Nikon D5200 vs D5300 vs D5500 vs D5600 Comparison

February 2019

The D5200 is 12 years old. The D5300 is 11 years old. The D5500 is 9 years old. The D5600 is 8 years old. All of these cameras are more alike than they are different. Their differences and similarities are noted here.

Sensors

All models are 24 megapixel DX sensor cameras. The D5200 has an anti-aliasing filter while this has been removed from the others (and probably all future cameras in this category).

Metering

All have spot, matrix and center-weighted metering.

Bracketing

All models allow for exposure and flash bracketing.

File Formats

All models support JPEG and 12/14-bit RAW images.

Shutters

All support 30s-1/4000th sec. shutter speeds. All shutters have a life expectancy of at least 100,000 actuations.

View Finders

All have optical view finders with 90% coverage.

Autofocus System

All have 39 focus points (including 9 cross-type). The autofocus-area modes are single-point, dynamic-area, 3D-tracking, and auto-area. All use contrast detect AF in Live View.

Card Slot

All have one SDXC card slot.

GPS

The D5300 has built-in GPS which does consume a lot of battery power but is nice to have. This is not present in any of the other cameras in this comparison.

Monitors

The D5200 has a 921k-dot 3 inch TFT monitor. The D5300, D5500 and D5600 have a 1037k-dot 3.2 inch TFT monitor. All models have monitors that articulate fully. The D5500 and D5600 have touchscreens which make the camera's functions much easier to navigate. The D5200 and D5300 do NOT have touchscreens.

Connectivity

The D5600 supports SnapBridge which is junk. The D5200, D5300 and D5500 support Nikon WMU (Wireless Mobile Utility). The D5200 requires the WU-1a wireless adapter.

ISO Sensitivity

The rated native ISO sensitivity for these cameras all begin at 100. The differences are in how high they go.

D5200: 100-6400

D5300: 100-12800

D5500: 100-25600

D5600: 100-25600

Panorama Mode

None of these cameras have a panorama mode.

High Dynamic Range Mode

All of these cameras can do HDR images.

Video

All models support H.264 1080p video. The D5200 supports 30fps video. The D5300, D5500 and D5600 support 60 fps.

The D5600 supports time-lapse movies while the other models do not, and this is an important difference.

D5200 ISO: 200-6400

D5300 ISO: 100-12800

D5500 ISO: 100-25600

D5600 ISO: 100-25600

Flashes

All models have built-in flashes with 1/200th sec. sync speed. The D5200 and D5300 have a flash with a GN of 43 ft. (manual at ISO 100). The D5500 and D5600 have a flash with a GN of 39 ft., but these models support the inexpensive SB-500 which, with these models, can act as a master flash in Nikon's Creative Lighting System. The D5200 and D5300 require more expensive flashes to work as a master flash in Nikon's CLS.

Lenses

All models support AF-P and AF-S lenses, however, the D5200 does not allow for the turning off of the VR function in AF-P lenses.

Shots per Charge

D5200: 500 shots per charge

D5300: 600 shots per charge

D5500: 820 shots per charge

D5600: 970 shots per charge

Dimensions (W x H x D)

The D5500 and D5600 have the smallest dimensions of the bunch.

D5200: 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.

D5300: 4.9 x 3.9 x 3.0 in.

D5500: 4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in.

D5600: 4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in.

See these comparisons: