Nikon D5600 Review: First Look, Initial Thoughts

To start with I really love this Nikon D5600, the small package, quality build, versatile system, flip-out screen, access to the Nikkor arsenal of lenses; it's a sweat little camera. My first thought is that it reminds me a lot of Canon's Rebel SL2.

Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G DX, 200, 1/200, f/2.8, flip-out screen:)

I really love these flip-out screens on the latest dSLR's and mirror-less system cameras. This one articulates in every direction you can imagine. In the photograph above I was able to rotate the screen up, so I could see, while holding the camera at a very low point of view. I did not have to do the classic "laying on the floor"!

Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G DX, 250, 1/60, f/1.8

Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G DX, 500, 1/60, f/3.2

On the image directly above I focused with the back screen. I shot it many times and missed the focus and it did a lot of searching. The backlight and small detail were difficult for the screen focus system to deal with. Focusing through the viewfinder was much faster and more accurate in this situation. The image is from the set that was focused with the back screen.

I used the back screen to focus in the image above with the camera pressed against the wall. The screen was at a 90 degree angle. Fun and easy!

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 G, 500, 1/60, f/1.8 (with Godox remote flash AD200, X1)

Low point of views are easy with the flip-out screen, I got this picture of doggo quickly before she moved:)

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 G, 100, 1/200, f/1.8 (with Godox remote flash AD200, X1)

Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G DX, 400, 1/160, f/4.5

After some Christmas time, family photography and some random around the country side photography; I can say a few words about Nikon's D5600. I like the flip-out screen, but it does not focus as well as the viewfinder. I miss focus a lot with screen focusing, however I just take a bit more time and after a few shots I get what I want. That is just in situations where the focus is close or tricky. In basic things it works well, like a landscape or a basic picture of a person/people at a bit of a distance. The focus system through the viewfinder is really good. It's one of the best I've seen in low end dSLR's better than Canon rebels, SL series and D3400's. It focuses faster, more accurately and better when things are moving. I think it works better than Canon's Rebel T/i series cameras also. In comparison I think the screen focus is better on Canon's SL2, but the viewfinder focus system is better on the Nikon D5600. The PictBridge system is awesome!!! I love it. You can set it to auto upload to your phone, they are there as you shoot to upload to Facebook and Instagram. Cool. Very cool. It did take this older guy more than 5 minutes to set up... so find yourself a teenager and have them help you. I like the lever that turns on the back screen focus. I like that the camera is very small. I prefer this camera to the Canon Rebel "i" series cameras. They are big and clunky in comparison, and don't preform better than this little Nikon. I'm not sure if I like this better than Canon's SL2, that will be the topic of my next review! Canon Rebel SL2 Review, Part 1 here.