Clicky

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50

Portability
71
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Nikon Z50 front
Portability
74
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 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
  • Previous Model is Nikon D5300
  • Later Model is Nikon D5600
Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched October 2019
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Nikon D5500 and Nikon Z50, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Nikon. The image resolution of the D5500 (24MP) and the Z50 (21MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The D5500 was manufactured 5 years prior to the Z50 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the D5500 scores vs the Z50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon Z50

 D5500 Z50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Nikon D5500

 Z50 D5500 
LaunchedOctober 2019January 2015Newer by 57 months
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Nikon Z50

 D5500 Z50 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3.2"3.2"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon D5500 has outer 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) and the Nikon Z50 has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5500 and Nikon Z50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the D5500 and the Z50.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the D5500 and Z50 is 71 and 74 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specifications. The pic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the D5500 and Z50.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D5500 to show more detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged D5500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography highlights
Nikon Z50 Portrait photography highlights
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
80
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 Street photography details
Nikon Z50 Street photography details
75
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (420 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
72
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
provides focus via touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (397g)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography factors
Nikon Z50 Sports photography factors
68
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (820 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
75
megapixel count decent (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
81
better than average battery life (820 shots)
lighter than others in class (420g)
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
77
weather proofing
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
megapixel count decent (21MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than average (397g)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography highlights
Nikon Z50 Landscape photography highlights
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (820 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
megapixel count decent (21MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging advice
Nikon Z50 Vlogging advice
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
lighter than others in class (420g)
lack of image stabilization
71
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
offers face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lack of image stabilization
heavier than average (397 grams)
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Nikon Z50
 Nikon D5500Nikon Z50
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D5500 Nikon Z50
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-01-06 2019-10-10
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 21 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 5568 x 3712
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 39 209
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon Z
Amount of lenses 309 15
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420g (0.93 pounds) 397g (0.88 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 320 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Built-in
Battery model EN-EL14,EN-EL14a EN-EL25
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $700 $857