Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 is a compact DSLR from 2016 built around an APS-C sensor and the Nikon F DX mount. At 465g it is light, which makes it easy to carry on holidays and long walks.

Its combination of a 24.2MP sensor, 39 autofocus points and a touch-controlled screen makes it a comfortable camera for learning and everyday stills photography, from family events to travel.

As a DSLR it offers the traditional optical viewfinder for framing stills, and the F DX mount ties lens choices to Nikon's DX system.

The 24.2MP APS-C sensor works with the Expeed 4 processor to give files with plenty of resolution for prints and generous cropping. It lands around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics, with a good 65/100 score.

Base sensitivity of ISO 100 suits bright outdoor work, and the range reaches ISO 25600 when light fades. A 1/4000 top shutter speed covers most daylight conditions.

Continuous shooting tops out at 5fps, which is comfortable for portraits, street and everyday scenes but not a rapid rate for demanding sport. Thirty-nine autofocus points give you room to place subjects away from the centre of the frame.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so shake control comes from your lens and technique. A stabilised lens helps for handheld work in dim interiors, and the optical viewfinder gives a natural, direct view of the scene.

Video tops out at Full HD rather than 4K, which places the D5600 in the family clips and casual projects bracket. The good 70/100 score reflects the maximum frame rate and built-in timelapse alongside that resolution ceiling.

The fastest frame rate is 60fps, enough for smooth motion and a gentle slow-motion effect. Clips record as MOV files.

The built-in timelapse function is the most creative video feature here. Set an interval and the camera captures the sequence for you, handy for drifting clouds or a busy street.

Because this is a DSLR, video is framed in live view on the rear screen rather than through the viewfinder. The flip-out screen helps when shooting at waist level or overhead.

The 3.2-inch touchscreen is the main handling feature. Just over a million dots give a sharp view for checking focus, the flip-out design helps at awkward angles, and touch control speeds up settings changes.

Live view feeds the screen for tripod work and framing video, while the built-in flash provides fill light for indoor snapshots. When you want more power, the camera also accepts an external flash.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both built in, so wireless connection to your other devices is available. This section earns a good 72/100 score.

Two absences shape the experience: no GPS for location tagging, and no weather sealing, so keep the camera sheltered from rain and dust.

Images record to a single SD-type card; the slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC media and is UHS-I compatible. One slot means one card at a time, so carry spares on heavy shooting days.

The removable EN-EL14a battery is rated at 970 shots. Treat that figure as a rating rather than a promise of real-world endurance, since heavy live view and video use can run the battery down sooner.

There is no USB charging, so power comes from the mains charger. On multi-day trips that means packing the charger rather than counting on a power bank.

The modest 43/100 score here reflects those missing conveniences, particularly the single slot and absent USB charging, more than the battery performance itself.