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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 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
  • Launched January 2015
  • Older Model is Nikon D5300
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5600
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • Refreshed by Sony A390
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A380, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A380 (14MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5500 was brought out 5 years later than the A380 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the D5500 scores versus the A380 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A380

 D5500 A380 
ReleasedJanuary 2015August 2009Fresher by 66 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Nikon D5500

 A380 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A380

 D5500 A380 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5500 has external dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A380 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the D5500 and the A380.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D5500 and A380 is 71 and 68 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The graphic below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the D5500 and A380.

All in all, both cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon D5500 to produce extra detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The fresher D5500 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography information
Sony A380 Portrait photography information
79
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 Street photography factors
Sony A380 Street photography factors
75
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
lighter than others in class (420 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography info
Sony A380 Sports photography info
68
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery power (820 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography advice
Sony A380 Travel photography advice
81
good battery power (820 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (420g)
provides focus by touch
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
53
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (500 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography details
Sony A380 Landscape photography details
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
resolution is good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (820 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
not so great battery (500 per charge)
no Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5500
Vlogging with Sony A380
75
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone port
lighter than others in class (420 grams)
does not have image stabilization
9
can't record video
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony A380
 Nikon D5500Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2009-08-24
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 39 9
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 gr (0.93 lb) 519 gr (1.14 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 67
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1438 614
Other
Battery life 820 pictures 500 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $700 $899