’m a big fan of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART series lens). The most important thing, though, is experience, practice, and understanding of your gear, the light you’re using, and your post-processing techniques.

      So, my advice is to skip the new camera body and buy a new lens with a large aperture (f/2.8, f/2, f/1.8, f/1.4), and practice, and join a community (online or local) where you can get advice from experienced photographers and they can help you improve your craft. You can join the forums here :) But if you’re sure that the camera is holding you back, then I’d stick with the D5600.

      – Matthew

  32. Hi Matthew,

    I’m so glad I found your site! We are travelling to Japan next month and on Friday I did a quick Google search “best camera for travel” and found a recommendation for D3300 but when I was on Amazon I found that the price difference of the D3300 and D5300 wasn’t significant, without doing much research I decided to go with the D5300.

    Last night I had more time so while trying to do some research on lenses, I came across a review that said D5300 can’t focus with non AF-S lenses and that D7200 is better. More googling brought me to your site and I’m sure glad it did. It’s so tempting because the D7200 seems like a great camera too but the only concern I have is the size and weight. Budget is not a big problem for me but I think the lighter weight of the D5300 will make it easier to carry it around and your articles confirm that the D5300 is still a good choice. I saw that you also like the Sigma 35mm F1.4 ART DG HSM Lens that I planned to get. Now the problem is I also noticed from your comment replies that mentioned the 18-140mm lens being a good overall lens but the D5300 I found a good price on ($489) comes with a kit lens 18-55mm. The option with 18-140mm lens for D5300 is not available at the same vendor but they have D5600 with 18-140mm at $900. Is the extra $500 worth switching to the D5600 because of the lens?

    Also, I understand your recommendation is to get a cheapest camera and spend the money on the lenses. This will be my personal first DSLR and I plan to take some classes but for a start I just want to get a good camera and a good overall lens that I can carry around for family picture and trips to learn and practice. If I don’t want to be lugging around a big camera bag, can I get by with just the Sigma 35mm F1.8 lens as overall lens for the trip? Even if I went with the D5600 with 18-140mm lens, I think I will still get the Sigma 35mm. But that lens is not cheap so I don’t want it to be a duplicate if later I end up with more lenses for different purposes… long term thinking of course :-)

    Thank you in advance for your help!

    1. Hi Lee,

      The Nikon 18-140 lens does cost about $500, by itself, so that’s not too unreasonable a price increase, including the newer camera body. If you’re willing to buy without a USA warranty, the kit can be had for as low as $689 on Amazon (for the D5300 and 18-140).

      Lens choice is a very personal decision, based on how you like to shoot and your artistic style… some very good photographers think that a 35mm lens is the perfect travel lens, and would be fine with it (though that’s usually with a full-frame sensor, not an APS-C). That said, I would not ever travel with just a 35mm lens… I like having wide angle lenses and telephotos for different purposes, and it always drives me insane when I am walking along and I see an amazing photo that I can’t make because I don’t have the right lens with me. A 35mm lens can never give you the subject isolation and “compression” that a good telephoto can… though of course, a 35mm has it’s own unique qualities, too. I personally travel with at least two lenses: a 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 f/2.8, which is heavy but covers my needs. I often add a 50mm f/1.4 to that, and sometimes and ultrawide zoom. But again, that choice is completely up to you.

      But as long as I have you here, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another camera that you might want to consider: the Sony a6500 (or 6300 or 6000). You have essentially the same sensor as the Nikon, better video functionality if that matters to you, faster performance in many ways for shooting action, and wit the a6500, you get built-in stabilization… all in a much smaller body than the Nikon. And you can use some SIGMA Art lenses on it, like the 35mm ART and the remarkable 18-35mm f/1.8 ART lens… and you get image stabilization with them, unlike with Nikon or Canon. That’s kinda cool. And while I wouldn’t travel with just a 35mm lens, I might travel with just an 18-35 on APS-C. Maybe.

      Anyway, back on topic… while it’s true that the D5000 series cameras can’t focus lenses without a motor built in, it’s been a long time since Nikon stopped making lenses without motors. I have 4 or 5 that I bought back in the 1990s and can still use, but I don’t use them, because they really just aren’t as good as modern lenses (well… the 105mm micro is still good enough to use). So, while true, it’s really nothing to worry about. Just about any lens that you’d actually want will have a motor in it.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      1. Thank you so much for the quick and thorough reply! Very informative and very helpful. It’s interesting that you brought up the mirrorless as an option, I never looked into it as much as I should have. I had the impression that they are just advanced pocket cameras but still a step down from DSLR’s. I grew up around Nikon enthusiasts so the image of “big Nikon body with big lenses = pro” stayed with me for a long time, long enough that I had made up my mind that when it’s time to get myself a new camera, Nikon is the only choice. It might be silly, I know but it’s just kinda one of those sentimental things. I also like the sound of the shutter and the flipping mirror that the traditional and digital SLR’s make, and the feel when holding those cameras. That being said, I do appreciate your recommendation on the Sony a6500, it seems like a great compact choice especially for travelling. I feel like it’s great as a 2nd camera with new technology that will make taking pictures easier but the D5000 series might be a better choice for learning the old school shooting techniques, I might be wrong on this since I don’t have any experience with the mirrorless cameras and am still a novice in general. I think I will get the D5000 series first and will follow the Sony a6500 till I feel more comfortable to make the switch (and for the price to come down a little more). Right now it’s still hard to erase that old Nikon image out of my mind :-)

        Oh! I will also look into the lenses you mentioned. I think I will change from the Sigma 35mm to the 18-35mm f/1.8 as it seems more versatile and might add a 24-70mm and a 70-200 later once I have time to do research on the selection. Since I only have barely a month left before the trip and still have to plan the trip details so might have to pause the camera-related search in the meantime.

        Thank you again!

        1. Hi Lee,

          I’ve been in the same boat with DSLRs most of my life: I’ve always toted around a big DSLR with a battery grip and big lenses, and I still do. Last year, though, I was in Europe and Morocco or a couple of months, and I started to realize how heavy my gear was, and how it was limiting some of the things that I was willing to do, so I started looking at options to get similarly good image quality with less size and weight. I settled on the a6500 or Fuji X-T2 as my best choices, but I’m still using my DSLRs :), not because I think they’re the best choice, but by force of habit. I actually think that the manual dials and knobs on the Fujis are even better for learning photography than on modern DSLRs, but the important thing is always to choose your equipment and then get to know it inside and out, regardless of what it is.

          Enjoy your trip!
          – Matthew

          1. Hi Matthew,

            You make me rethink the mirrorless and it’s possibilities. I’m slowly inclined towards the mirrorless now. I might have to try to stop by the store and take a look at them. Between the two of your pick, which one is better in low light? At a glance, I like the look of Fuji X-T2 more and also like the viewfinder location. The first thing I don’t like is the price though. It will be over $2,000 easily with lenses. If I took the plunge I don’t want to regret later. Some people said that the technology is still new and the price will drop later. Hmm… it’s a tough one…

            Thanks a bunch!

            1. Both cameras are good in low light; the sensors are the same size, but the Sony uses a standard Bayer array of receptors, while the Fuji is an X-trans. The ISO on both can be set as high as 51200 on both, but you won’t want to… they’ll get really grainy and ugly beyond ISO 6400 or so, though for some purposes that may be acceptable. It’s hard to evaluate which is “better” in low light, because they behave differently… the Sony gets lots of color noise and artifacts, while the Fuji just starts to lose detail. That’s if you shoot RAW. If you shoot JPG, the Fuji’s images look sharper and retain more detail in low light. They’re pretty close, though.

              More importantly, Fuji makes more large aperture prime lenses, which are better in low light. For Sony, you’ll have to use Sigma (you can’t use them on Fuji) or full-frame optimized lenses (big and heavy).

              But the Sony has built-in stabilization, and access to some good Sigma lenses, and some of the Sony Zeiss lenses are good, too.

              I haven’t made up my mind between them, so I’ll be interested to hear if you do!

              – Matt

              1. If you hadn’t mentioned the Sigma lens compatibility for the Sony, the Fuji X-T2 would win my vote easily. But even with that in mind, I feel that I would still pick Fuji. I think Sony makes it easier for people who already own a lens collection to switch to them if they can still use some of their favorite lenses on the new camera. But for people who have to start from scratch like me, the decision might be easier to go with Fuji. Even I feel sad that I wouldn’t be able to use the great Sigma lenses that I had my eyes on, the fact that I haven’t owned them make it easier to look for something else as I haven’t grown attached to the gear. I feel that overall I like the X-T2 more. Sony might have an edge on video but I don’t do a lot of videos so Fuji should be just fine.

                Hard to be believe, but I’m very close to finalize my pick :-) Now if I go with Fuji, I have to continue my search on the lenses. Seems like both of their FX 35mm f/1.4 or 56mm f/1.2 are good choices. If I can get only one, which one do you think is a better overall lens?

      2. I just bought the 18-140 Nikon VR lens from 42nd St Photo for $299 on sale. Now I have to make choice of buying the 5600 or 7200 and I think from reading your comments the 5600 May be good for me

          1. Mathew if I were to buy a 50mm fast lens for dim or night time for a 5600 nikon, what would you recommend? I think you mentioned a Sigma lens that you liked? I am going on a cruise to China, Vietnam and Thailand and would like to take some photos from the ship during night time with a tripod. Any suggestion for a good Travel Tripod that is not too bulky?

            1. Hi Steve,

              The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART series lens is beautifully sharp and of course it’s great in low light. It’s also a big, heavy lens, and somewhat expensive for a 50mm.

              You may want to think about something, though: if you’re taking photos from a boat, a tripod isn’t always the best option. The rocking of the boat (even a big ship where we don’t notice it much) transfers directly to the tripod, and the vibration from the motor travels right up the legs to your camera. It’s often better to use a lens with good image stabilization and hand-hold it using good technique, since your body will absorb many of the boat’s vibrations.
              Unfortunately, there aren’t many stabilized lenses with a large aperture. Tamron’s 45mm f/1.8 VC USD is probably the closest to a 50 and it’s a good lens, and their 35mm f/1.8 VC USD is also stabilized. I just did a video about this lens, if you want to check it out.

              Otherwise, you’d have to make do with an f/2.8.

              – Matthew

              1. Mathew, the Sigma lens is a little steep in price after I buy the 5600 and the 18-140 lens. What is the difference between the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 in performance with my d5600? Which would you recommend if any of them?

              2. I forgot to mention what the difference is between the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8 D and f/1.8 G lens? I think for the d5600, the G lens is preferred cause it autofocuses?

          2. Mathew if you were going to buy a d5600 and 50mm lens, whom would you buy from that can be trusted not to upsell me or sell me a “gray” product? I am looking at 42nd Photo, B & H Photo and Abes of Maine.
            Does anybody have any experience with any of these? I have seen several complaints against 42nd St photo but not the others?

            1. I buy virtually everything from Amazon or B&H. I tried to buy a camera about 15 years ago from some place where it was cheap, and they called me up about an hour later and claimed that I had to pay extra for the charger and battery, and when I wouldn’t, they said that the camera was back-ordered for 6 weeks (and they were never going to send it).

              Amazon & B&H both have good support, reputations, and solid return policies. I’m affiliates with both of them (and Adorama, and others….) so purchases from them help support this site. Since I’m in Seattle, when I order from Amazon, I get most things the same day, which is a plus for me :-)

              I guess the point is… buy from someplace you trust and that has a good return policy and that is easy to contact if there’s a problem with your order. I can’t say anything about 42nd St… I haven’t used them. Abes of Maine is shady as hell. They’ll pull that battery/charger trick (all cameras come with them as a package).

              – Matthew

              1. Thank you very much and now I will buy from B & H or Amazon. I just want to let you know that your website and your forum is the best thing for me with taking your time to respond to my questions. It has been bookmarked to my favorites and I am recommending it to others.

              2. Just ordered the d5600 body, 35mm f/1.8G lens, Hunter 35 waist pack, 32GB memory card and extra battery plus UV filter from B & H. They told me that if 42nd St photo and Abes are selling the 5600 at a lower price, they are not selling a brand new Nikon or a Gray market product. I should receive all by Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for your help in both your review of the 5600 vs. 7200 and lens selection.

              1. Hi Matthew, I now have the Nikon d5600 with the 18-140 VR lens and the 35mm f/1.8 lens. So if I were to shop for a 200 or 300 zoom, what would you recommend. I can buy the 70-300mmVR from B & H for $250 (regularly $400) because I bought my camera body from them. Do you have some other suggestions? Thanks

              2. Hi Matthew,
                I just got a new D7200 and an 50mm 1.8G. What i found is lens mount is very tight. Is it normal?
                At the same time my old 18-55 mount is very smooth. Please help else i will have to return to amazon.

              3. Hi Nirmal,
                This is a common issue with this lens. As long as it isn’t hard to get onto the camera, stick with it… it will probably loosen up a little over time. This lens has a rubber gasket on the lens mount, which can be a bit grippy. Put a light coat of Vaseline on it, and it will reduce the drag and improve the seal at the same time.
                – Matt

              4. Yes, there is a black rubber ring.I hope it will affect me camera body. I will apply some vaseline . Thank you so much.

        1. Hi steve, 5600 is great choicei m not expert but check the best buy deals on this Black Friday. They hv a deal on 7200 its 999 with two lens. I am planning to take this and will sell the kit lens so difference between 5600 and 7200 cost will not be more. Just a thought.
          Plz let me know if you get any site which is having deals on nikon lenses. 18-300, 50mm and a wide Lens is in my list. Provided they are in budget.

          1. 42nd St Photo is selling the d5600 body right now for $579 and the d7200 body for $779. I already bought separately the 18-140 VR lens from them for $299. After Mathew’s excellent review, I am heavily leaning toward the 5600 cause we go hiking and are traveling to China and Vietnam so the lighter camera works better for me. So now what do you recommend I complement my 18-140 lens with? A fast 50 mm for dim light or night time or a 50-200 telephoto? I really do not want to carry more than 2 lenses.

        2. Oh… as for the tripod: there are too many to choose from. These people (https://www.kentfaith.com/tripods/KF09.010 ) just contacted me about reviewing some of their equipment, and their carbon fiber model looks exactly like one that I have that’s made by Oben (a B&H Photo house-brand), and I’m sure they’re made in the same factory in China. The one I have with 4 section legs is nice and compact for travel, though I don’t usually carry it when flying… I usually carry a tiny little tripod that I almost never use. It’s about 20 years old… let me see if I can find something similar…

          Ahh… it’s sorta like this thing http://amzn.to/2yC1F4M , except mine is older and metal. I can’t vouch for this thing. You might be better off with a gorillapod (http://amzn.to/2zExaim) or a clamp pod for attaching to railings. Good luck!

        3. Hi Steve,
          Yes, the problem with the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D lens is that it doesn’t have a focusing motor in it, so you’d need a Nikon D7000 series camera to get autofocus out of it (since that and more expensive Nikon models have a focusing motor in the body).

          The 50mm G lenses are newer and will autofocus nicely with the D5600. Nikon makes an f/1.4 model and an f/1.8. The f/1.8 is quite a bit less expensive… less than $200… but lets in 2/3rds of a stop less light, though still dramatically more than your 18-140 will (though it will have the benefit of stabilization). The f/1.4 costs about $400.

          1. Thank you very much. Now who to trust to buy from–42nd St Photo, B & H (higher in price by $100 for the 5600 + 50mm G lens) or Abes of Maine (same price as 42nd St Photo)

            1. Hi Matthew, for landscape would u suggest nikon 10-24.
              What t the parameters to consider for selecting landscape lens?

              1. For landscapes, the only thing that is really critical is that the lens is very sharp across the whole frame, at least when stopped down to f/5.6 or so.

                Some people love wide angle lenses for landscapes, other people (myself included) love telephotos. It’s all a matter of personal style and taste. A telephoto allows you to create a tighter composition and remove distracting elements. A wide angle allows you to emphasize foreground details while still capturing the background (though it means that you have to be very close to both).

                So, the only trick is to look through a bunch of your landscape photos (or those of your favorite photographers… on flickr or 500px maybe), pick the ones that you like the best, and check and see what focal length was used, or what lens. There are no rules :-)

                – Matthew

            2. How does buying from B & H, Amazon or Adorama help you? How do they know that I received valuable info from you and then go on to buy at the above sites?

              1. You’d have to click through one of the links on this site to either Amazon or B&H (it doesn’t have to be a link to what you’re buying). The links have enough information in them to identify me to their servers, and I’ll get a commission on the sale. Of course, if you go in person or don’t use my links, then they’ll never know, but I do what I can to offer advice anyway :-)

    2. Our thread got a little too deep… I’m kicking it back out a bit.

      Keeping in mind that the X-T2 is an APS-C camera, a 35mm lens will give you a field of view similar to a 50mm lens on a full frame camera, and the 56mm is more like an 85mm. The 56mm is a beautiful lens; Alfred Lopez, who writes articles about Fuji on this site now and then, has one and I love the results for portraits, but it may be a little tight for general shooting.

      The 50mm field of view has traditionally been a “standard” lens; when I got my first film SLRs back in the 1990s, I got all of them with 50mm lenses, and they served their purpose… good for a lot of things, though not exactly a perfect portrait lens, and not quite wide enough or tight enough for interesting landscapes or city scenes. But that’s the problem you’ll have with any single prime lens. So… between the two, I’d probably lean towards the 35mm f/1.4.

      However, if I were you, I’d also consider the Fujinon 23mm f/1.4, which will give you the classic 35mm field of view on your sensor. That’s what most people consider the perfect “travel” lens, since the field of view is nice and wide, but not too wide… it’s super sharp, there’s minimal distortion, and it’s compact. Plus, it’s water resistant, like the X-T2 body, so you don’t have to worry about shooting in the rain, which is always nice. You might take a look at its reviews on Amazon (linked above, which supports my work here :-) ).

      Good luck!

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew,

        Do you have a link to Adorama or B&H for the X-T2 and kit lens? That will save me over $100 on tax and hopefully I can still support you :-)

        Thanks a million for your help through this whole process!

          1. Hi Matthew,

            The 23mm f/1.4 is not water resistant , but the newer model with f/2 is water resistant and cheaper but reviewers say that the f/1.4 one is sharper. I’m still reading but leaning toward the f/1.4.

              1. Hi Matthew,

                After reading and picking a few combinations of lenses, I think I’m settling on the kit lens (since it’s a great lens at a bargain price) and supplement it with the 16mm f/1.4 R WR. I didn’t think I would go this wide and it’s heavier than the 23mm but it seems to check all the boxes I want for low light, water resistant plus it also has macro capability. I think it will be great for the weekend hiking trips. I also like the 23mm, 35mm and 50mm. I think I will also get the 50mm f/2 WR and will see what the kit lens can do first and then might come back to get the rest.

                I’m ready to order them tomorrow. Very excited. Thanks again for your help! :-)

      2. Oh, I saw this too late. I called B & H and told them that Matthew Gore recommended I buy from them so maybe and hopefully you will get credit for it. I spoke to somebody named “Paul” and my order number is 703273510. Hope that helps.

    3. Lee,

      That sounds great! I hope that the new camera works out well for you… I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on it after you’ve spent some time shooting.

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew,

        If you’d like, after I come back from my trip I can send it to you to play with it for a couple of weeks, as long as you promise to send it back :-) That might help you with your decision too.

          1. Hi Matthew,

            Just ordered the camera and the 16mm f/1.4. lens. I started at Adorama site but was busy over the weekend and by the time I was done adding everything I need to the cart, the camera and the lens were out of stock so I had to go back to Amazon. Seems like both the camera and the lens are very popular. BTW, all of the 17 items I ordered were sold by third party vendors (including Adorama) not Amazon so I didn’t have to pay tax, I hope that would still work out for you :-)

            I will be back during the last week of November. At least that would be a small thing I could do in return for your help… can’t wait to try the new camera!

            1. Hi Lee,
              Awesome! I’m always excited when a new camera is in the mail… even if it’s not coming to my house :-) Tomorrow I’m heading out to PhotoPlus in NY, and I just got a Tamron 24-70 G2 in the mail to test, so I’m pretty happy, too.

              And the Amazon order will definitely help… in fact, twice as much as if you’d ordered through Adorama (even if Adorama is the vendor on Amazon. Funny how that works). So, thanks for that!

              – Matthew

  33. Hi Matthew,

    Sorry for bumping an old comment thread, but I found your review very useful. Thank you. I’m looking to get my first DSLR soon and I’m torn between the 5600 and the 7100. I can’t justify the higher price of the 7200 just yet.

    One of my main concerns is weatherproofing (it is quite rainy in the UK as you know!). What is your experience, if any, for using a non-weatherproof camera in some rain? Or are there any accessories that can add/improve the weatherproofing of the 5600?

    My other concern is the lack of AFP in the 5600. I’d be mainly shooting wildlife/nature, but should I be worried about this when just starting out with photography?

    Thanks
    Luke

    1. I read this article a few weeks back then bought the 7200. You should too, it’s great. I got mine from grey stock from a highly rated store on a popular auction site. As they freely admit, you don’t get the Nikon warranty but they give you a year themselves. As I’d had a Nikon before for three years without a single issue, I was happy to take the gamble the 7200 will be problem free after the first year. I’ve only had it a month so far but so far so good and I saved 20% on Nikon’s minimum selling price. Good luck

    2. Hi Luke,

      When it comes to weather sealing, there are a couple of things to remember: first, even if your camera body is sealed, most lenses are not (unless you’re buying pro-level lenses, and even then you have to check). So, even though sealing might be a good insurance policy for those of us who live in rainy areas (Seattle/UK), it’s not something that you can really count on while shooting all of the time. And if your lens isn’t weather sealed, then the body/lens mount is usually not sealed, which means that water can get into your camera body, which is a big problem. Second, even with weather sealing, I don’t trust equipment in heavy rain… and if you do get moisture inside of your camera, it’s not going to be covered by a standard warranty.

      So, there are a couple of option. There are plenty of products that you can use to protect your camera in the rain that usually amount to having a plastic bag strapped over the body and lens. Some are cheap and just cost a few dollars, and others are for professionals (like ThinkTank’s hydrophobia line) They’re annoying to work with, but they work, and the higher quality ones are less annoying. You can also just buy an extended warranty that has spill/water coverage. It won’t save your camera, but it might save your wallet. The Squaretrade warranties offered by many vendors cover drops and spills, and the ones from Amazon, usually do too.

      The AFP issue is something that varies from person to person. Some people rarely use flash, and almost never need AFP. Others, especially those who shoot weddings or lots of fashion or portrait photography, need flash with AFP frequently. That’s something you’ll have to decide according to what your goals and interests are as a photographer. But unless you plan to shoot with a large aperture prime lens, or if you want to use flash while shooting action sports, then you probably wont’ need it.

      As you’ve undoubtedly already seen, my advice is always to buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs, and buy the best lenses that you can afford. If you’re looking at the D5600, you might also consider looking at older models (the D5300 is excellent) and/or factory refurbished, and I guess the same is true with the D7100/D7200 :-) Or look for deals on Ebay, as John McDonnell suggested!

      Good luck!

      1. Ok I think I need to do a bit more research before choosing, especially now the D5300 could be an option. I’ll keep shopping around until I find the best deal I think.

        Thanks both for your help! Greatly appreciated!

  34. Hi Mathew,
    I was looking at the D7500, but it didn’t convince me to be better than the D7200 and worth the extra money. I don’t see any improvement in that foldable screen…

    So I compared the D7500 to the D5600. I am traveling and hiking and my hands are not that big, so from the body the D5600 suited me just perfect. Your article supported my tendecy to go for the D5600 and save some money. BUT there are two major points I am missing in your article.

    1. visionfield of the optical viewer
    D5600 has just 95% compared to D7200 100% which means that if you are composing your Fotos while shooting, you will have to cut those ‘unwanted’ 5% later manually on a computer.
    Furthermore the picture in the viewer is much smaller in the D5600.

    2. preview (sorry, in German it’s the ‘Abblendtaste’ and I don’t know the correct term in English) the D5600 is totally missing that button. It is not possible to check your settings regarding focus and background unless you take a picture and check.
    Usually with that button you can see it directly in the optical viewer.

    Hope you get what I mean :)

    1. Hi Linda,

      You’re right about both points: on the D5600, you’ll have a little extra space to crop or straighten the horizon to get the same composition that you saw through your viewfinder. 5% might sound like a lot, but keep in mind that the difference is in area, so it’s much less significant than you might think (ie, if each side of a 2 x 3 rectangle were 95% the length of the original, the difference in area would be ~90%. The actual difference in each side is about 97.5%, as shown below). The lower magnification is more of an issue, I think, although even more expensive cameras like the Nikon D800 only have a .70x viewfinder, so it’s hard to fault the D5600 too much.
      95 vs 100% coverage

      The Abblendtaste is the “depth of field (Schärfentiefe or Tiefenschärfe) preview” button, and again, you’re right… the D5600 does not have one. However, that is a feature that is very rarely used by any photographer these days, since it’s easier to see and more accurate to just take a picture! Since the DOF Preview button stops down the aperture, it also darkens the view in the viewfinder significantly, which makes it less useful. I’ve never met a photographer that uses that feature regularly (I had it even back in the 1990s on my cameras, and rarely used it then, too)… you’d be the first, if it’s important to you!

      In any case: if you’re a big fan of the button, then it sounds like you already know that the D7200 is probably a better choice. However, if you are not particularly fond of the DOF button and are just curious about it, then I wouldn’t worry about it.. it’s being phased out for a good reason, in my opinion.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

  35. Finally time to upgrade my D70s (yes, its been a while) and I have a SB800, will D5500/D5600/D7200 all work as a remote trigger for this flash?

    Thanks, and great article!
    -Jeff

    1. Hi Jeff,
      The pop-up flash in the D5000 series won’t work as a command module for flashes like the SB800, so you’ll either need to use another flash or a hot-shoe command module on the D5500/D5600. The D7200 will trigger it. Nikon support has been saying recently that the D7500 doesn’t support the SB800 (and I think they say the same about the D7200), but that’s nonsense as far as I know… they just want people to buy an SB5000. Keep that D70 around for those times when you need to sync flash at high shutter speeds!
      – Matthew

  36. Nice review. Thanx! This helped me a lot. Is the 5600 a lot better than the 5300? (there is a lot to save on going for 5300 vs 5600 and touchscreen is not on my “I really need that”-list. However. Higher ISO may be (if the quality in higher ISO is descent.)

    1. Hi Gjøran. No… the differences between the D5300 and D5600 are pretty minimal. Personally, I was a big fan of the D5300 and didn’t see much reason to upgrade to the D5500 (added touchscreen, removed GPS, incorporated 25600 as “native” ISO range rather than expanded), and the step up to the D5600 was even more minimal. If you can find a good deal on the D5300, go for it.

  37. Hi, I’m looking to upgrade my old Nikon D90. Tempted by weight and ease of use I spontaneously bought a Coolpix B700 a few days ago. Whilst weight and ease of portability certainly are great I am already missing the speed of the DSLR – I’m taking a lot of photos of children and pets, and am getting many lost moments, heads turned, eyes shut etc – all of which are so much easier to avoid with a DSLR.
    I asked in a photoshop which of the current Nikons would be today’s equivalent of the D90 and was advised it’s the D7200. Is that right? It seemed a great deal heavier…..
    They also said that buying *any* of today’s versions will give me an upgrade compared to my old D90. Would you agree with that?
    And would you definitely stick with Nikon? That’s my instinct, but if I’m missing out by ignoring Canon, then please say!
    Thanks for any thoughts.

    1. It’s tricky to say which camera today is the modern equivalent of the D90. The D7200 has a metal body, unlike the D80/D90, but it’s also a little bit smaller. However, the new D7500 has dropped the metal body, making it more similar to the D90 than the D7200 is, in that regard.

      In any case, the D5500/D5600 are really excellent cameras, as are the D7200/7500. It’s true that any of them would be a pretty big upgrade over the D90 in terms of sensor performance. If you’re looking for something that’s nice and compact, like your Coolpix, though, the Sony compact a6000 line are the way to go… great image quality and sensors (as good as the Nikons) and responsive like SLRs.

      Canon also makes nice cameras, but the only real advantage they have over Nikon right now is that they are better with live-view autofocus and video autofocus.

      If I were you, I’d probably go with the D5600 or D7500, or the Sony a6500, though it is expensive.

  38. Hi

    Thanks for a great article. Currently looking to upgrade my D3100 (I already have some decent lenses). Whilst I don’t use social media a lot, I do like to be able to easily share pictures with family and friends so was just wondering if you’re able to comment on how easy it is to send photos taken on the D7200 to a mobile device (and whether that can be achieved while out and about, or do you need to be on your home WiFi network, for examaple). From your article it sounds like the D5600 would be better for that but that otherwise the D7200 is the better camera.

    Also, I found your comment on using an Eye-Fi card in one of the D7200s dual SD card slots interesting – why would you need to have an Eye-Fi card if it has WiFi? I ask because I’ve given up with Eye-Fi. The X2 Pro was good but sometimes flaky before they effectively discontinued it and the one they replaced it with, which I did buy, makes you sign up to their storage/portal with a monthly fee. But perhaps some people like this which is why they may use an Eye-Fi card? But then didn’t I read somewhere that Nikon have a similar but free service in which you can back your photos up to the cloud (seems unlikely).

    Any help clearing this up would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Hi John,

      I hate to say it, but wi-fi transfers are something that I use so infrequently that I never really test it on cameras like the D7200. I do rarely use wi-fi to transfer photos to a tablet to show clients while I’m working, but I’m only transferring small JPGs (and I’m shooting raw to the other card) to keep transfers fast. I used eye-fi cards in my Canon 5D III which has no wi-fi, and I’ll sometimes use the cards in other cameras like the D7200 because the cards and tablet are already set up to work together so it’s quick. Nothing more than that. This was with the older generation of cards from 4-5 years ago.

      But, I never transfer to my phone or upload to social media without running images through Lightroom/Photoshop. I’ve tried it with Nikon’s app, and it was such a pain that I quit using it. I understand it’s gotten better in the past year or so, but I haven’t used it. I’m old fashioned when it comes to importing my images to my computer, I guess… I prefer a cable straight to my computer, imported into my library. Sorry I can’t be of more help!

      – Matthew

      1. Hi Matthew. Thanks for the quick response. When the older Eye-Fi cards worked they worked well. Images I wanted to keep I would protect on the camera which would then see them transferred to my phone first, within 30 seconds usually, then when at home and my phone connected up to my home WiFi network, it would automatically download my photos to my laptop into (customisable) date-named sub-folders. The endless memory functionality would also delete photos that had already sync’d off the card to always keep 20% free on the card.

        How good is all that? Never had to do anything manually to copy photos to my laptop. I consider it a faff to have to plug the memory card into the laptop, check which photos I’d already downloaded then copy and paste the ones I hadn’t.

        Shame a couple times it messed up, though I was able to fix it with help from their support, then Eye-Fi discontinued the service in order to try and make you sign up to their paid service.

        I assumed that if I bought a camera with WiFi connectivity I could still achieve what the Eye-Fi card used to but it seems not. Anyone have another way to achieve this?

        I guess it’s going to be use snapbridge for sharing lower quality photos using my phone (fine) then I could set up a (Windows) PowerShell script to run on inserting my SD card(s) that checks what I have on my laptop then only copies off what’s not already be transferred, again into date-named folders it creates. Not the end of the world but with the Eye-Fi method I almost instantly had the full size photos backed up to my phone in case the SD card broke or I lost my camera (not likely I know), not sure how I combat this. Anyway, rant over.

        Does anyone know if the D5600, which also uses Bluetooth, can transfer full size files?

        Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

  39. so I’m currently debating which one to get and I would like to thank you for making this article it helped me pick which one I want more which I’m currently looking at the D7200 which I’m planning to take places if I travel mainly to Thailand because my parents currently live there

  40. First of all let me say thank you Matthew for all the time and help you so generously publish on your website. I’m UK based so it is interesting to see so much of your recent work in Europe.
    This comparison caught my attention because I have been pondering this problem myself. However one feature you don’t mention that interests me is the difference with viewfinders in these cameras. As I understand it the D5600 has a pentamirror and the D7200 has a pentaprism.
    Bit of background. I’m ancient enough to have grown up for most of photo hobby time with Canon film cameras, including an A1 and ending up with a T90. A couple of years ago having retired I wanted to renew my interest in photography and started to compare digital cameras. My choice ending up between the Panasonic FZ-1000 and either a Canon or Nikon DSLR. I borrowed a Nikon D3200 which I quite liked but in the end the thought of lugging a bag of lenses around and the good reviews of the FZ-1000 I bought that camera. However what I found is that having been so used to using the viewfinder I rarely use the LCD screen and I just can’t get on with electronic viewfinder. So I am considering again going over to a DSLR for the ‘proper’ viewfinder.
    One other point about the D7200 that concerns me is that as the back LCD screen is exposed all the time is subject to getting damaged in normal use?
    I did wonder if the D7300 might arrive soon with the articulated LCD?
    Really appreciate your thoughts.

    1. Hi Patrick,

      Ha! I loved my Canon A1; it was my first SLR, given to me by my dad when he got a Nikon 8008s when I was a teenager. I eventually skipped over the T90 (and other T-series cameras) and got my first EOS cameras instead.

      Of course you’re right; the D5600 uses a pentamirror, which will by slightly less bright than the D7200’s pentaprism, though I find that if you use large aperture lenses, the difference is negligible. More important to me is the difference in degree of magnification, and to a lesser extent, frame coverage. As is common with APS-C cameras, the level of magnification for both cameras is less than 100%, but the image produced in the D5600 is about 10% smaller than that in the D7200. If you’re used to a full-frame SLR and pentaprism, or if you have poor eyesight, you might notice the difference in the D5600’s viewfinder… I certainly do. But it’s quite usable, and people who are just getting used to a DSLR will not notice a problem. You might consider visiting a camera shop and looking though the viewfinder of a D5x00 series camera and see how you like it, if you haven’t already.

      As for the rear LCD, I wouldn’t worry about it. The glass used on modern LCD covers is very hard and is virtually scratch proof. If you’re concerned, you can buy a screen protector for $10 or so. If you’re more concerned about breakage (I’ve only ever broken one, and I’m very hard on my cameras) keep in mind that replacement is easy and cheap… if you do it yourself, it will generally cost less then $5.

      The D7000 was announced in 2010, the D7100 in 2013, and the D7200 in 2015, so it’s likely that the D7300 will be coming within the next year. It’s certainly possible that the D7300 will get an articulated screen, though it’s likely to be similar to the one found on the D500 (which can’t be flipped over for protection). But I don’t have any inside knowledge, there. I’ve only heard the rumors that it will have a lower resolution sensor like the D500 (20 megapixel) and will shoot 4K video.

      – Matthew

    1. Yes :-) If you can still find one at a decent price (sometimes camera prices are weird), the D5300 is a great option. It has built-in GPS, which the D5500, D5600, and D7200 do not. The image quality is great. This article is an updated, reworked version of a previous one comparing the D5500/D5300 and D7200, so you might want to check out some of the details, there, but the differences are minimal… the D5300 has no touch screen, and is a little heavier.

  41. Your comparison is way better than those others that look like a robot did it on auto pilot. Thanks for the extra effort. Also quite a sane, balanced perspective (you are wasted on the internet).

    Perhaps worth mentioning that the D5600 does support CLS and external flash control including groups, but needs an SB-500 or bigger on its hotshoe to do so. People interested in this usually have quite a few flash units to hand, so it is not a big difference IMHO.

    1. Thanks :-) And you’re right; it would be worth mentioning that the D5600 is compatible with flash units that can be used as master controllers with flashes.

  42. I made the decision based on the weight and size, and then the 5600 is a clear winner. The only thing I missed so far are used defined presets. The most annoying feature of the D5600 was that the settings for the timer are lost after each shot. But for my travel photography those are minor points.

    1. Hi Rene,
      I’m glad to hear that the D5600 is getting the job done for you. And thanks for the reminder about the User Presets; I’ve just added a note about them in the post body… it’s something that is very important to some people.
      – Matthew

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