Nikon Coolpix B700 vs Nikon D5500: A Deep Dive into Versatile Imaging Tools

Choosing between two cameras with the Nikon badge can sometimes feel like comparing grapes to... well, not quite oranges, but definitely different fruit. Here, we have the Nikon Coolpix B700 - a superzoom bridge camera with a fixed lens and ninja-like reach - and the Nikon D5500, an entry-level DSLR with an APS-C sensor and the flexibility of swapping lenses. Both appeal to enthusiasts and semi-pros, but for wildly divergent shooting styles and ambitions. Let me walk you through the nuances from someone who’s held thousands of cameras (and yes, taken a bucketload of shots). This comparison isn’t just a spec sheet shuffle - it’s a lived experience of handling, shooting, and making images that count.

First Impressions: Ergonomics and Physical Feel

Size matters, but context is king. The Nikon Coolpix B700 is built as a superzoom bridge camera designed for one-stop-shop convenience. The Nikon D5500 is a compact DSLR, slightly more substantial, but befitting its interchangeable lens system and ruggedized internals.

The B700 measures roughly 125x85x107 mm and weighs in at 565 grams. It feels solidly heftier than its size might suggest - bridge cameras often compensate bulk by cramming tech into a compact body. The D5500, on the other hand, is more traditionally DSLR-shaped, at 124x97x70 mm with a lighter 420-gram weight. The semi-grip feels more comfortable and natural for extended handheld use, touted by many pros and enthusiasts alike. The B700, while less ergonomic for prolonged shooting, rewards with immediately accessible zoom power.

Handling-wise, I found the B700 acceptable for casual shooting but less intuitive for prolonged use due to its unusually deep lens barrel and a grip that’s less pronounced. The D5500 strikes a nice balance of portability and grip comfort, its lighter weight facilitating easier travel. So, if you prize ergonomic comfort during long outings, the D5500 has that edge - especially if you pair it with a comfortable lens.

Control Layout and Top Panel: Quick Access Versus Classic Design

Controls are your frontline interface with creativity, so let’s peek under the hood.

The B700 sports an SLR-like bridge design but lacks many direct control dials. Instead, it leans on a more menu-driven approach with fewer physical buttons - a notorious compromise in superzoom cameras aiming for simplicity over speed. The zoom lever is conveniently placed around the shutter button, which feels natural given the 60x zoom capacity.

The D5500 is a DSLR at heart, and it shows. Its top panel features a classic mode dial with PASM (Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual), dedicated exposure compensation, and an info display. Controls on the back are tactile and placed with the photographer in mind, accompanied by a touchscreen for quick AF point selection and menu navigation.

If you want nimble access to crucial settings while tracking fast-moving wildlife or changing light on the fly, the D5500’s physical controls and touchscreen combo win hands down. The B700’s more limited control cluster means you’ll spend more time in menus - fine for casual shooters but a hindrance when seconds count.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size, Resolution, and Real-World Performance

Now we get into the meat and potatoes - the sensor.

The Coolpix B700 uses a small 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor measuring about 6.17x4.55 mm, delivering 20 megapixels at 5184x3888 resolution. Small sensors pack tiny pixels, leading to compromises in dynamic range and noise handling, especially under dim light. The sensor size here yields roughly 28 mm² of imaging area - a fraction compared to larger sensors.

By contrast, the D5500 features an APS-C sized CMOS sensor sized at 23.5x15.6 mm with 24 MP resolution (6000x4000) and no anti-aliasing filter - the latter contributing to sharper output. Its sensor area is about 366 mm², more than 13 times the size of the B700’s sensor. This translates to superior image quality, better low light performance, and more dynamic range - a huge advantage whether you shoot landscapes or portraits.

Practically, the D5500’s images burst with detail and retain nuances in shadows and highlights that the B700 struggles to render. The Coolpix’s small sensor can produce respectable daytime images, but noise creeps in aggressively beyond ISO 800, restricting its low-light capabilities. I found the D5500 comfortable shooting at ISO 3200 or higher if needed, retaining usable detail and color accuracy.

In terms of resolution, the D5500’s 24 MP APS-C sensor provides larger files suited for crops and prints, while the B700’s 20 MP sensor is adequate for casual viewing and web use but less forgiving for cropping.

Viewing Your Shot: Viewfinders and Screens

A camera’s user interface extends beyond buttons to its screens and viewfinders.

The B700 sports a 3-inch, fully articulated LCD with 921k dots resolution. The articulation helps with high or low angle shots, and it’s self-friendly for selfies - no touchscreen functionality here, though, which slows menu navigation. Come on, it’s 2016 tech after all. It also features an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with the same 921k dots resolution, covering 100% frame with decent refresh rates. The EVF offers framing confidence but struggles slightly in very dim or rapidly changing lighting, showing some lag and minor color shifts.

The D5500’s 3.2-inch LCD screen steps it up a notch with a higher 1037k-dot resolution and, crucially, touchscreen capability. The touchscreen response feels fluid, making AF point selection, menu dives, and image review much quicker - an invaluable asset when time counts. It’s also fully articulated, supporting varied shooting angles easily.

The D5500 opts for an optical viewfinder with a pentamirror design. It displays about 95% coverage, which is typical but means framing beyond the viewfinder’s edges is possible - a quirk to keep in mind. The advantage? Zero lag and natural rendition, perfect in fast-paced environments.

In summary, the B700’s EVF is a solid feature for a bridge camera but can’t compete with the D5500’s blend of optical viewfinder experience and a more capable touchscreen interface. The latter makes for an appreciably faster photographic workflow.

Autofocus Systems: Precision Versus Reach

Here’s where real-world shooting either flows or frustrates.

The Coolpix B700 employs a contrast-detection only autofocus system with face detection and tracking capabilities. It has continuous autofocus and manual focusing but no phase detection or specialized cross-type AF points. This means AF is slower and more prone to “hunting,” especially in low light or on moving subjects. Its focusing precision is good for general use, and the 1 cm macro focus range is respectable, but it’s not a laser-guided missile.

The D5500 uses a hybrid autofocus system incorporating 39 AF points, 9 cross-type sensors - including phase detection for lightning-fast focus locking - and advanced tracking abilities. For wildlife or sports photography, this translates into rapid, reliable focus acquisition and minimal missed shots of moving subjects. Low-light focusing also excels here.

Face-detection and eye-detection AF work well on both cameras, though the D5500’s system is more sophisticated and responsive, especially when paired with a fast lens.

In my tests, tracking birds or children running towards me was noticeably smoother and less frustrating on the D5500. The B700’s contrast-detection AF sometimes struggles to stay locked, especially at the long end of its crazy zoom range.

Lens Systems and Versatility: Fixed Zoom or Interchangeable Lenses?

The B700 is a superzoom bridge camera with a fixed NIKKOR 24-1440mm equivalent lens - 60x zoom! This absurdly long reach caters to wildlife and travel photographers who want incredible reach sans lens swapping. The variable aperture ranges from F3.3 at the wide end to F6.5 at full zoom, which means low-light performance decreases as you zoom in. Image stabilization is optical and quite effective, necessary at those telephoto extremes.

The D5500 employs the venerable Nikon F mount, compatible with over 300 lenses including primes, zooms, and professional-grade optics. This ecosystem advantage is huge - whether you want ultra-wide landscapes, portrait-friendly fast primes, or telephoto zooms for sports and wildlife, the D5500 lets you tailor your system exactly.

While the B700 has a very versatile zoom lens baked in, the lack of aperture control freedom or the option to swap lenses limits creative possibilities. In contrast, the D5500’s flexibility is invaluable for photographers wanting to evolve and expand creatively.

Performance in Various Photography Genres

Let's slice into the core uses - how these cameras shine or stumble in practice across popular photography styles.

Portrait Photography

The D5500’s APS-C sensor combined with its lens choices produces creamy bokeh and natural skin tones, augmented by precise autofocus and good dynamic range. Eye detection AF helps nail portraits in focus. The B700’s small sensor and fixed lens limit shallow depth of field effects; skin rendering is decent but less nuanced due to noise and detail constraints.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution favor the D5500 significantly here. Better highlight retention and shadow recovery allow for impressive post-processing latitude. The B700's small sensor restricts tonal gradations, and its smaller sensor noise becomes evident in shadow areas. Weather sealing is absent in both cameras, so be cautious in rain or dust.

Wildlife and Sports

The B700’s 60x zoom excels at distant subjects, but autofocus sluggishness and limited continuous shooting rate (5 fps) constrain its sports usability. The D5500’s 5 fps burst is comparable but paired with a snappier, more accurate AF and telephoto lenses; it’s a better tool for fast action. However, you will need an appropriate lens - 70-300mm or longer primes - to match reach.

Street Photography

Compactness favors the B700 for spontaneous shooting, but the DSLR’s lighter weight and discreet small lenses make the D5500 surprisingly street-friendly. The D5500’s quieter shutter and fast AF win in unpredictable, candid moments. Low-light capabilities are also superior on the D5500.

Macro Photography

The B700 surprisingly focuses from 1 cm, making close-ups accessible. However, the D5500 with macro lenses offers higher resolution, selective focus, and superior detail rendering due to sensor size. Stabilization is absent in the D5500 body but can be found in lens options.

Night and Astrophotography

Low light prowess shines through the D5500’s improved high ISO handling and longer shutter speed options paired with excellent noise control in RAW. The B700’s small sensor and limited ISO range hamper such use. Both lack specialized astro modes, but the D5500’s manual controls give it an edge for enthusiasts experimenting with long exposures.

Video Capabilities

The B700 can shoot 4K UHD (3840x2160) up to 30 fps, offering moderate video flexibility but lacks microphone input and 4K cropping. The D5500 maxes out at Full HD 1080p 60 fps but has an external microphone jack - a boon for serious videographers. Neither camera supports 4K photo modes or advanced stabilization. The B700’s optical stabilization supports video well, however.

Travel Photography

The B700’s all-in-one zoom capability and built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC make it a travel-friendly companion when you want to avoid carrying lenses. Its battery life of 350 shots is average but manageable with spares. The D5500’s longer battery life (around 820 shots), lightweight body, and compact lenses (like the 18-55mm kit) fit many travel styles, especially if you want higher image quality and creative control.

Professional Use

The D5500’s RAW shooting, extensive lens options, and solid image quality make it a capable choice for semi-pros or pros on a budget. The B700’s fixed-lens, small sensor design limits its utility beyond casual or enthusiast photography.

Nikon B700 front Nikon B700 screen back Nikon D5500 front Nikon D5500 screen back

Build Quality & Weather Resistance: What Can They Withstand?

Neither camera is weather sealed or designed for professional rugged use. The B700’s all-plastic body is decent but not truly robust against the elements. The D5500’s polycarbonate shell is similarly vulnerable but feels a bit more solid, especially with a weather-sealed lens. Neither freezing temperatures nor rain should be tested without caution.

Battery Life and Storage

A clear win for the D5500 here: its EN-EL14 battery offers roughly 820 shots per charge, exceeding most superzoom compacts - notable for longer outings without charging. The B700’s EN-EL23 battery caps around 350 shots, which means you’ll want spares for extended trips.

Both use a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. The D5500 supports higher-speed cards and has no recorded bottleneck in write speed during continuous shooting.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The B700 lags on connectivity in some respects despite built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth for quick sharing and remote control via smartphone apps.

Surprisingly, the D5500 does not have Bluetooth or NFC, but it does offer optional GPS via an external module and has Wi-Fi through optional accessories, so connectivity is more modular.

Both cameras include HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity for file transfer and external display.

Price and Value Proposition

At launch, the B700 was priced around $500, and the D5500 around $700. Today, both are often found discounted in used and refurbished markets. Given the D5500’s APS-C sensor, lens flexibility, and superior image quality, it tends to offer better value to serious amateurs and prosumers. The B700’s strength lies in convenience and reach without lens investment.

What Nikon Enthusiasts Say: Genre-Specific Scores and Use Cases

• Portrait: D5500 clearly ahead for bokeh and color depth
• Landscape: D5500 dominates with dynamic range and detail
• Wildlife: B700’s reach is handy, but D5500’s AF speed favored
• Sports: D5500 preferred for accurate AF and frame rate
• Street: Tie; B700’s compactness vs. D5500’s discretion
• Macro: D5500 edges out thanks to sensor and lens options
• Night: D5500 superior due to noise control and ISO range
• Video: B700 wins 4K; D5500 better audio and controls
• Travel: B700 simple all-in-one vs. D5500 versatility and battery
• Professional: D5500 more accepted due to RAW and lens mount

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Pick?

Stepping into these cameras is like choosing between convenience and creative potential.

• Go for the Nikon Coolpix B700 if:

  • You want a single, powerful zoom lens that goes from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife.
  • You prefer a simple “point and shoot” experience without fussing with lenses.
  • You need 4K video recording on a budget and appreciate articulated screens.
  • You prioritize immediate telephoto reach over image quality.
  • Portability is appreciated but you’re okay with a bulkier bridge-style body.

• Opt for the Nikon D5500 if:

  • You value image quality, low light performance, and the creative freedom of lens choice.
  • You want faster, more reliable autofocus for shooting sports, wildlife, or dynamic scenes.
  • You appreciate a responsive touchscreen and intuitive controls.
  • Long battery life is critical for extended shooting days.
  • Video is secondary, but audio input and manual control are desired.
  • You plan to grow in photography skill and want a system that scales with you.

As a final note, my experience with both tells me the D5500 remains a remarkable DSLR for its generation and still holds relevance amid mirrorless surge thanks to Nikon’s competent APS-C platform. The B700 is a highly specialized tool perfect for certain use-cases but compromises heavily on image quality and manual control.

Whichever you choose, both cameras wear the Nikon legacy well but cater to fundamentally different philosophies of photography: one prioritizing epic zoom convenience, the other creative versatility and control.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: All tests and opinions here stem from extensive hands-on use, aiming to give you a balanced, honest view beyond marketing hype.