Decision tools · Compare
D5 vs D6
Quick take: The D5 is the most affordable.
Where the D5 wins
- Cheaper new: £864 vs £6,799
- Battery Life: ~3780 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 1405g (body only)
Where the D6 wins
- Burst Rate: 14fps mechanical
- Wedding & Events: 7.3 vs 6.8
- Documentary: 6.0 vs 5.5
- Macro: 4.6 vs 3.6
15 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Nikon
D6 2020
Best for Professional Sports, Press & Wildlife Photography
£6799
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- D5 160 × 158 × 92 mm · 1400 g
- D6 160 × 164 × 92 mm · 1450 g
The D5 is 6 mm shorter and 50 g lighter than the D6.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
D5 — Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife: Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
D6 — Professional Sports, Press & Wildlife Photography: Nikon's final and finest DSLR — the D6 brought 105 all-cross-type AF points, 14fps, and built-in LAN to the F mount. The last word in optical viewfinder photography.
Who should buy what
D5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
D6 (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports, wildlife, and press photographers who prefer an optical viewfinder
- Professional Nikon shooters with a substantial F-mount lens collection
- Photojournalists who need built-in LAN for wire transmission
- Nikon system professionals seeking a used flagship at under-new-price value
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | D5Nikon · 2016 | D6Nikon · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £864 usedBest | £6,799 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 20.8MP |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K UHD 30fps |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Multi-CAM 3500FX III — 105 AF points, all cross-type |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 14fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA)Best | ~3580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only)Best | 1450g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 160 × 163.5 × 92mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD slots |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet (built-in), USB 3.1 |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D5
D6
Portrait
6.0/10
6.4/10
Street
3.9/10
4.1/10
Travel
4.0/10
4.1/10
Wedding & Events
6.8/10
7.3/10
Filmmaking
5.5/10
5.7/10
Documentary
5.5/10
6.0/10
Sports & Action
6.7/10
7.0/10
Landscape
5.3/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
6.7/10
Casual
2.9/10
3.0/10
Food
4.3/10
4.6/10
Macro
3.6/10
4.6/10
Architecture
4.9/10
5.1/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
6.5/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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