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Nikon

D5600

Popular entry APS-C DSLR with 24MP sensor, articulating touchscreen, and SnapBridge connectivity.

$699

Launch price

Released Nov 2016

vs
Z5 IIC

Nikon

Z5 IIC

Screen-first, viewfinder-free full-frame Z mount body: 24.5MP BSI sensor, EXPEED 7 AF with fish detection, 7.5-stop IBIS, 15 Scene Modes, and N-RAW video.

$1,399

Launch price

Released Oct 2026

Z5 IIC is 9.9 years newer.

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Wins

6categories

D5600

★ Travel★ Wildlife

Wins

6categories

Z5 IIC

★ Sports & Action★ Portrait

2 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

D5600 wins 1 categories·Z5 IIC wins 4 categories
  • AD5600 has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
  • BZ5 IIC has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BZ5 IIC has higher Max video bit rate (420 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
  • BZ5 IIC has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 11 fps)
  • BZ5 IIC has higher ISO max (native) (64,000 vs 25,600)

Key specs at a glance

D5600Z5 IIC
Resolution24.2 MP24.5 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max25,60064,000
Burst11 fps30 fps
4K60 fps59.94 fps
IBISNo7.5-stop
Weight465 g620 g
Battery640 shots350 shots

Size and weight, to scale

D5600

124 × 97 × 70 mm

465 g (1.03 lb / 16.40 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Z5 IIC front view

Z5 IIC

134 × 81 × 72 mm

620 g (1.37 lb / 21.87 oz)

D5600 is 10mm narrower and 2mm thinner than Z5 IIC but it is also 16mm taller.

D5600 is 155 g lighter than Z5 IIC.

Depth (front-to-back): 70mm D5600 · 72mm Z5 IIC

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

D5600

124 × 97 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Z5 IIC back view

Z5 IIC

134 × 81 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

D5600

124 × 70 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

Z5 IIC top view

Z5 IIC

134 × 72 mm

Sensor size, to scale

D5600

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

Z5 IIC

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

D5600

✓ more lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

Z5 IIC

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseD5600Z5 IIC
Portrait
5.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
4.5Fair
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Landscape
1.5Limited
6.0Good✓ wins
Travel
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Wildlife
6.0Good
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
6.0Good
6.0Good

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

D5600

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Burst (mechanical)

    6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 124, 97, 70

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • EVF resolution

    2,360,000 vs 1,040,000 — higher is better

  • Battery life (CIPA)

    640 shots vs 350 shots — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    493 vs 273 — higher is better

  • Weight

    465 g vs 620 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

Z5 IIC

  • AF low-light limit

    -10 EV vs -8.5 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Dogs…

  • IBIS effectiveness

    7.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 80.7, 72

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • Max video bit rate

    420 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 11 fps — higher is better

  • ISO max (native)

    64,000 vs 25,600 — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
  • ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
  • ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
  • ✓Card slots — Both 1
  • ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
  • ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

D5600

Pros

  • ✓Articulating touchscreen
  • ✓24MP APS-C
  • ✓Huge F-mount lens library
  • ✓Great value used

Cons

  • –DSLR platform
  • –No 4K 60p
  • –Single card slot

Z5 IIC

Pros

  • ✓Lightest full-frame Z body (620g)
  • ✓15 Scene Modes — first on a Nikon FX mirrorless
  • ✓EXPEED 7 AF, 10 subject types incl. fish
  • ✓7.5-stop IBIS + Focus Point VR
  • ✓N-RAW internal recording, UVC/UAC webcam

Cons

  • –No built-in EVF — rear screen only
  • –Single SD UHS-II slot
  • –No mechanical shutter
  • –4K 60p is DX (APS-C) crop only

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the D5600 and Z5 IIC at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

✓ = category winner

D5600
Z5 IIC
Resolution
24.2 MP
24.5 MP✓+1%
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.6 mm
35.9 x 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
D5600
Z5 IIC
Processor
EXPEED 7
EXPEED 7
D5600
Z5 IIC
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
64,000✓+1.3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
204,800
D5600
Z5 IIC
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
—
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/8000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, D5600 or Z5 IIC?

Z5 IIC scores 9.0/10 versus 4.5/10 for D5600 — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the D5600 and Z5 IIC?

D5600 is 24.2 MP and Z5 IIC is 24.5 MP, so the Z5 IIC captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the D5600 and Z5 IIC have in-body image stabilization?

D5600 does not have IBIS, while Z5 IIC has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the D5600 or the Z5 IIC?

D5600 reaches 11 fps electronic. Z5 IIC reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the D5600 and Z5 IIC?

D5600 weighs 465 g and Z5 IIC weighs 620 g, so the D5600 is 155 g lighter.

Do the D5600 and Z5 IIC record 4K video?

D5600: 4K up to 60p. Z5 IIC: 4K up to 59.94p.

Are the D5600 and Z5 IIC weather sealed?

D5600: No. Z5 IIC: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the D5600 and 350 shots for the Z5 IIC, giving the D5600 the edge.

How much does each cost?

D5600 launched at $699 and Z5 IIC at $1,399. The D5600 is $700 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way D5600 vs Z5 IIC vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed September 2026.

Product images courtesy of Nikon press materials.