D5vs RX100 VI
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): 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.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
Who should buy what
D5 (2016)
- 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
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The d5 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the rx100 vi is the most affordable; only the d5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | D5 (2016) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,800 | £700 |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | — | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | D5 | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Casual | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history