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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 front
Portability
64
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Key Specs

Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon D5300
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5600
Sony A560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A500
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A560, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A560 (14MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5500 was introduced 4 years after the A560 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the D5500 matches up versus the A560 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A560

 D5500 A560 
ReleasedJanuary 2015August 2010Newer by 54 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k922kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A560 over the Nikon D5500

 A560 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A560

 D5500 A560 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Nikon D5500 has external dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Sony A560 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A560 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the D5500 and the A560.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and A560 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5500 and A560.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Nikon D5500 to deliver greater detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher D5500 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography details
Sony A560 Portrait photography details
79
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
72
focusing manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5500
Street photography with Sony A560
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (420 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography info
Sony A560 Sports photography info
68
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (820 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery life (1,050 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography details
Sony A560 Travel photography details
81
better than average battery life (820 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (420g)
comes with touch focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
60
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5500
Landscape photography with Sony A560
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (820 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (1,050 shots)
two card slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging factors
Sony A560 Vlogging factors
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
includes face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lighter than competition in class (420g)
lack of image stabilization
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony A560
 Nikon D5500Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A560
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 39 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 gr (0.93 pounds) 599 gr (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 70
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 12.3
DXO Low light rating 1438 817
Other
Battery life 820 photos 1050 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single 2
Pricing at release $700 $650