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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6

Portability
71
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Nikon D6 front
Portability
50
Imaging
73
Features
85
Overall
77

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon D5300
  • Replacement is Nikon D5600
Nikon D6
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400 (Raise to 3280000)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1270g - 160 x 163 x 92mm
  • Revealed February 2020
  • Replaced the Nikon D5
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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Pro DSLR and both of them are sold by Nikon. The resolution of the D5500 (24MP) and the D6 (21MP) is fairly well matched but the D5500 (APS-C) and D6 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor size.

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The D5500 was unveiled 6 years prior to the D6 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D6 being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the D5500 grades vs the D6 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon D6

 D5500 D6 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon D6 over the Nikon D5500

 D6 D5500 
RevealedFebruary 2020January 2015More modern by 62 months
Display resolution2359k1037kSharper display (+1322k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Nikon D6

 D5500 D6 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3.2"3.2"Identical display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5500 provides external measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Nikon D6 has dimensions of 160mm x 163mm x 92mm (6.3" x 6.4" x 3.6") and a weight of 1270 grams (2.80 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the D5500 compared to the D6.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and D6 is 71 and 50 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the D5500 and D6.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The D5500 having a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Nikon D5500 will resolve greater detail having an extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged D5500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography features
Nikon D6 Portrait photography features
79
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
83
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5500
Street photography with Nikon D6
75
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competitors (420g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
62
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
weather proof
good ISO range (102,400)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography info
Nikon D6 Sports photography info
68
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery (820 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
80
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery power (3,580 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography advice
Nikon D6 Travel photography advice
81
great battery (820 shots)
lighter than competitors (420 grams)
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
67
good battery power (3,580 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (21 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5500
Landscape photography with Nikon D6
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (820 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
megapixel count decent (21MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good ISO range (102,400)
exports RAW files
weather proof
good battery power (3,580 shots)
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging advice
Nikon D6 Vlogging advice
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic socket
lighter than competitors (420g)
lack of image stabilization
30
has touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Nikon D6
 Nikon D5500Nikon D6
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D5500 Nikon D6
Class Entry-Level DSLR Pro DSLR
Introduced 2015-01-06 2020-02-11
Body design Compact SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.9 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 858.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 21 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 5:4, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 5568 x 3712
Maximum native ISO 25600 102400
Maximum boosted ISO - 3280000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 39 105
Cross focus points 9 105
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon F
Amount of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 2,359k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.72x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 900 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Normal, redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, rear-curtain sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420g (0.93 pounds) 1270g (2.80 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 160 x 163 x 92mm (6.3" x 6.4" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 84 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1438 not tested
Other
Battery life 820 images 3580 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14,EN-EL14a -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual XQD/CFexpress slots
Storage slots One Dual
Pricing at launch $700 $6,496