Nikon D5600 vs Sony A7S

The Nikon D5600 and the Sony Alpha A7S are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in November 2016 and April 2014. The D5600 is a DSLR, while the A7S is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D5600) and a full frame (A7S) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 12 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

	VS
Nikon D5600		Sony A7S
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses		Sony E mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		12 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-25600		ISO 100-102400 (50-409600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.2" LCD, 1037k dots		3.0" LCD, 921k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
Not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
970 shots per battery charge		380 shots per battery charge
124 x 97 x 70 mm, 465 g		127 x 94 x 48 mm, 489 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D5600 and the Sony Alpha A7S? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D5600 and the Sony A7S is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The D5600 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the A7S is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D5600 and the Sony A7S are of equal size. However, the A7S is markedly heavier (5 percent) than the D5600. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7S is splash and dust-proof, while the D5600 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D5600) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7S). Mirrorless cameras, such as the A7S, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the D5600 gets 970 shots out of its EN-EL14a battery, while the A7S can take 380 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the A7S can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Nikon D5600»	4.9 in	3.8 in	2.8 in	16.4 oz	970	n	Nov 2016	699		Nikon D5600
	Sony A7S«	5.0 in	3.7 in	1.9 in	17.2 oz	380	Y	Apr 2014	2,499		Sony A7S
	Canon T6i« »	5.2 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	19.6 oz	440	n	Feb 2015	749		Canon T6i
	Canon T6s« »	5.2 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	19.9 oz	440	n	Feb 2015	649		Canon T6s
	Nikon D500« »	5.8 in	4.5 in	3.2 in	30.3 oz	1240	Y	Jan 2016	1,999		Nikon D500
	Nikon D3400« »	4.9 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	15.7 oz	1200	n	Aug 2016	499		Nikon D3400
	Nikon D5500« »	4.9 in	3.8 in	2.8 in	14.8 oz	820	n	Jan 2015	899		Nikon D5500
	Nikon D3300« »	4.9 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	15.2 oz	700	n	Jan 2014	499		Nikon D3300
	Nikon Df« »	5.7 in	4.3 in	2.6 in	26.8 oz	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749		Nikon Df
	Nikon D5300« »	4.9 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	16.9 oz	600	n	Oct 2013	799		Nikon D5300
	Nikon D3200« »	4.9 in	3.8 in	3.0 in	17.8 oz	540	n	Apr 2012	599		Nikon D3200
	Nikon D5200« »	5.1 in	3.9 in	3.1 in	19.6 oz	500	n	Nov 2012	749		Nikon D5200
	Nikon D5100« »	5.0 in	3.8 in	3.1 in	19.8 oz	660	n	Apr 2011	749		Nikon D5100
	Sony A7S II« »	5.0 in	3.8 in	2.4 in	22.1 oz	370	Y	Sep 2015	2,999		Sony A7S II
	Sony A7 II« »	5.0 in	3.8 in	2.4 in	21.1 oz	350	Y	Nov 2014	1,999		Sony A7 II
	Sony A7« »	5.0 in	3.7 in	1.9 in	16.7 oz	340	Y	Oct 2013	1,699		Sony A7
	Sony A7R« »	5.0 in	3.7 in	1.9 in	16.4 oz	340	Y	Oct 2013	2,299		Sony A7R
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Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D5600 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 72 percent) than the A7S, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D5600 features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A7S a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7S is 133 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Nikon D5600 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the Sony A7S. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 8.45μm for the A7S). However, it should be noted that the D5600 is much more recent (by 2 years and 7 months) than the A7S, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D5600 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D5600 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D5600 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inch or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inch or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inch or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A7S are 21.2 x 14.2 inch or 53.8 x 36 cm for good quality, 17 x 11.3 inch or 43.1 x 28.8 cm for very good quality, and 14.1 x 9.4 inch or 35.9 x 24 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D5600 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7S are ISO 100 to ISO 102400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-409600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7S has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), while the D5600 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the A7S offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the D5600 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the A7S has a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.57x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D5600 and Sony A7S in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D5600 has one, while the A7S does not. While the built-in flash of the D5600 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7S is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon D5600 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D5600 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7S uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D5600 and Sony Alpha A7S and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the A7S has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The D5600 lacks such a headphone port.

The D5600 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the A7S has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A7S was succeeded by the Sony A7S II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon D5600 better than the Sony A7S or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Nikon D5600:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 12MP) with a 41% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.8 EV of extra DR).
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (970 versus 380) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (72 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the A7S launch.

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7S:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.5 stops ISO advantage).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.57x).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in April 2014).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D5600 is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 11 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D5600 and the Sony A7S place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D5600 or the A7S. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	cam era   labs	dp re   view	e photo   zine	ima ging resource	photo graphy   blog	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Nikon D5600	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2016	699		Nikon D5600
	Sony A7S	..	86/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2014	2,499		Sony A7S
	Canon T6i	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749		Canon T6i
	Canon T6s	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649		Canon T6s
	Nikon D500	+ +	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,999		Nikon D500
	Nikon D3400	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499		Nikon D3400
	Nikon D5500	+	79/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	899		Nikon D5500
	Nikon D3300	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	499		Nikon D3300
	Nikon Df	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749		Nikon Df
	Nikon D5300	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	799		Nikon D5300
	Nikon D3200	+ +	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	599		Nikon D3200
	Nikon D5200	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2012	749		Nikon D5200
	Nikon D5100	+ +	76/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2011	749		Nikon D5100
	Sony A7S II	+	..	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Sep 2015	2,999		Sony A7S II
	Sony A7 II	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Nov 2014	1,999		Sony A7 II
	Sony A7	+ +	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	1,699		Sony A7
	Sony A7R	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	2,299		Sony A7R
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

Specifications: Nikon D5600 vs Sony A7S

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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