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D5 vs A6000

Quick take: The A6000 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A6000 is the most affordable; only the D5 is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

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.

A6000 — Entry-Level Mirrorless & Budget E-Mount: The Sony that started a generation of E-mount loyalty — 11fps, 24MP, and 179 phase-detect points in a compact body that remained excellent value for nearly a decade.

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
A6000 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
  • First-time mirrorless buyers who want a capable, proven body at the lowest price
  • Sony E-mount users who want a compact backup or second body
  • Parents and travellers who want good image quality without a large camera
  • Anyone curious about APS-C mirrorless who wants to try the system affordably
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification D5Nikon · 2016A6000Sony · 2014
Price £1,800£249Best
Sensor 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS24.3MP APS-C Exmor APS HD CMOS
Resolution 20.8MP24.3MPBest
Video 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop)1080p/60p
Autofocus Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type179 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points
Stabilisation —No stabilisation
Burst Rate 12fps mechanicalBest11fps
Battery Life ~3780 shots (CIPA)Best~360 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1405g (body only)344g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 160 × 158.5 × 92mm119.9 × 66.9 × 45.1mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverageEVF, OLED 1.44M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots3.0" tilting LCD, 921k dots (no touch)
Mount Nikon F mountSony E-mount
Memory Cards Dual XQD slots (XQD variant)Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0USB, Wi-Fi, NFC

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
A6000
Portrait
6.0/10
6.3/10
Street
3.9/10
7.6/10
Travel
4.1/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
6.8/10
4.6/10
Filmmaking
5.5/10
—
Documentary
5.5/10
4.0/10
Sports & Action
6.7/10
6.2/10
Landscape
5.3/10
4.8/10
Wildlife
6.5/10
6.7/10
Casual
2.9/10
4.4/10
Food
4.3/10
5.5/10
Macro
3.6/10
5.0/10
Architecture
4.9/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
4.6/10

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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