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Nikon D5500 vs Leica SL

The Nikon D5500 and the Leica SL (Typ 601) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2015 and October 2015. The D5500 is a DSLR, while the Leica SL is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D5500) and a full frame (Leica SL) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Nikon D5500
versus
Leica SL
Nikon D5500   Leica SL
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses Leica L mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 ISO 50-50,000
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (4400k dots)
3.2" LCD – 1037k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second 11 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
820 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge
124 x 97 x 70 mm, 470 g 147 x 104 x 39 mm, 847 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D5500 and the Leica SL (Typ 601)? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D5500 and the Leica SL. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The D5500 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the Leica SL is only available in black.

Size Nikon D5500 vs Leica SL
Compare D5500 versus Leica SL top
Comparison D5500 or Leica SL rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Leica SL is notably larger (27 percent) than the Nikon D5500. Moreover, the Leica SL is substantially heavier (80 percent) than the D5500. It is noteworthy in this context that the Leica SL is splash and dust-proof, while the D5500 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. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the D5500 gets 820 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL14a battery, while the Leica SL can take 400 images on a single charge of its Leica BP-SCL4 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image 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.
 
Leica SL 147 mm 104 mm 39 mm 847 g 400 Y Oct 2015 7,450ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 80D 139 mm 105 mm 79 mm 730 g 960 Y Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
5.
 
Leica SL2-S 146 mm 107 mm 83 mm 931 g 510 Y Dec 2020 4,895 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica SL2 146 mm 107 mm 42 mm 953 g 370 Y Nov 2019 5,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Leica M Typ 240 139 mm 80 mm 42 mm 680 g 500 Y Sep 2012 6,950ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 n Aug 2016 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D750 141 mm 113 mm 78 mm 750 g 1230 Y Sep 2014 2,299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 799ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D3200 125 mm 96 mm 77 mm 505 g 540 n Apr 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D5200 129 mm 98 mm 78 mm 555 g 500 n Nov 2012 749ebay.com
16.
 
Nikon D5100 128 mm 97 mm 79 mm 560 g 660 n Apr 2011 749ebay.com
17.
 
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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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D5500 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the Leica SL, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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 D5500 features an APS-C sensor and the Leica SL a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the Leica SL is 135 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.

Nikon D5500 and Leica SL sensor measures

Even though the Leica SL has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the Leica SL has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 6.00μm versus 3.91μm for the D5500), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the Leica SL is a somewhat more recent model (by 9 months) than the D5500, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Nikon D5500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica SL (Typ 601) are ISO 50 to ISO 50000 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D5500 versus Leica SL MP

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"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica SL has a markedly higher DXO score than the D5500 (overall score 4 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.9 bits higher color depth, 0.6 EV of lower dynamic range, and 0.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image 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.
 
Leica SL Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.013.4182188
3.
 
Canon 80D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.2113579
4.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
5.
 
Leica SL2-S Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.214.1350495
6.
 
Leica SL2 Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/60p25.314.3286695
7.
 
Leica M Typ 240 Full Frame 23.7 5952 39761080/25p24.013.3186084
8.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
9.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
10.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
11.
 
Nikon D750 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/60p24.814.5295693
12.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
13.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
14.
 
Nikon D3200 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/30p24.113.2113181
15.
 
Nikon D5200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.213.9128484
16.
 
Nikon D5100 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.513.6118380
17.
 
Samsung NX30 APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.512.4101476
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the Leica SL provides a better video resolution than the D5500. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the Leica SL has an electronic viewfinder (4400k dots), while the D5500 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 Leica SL offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the D5500 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the Leica SL has a higher magnification (0.80x 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 D5500 and Leica SL in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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.
 
Leica SL4400 Y3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
3.
 
Canon 80Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
5.
 
Leica SL2-S5760 Y3.2 / 2100 fixed Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
6.
 
Leica SL25760 Y3.2 / 2100 fixed Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Leica M Typ 240optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
8.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
10.
 
Nikon D3400optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D750optical Y3.2 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Nikon D3200optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
15.
 
Nikon D5200optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
16.
 
Nikon D5100optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
17.
 
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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One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D5500 has one, while the Leica SL does not. While the built-in flash of the D5500 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The D5500 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the Leica SL does not have a selfie-screen.

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 Leica SL 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 D5500 and the Leica SL both have 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D5500 and the Leica SL write their files to SDXC cards. The Leica SL features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the D5500 only has one slot. The Leica SL supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the D5500 can use UHS-I cards.

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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 D5500 and Leica SL (Typ 601) and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image 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.
 
Leica SLYstereo / monoYYfull3.0Y--
3.
 
Canon 80DYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
5.
 
Leica SL2-SYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
6.
 
Leica SL2Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
7.
 
Leica M Typ 240Ystereo / mono---2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
9.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
10.
 
Nikon D3400Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
11.
 
Nikon D750Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y--
12.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
14.
 
Nikon D3200Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
15.
 
Nikon D5200Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
16.
 
Nikon D5100Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
17.
 
Samsung NX30Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the Leica SL has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The D5500 lacks such a headphone port.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Leica SL (unlike the D5500) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the Leica SL has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the D5500 and the Leica SL have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D5500 was replaced by the Nikon D5600, while the Leica SL was followed by the Leica SL2. Further information on the features and operation of the D5500 and Leica SL can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D5500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Leica SL Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D5500 and the Leica SL? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D5500:

  • More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.6 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 flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x97mm vs 147x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 377g or 45 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (820 versus 400) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in January 2015).

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Advantages of the Leica SL (Typ 601):

  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.3 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • 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 (0.80x vs 0.57x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • 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.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
  • More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (9 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Leica SL is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding 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.

D5500 11:21 Leica SL

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D5500 and the Leica SL 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D5500 and the Leica SL in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  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.
 
Leica SL4/5..4/584/1004.5/54/5 Oct 2015 7,450ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
5.
 
Leica SL2-S4/5..4/5..4.5/54.5/5 Dec 2020 4,895 amazon.com
6.
 
Leica SL24/5..4.5/5..4.5/54/5 Nov 2019 5,999 amazon.com
7.
 
Leica M Typ 2404/5......4/5.. Sep 2012 6,950ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 499ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D7505/5+ +4/590/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 2,299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 799ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D32005/5+ +..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D52004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2012 749ebay.com
16.
 
Nikon D51005/5+ +..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2011 749ebay.com
17.
 
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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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. 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. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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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 use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Nikon D5500 vs Leica SL

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Leica L mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2015 October 2015
    Launch Price USD 899 USD 7,450
    Sensor Specs Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm 36.0 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 366.6 mm2 864 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm 43.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.91 μm 6.00 μm
    Pixel Density 6.55 MP/cm2 2.78 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 50 - 50,000 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 4 Maestro II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 84 88
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.1 25.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.0 13.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1438 1821
    Screen Specs Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.57x 0.80x
    Viewfinder Resolution 4400k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 11 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D5500 Leica SL
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL14a Leica BP-SCL4
    Battery Life (CIPA)820 shots per charge400 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70 mm
    (4.9 x 3.8 x 2.8 in)
    147 x 104 x 39 mm
    (5.8 x 4.1 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 470 g (16.6 oz) 847 g (29.9 oz)
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