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Nikon D5500 Comparison Review

The Nikon D5500 is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was officially introduced in January 2015 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.

camera

Is the Nikon D5500 a good camera? The D5500 has a Camera Elo of 2080. This rating puts the D5500 among the top 30 percent of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the D5500 ranks among the top 40 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D5500
Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/60p Video
ISO 100 - 25 600
Optical viewfinder
3.2 LCD, 1037k dots
Swivel touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second
820 shots per battery charge
124 x 97 x 70 mm, 470 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Nikon D5500 vis-à-vis a credit card. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Nikon D5500 vs credit card front
D5500 versus credit card top view
D5500 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Nikon D5500 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699 amazon.com
4.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 1,999 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 n Aug 2016 499ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D3200 125 mm 96 mm 77 mm 505 g 540 n Apr 2012 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5200 129 mm 98 mm 78 mm 555 g 500 n Nov 2012 749ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D5100 128 mm 97 mm 79 mm 560 g 660 n Apr 2011 749ebay.com
11.
 
Samsung NX30 127 mm 96 mm 58 mm 375 g 360 n Jan 2014 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Nikon D5500 was launched in the US market at a price of $899. 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.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels 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 tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Nikon D5500 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Nikon D5500 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Nikon D5500 sensor measures

For most 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 adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
2.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
3.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
4.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
5.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
6.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
7.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
8.
 
Nikon D3200 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/30p24.113.2113181
9.
 
Nikon D5200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.213.9128484
10.
 
Nikon D5100 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.513.6118380
11.
 
Samsung NX30 APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.512.4101476
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The D5500 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the D5500 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the D5500 has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 95% and a magnification of 0.57x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D5500 and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
3.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
5.
 
Nikon D3400optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D3200optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D5200optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D5100optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
11.
 
Samsung NX302359 n3.0 / 1036 swivel Y 1/8000s 9.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Nikon D5500 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD is hinged on the side and can be flipped out for odd-angle shots in both portrait and landscape orientation. Also, this fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment is often appreciated by videographers for its flexibility. Moreover, v-loggers like the design because the screen can be turned to be front-facing.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the D5500

One convenient feature of the D5500 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection 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 D5500 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
2.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
3.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
4.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
5.
 
Nikon D3400Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
6.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Nikon D3200Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon D5200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
10.
 
Nikon D5100Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Samsung NX30Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the D5500 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the D5500 can be found in the free online Nikon D5500 Manual or on the Nikon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D5500 handle or perform in practice. 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. This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699 amazon.com
4.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,999 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 499ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D32005/5+ +..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D52004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2012 749ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D51005/5+ +..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2011 749ebay.com
11.
 
Samsung NX303/5....77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Nikon D5500 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D5500.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Nikon D5500?

The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D5500 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Nikon equipped the D5500 with the EXPEED 4 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D5500?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.

Does the Nikon D5500 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the D5500 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D5500?

Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the D5500. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D5500 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D5500?

Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D5500 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D5500?

No, the Nikon D5500 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Does the Nikon D5500 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D5500 for flash photography?

The D5500's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Does the Nikon D5500 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Nikon D5500 use?

The camera gets its power from the EN-EL14a (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D5500?

Nikon does not offer an optional battery grip, but third party suppliers do (see here on ebay).

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Nikon D5500
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2015
    Launch Price USD 899
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 367 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 000 x 4 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 4
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 84
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1438
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.57x
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.2 inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type EN-EL14a power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)820 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70 mm
    (4.9 x 3.8 x 2.8 in)
    Camera Weight 470 g (16.6 oz)

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