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Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Nikon Coolpix P510 front
 
Nikon D5500 front
Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Key Specs

Nikon P510
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 555g - 120 x 83 x 102mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon P500
  • Updated by Nikon P520
Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Older Model is Nikon D5300
  • Later Model is Nikon D5600
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Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Nikon P510 versus Nikon D5500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Nikon. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the P510 (16MP) and D5500 (24MP) and the P510 (1/2.3") and D5500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The P510 was released 3 years prior to the D5500 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Nikon P510 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the P510 grades versus the D5500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon P510 over the Nikon D5500

 P510 D5500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon P510

 D5500 P510 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015July 2012Fresher by 30 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P510 and Nikon D5500

 P510 D5500 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon P510 provides external measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") having a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Nikon D5500 has measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon P510 versus Nikon D5500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the P510 vs the D5500.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the P510 and D5500 is 66 and 71 respectively.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by going over technical specs. The graphic below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the P510 and D5500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The P510 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Nikon D5500 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older P510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 sensor size comparison

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P510 Portrait photography information
Nikon D5500 Portrait photography information
44
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
79
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon P510 Street photography highlights
Nikon D5500 Street photography highlights
51
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (555 grams)
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (420 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon P510
Sports photography with Nikon D5500
51
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
68
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery (820 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P510 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D5500 as a Travel photography camera
54
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (1000mm)
bad battery power (200 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (555g)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
81
great battery (820 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (420 grams)
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P510
Landscape photography with Nikon D5500
47
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (200 per charge)
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (820 shots)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P510 Vlogging factors
Nikon D5500 Vlogging factors
27
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (555 grams)
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (420g)
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon P510 vs Nikon D5500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P510 and Nikon D5500
 Nikon Coolpix P510Nikon D5500
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix P510 Nikon D5500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-07-05 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Expeed 4
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 39
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Nikon F
Lens focal range 24-1000mm (41.7x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 2cm -
Amount of lenses - 309
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 555 gr (1.22 lbs) 420 gr (0.93 lbs)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 84
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1438
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 820 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL5 EN-EL14,EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $700