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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 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
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D5300
  • Renewed by Nikon D5600
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Nikon D5500 and Sony A580, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A580 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The D5500 was launched 3 years later than the A580 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the D5500 scores against the A580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A580

 D5500 A580 
ReleasedJanuary 2015May 2011Fresher by 45 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k922kCrisper screen (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Nikon D5500

 A580 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A580

 D5500 A580 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Nikon D5500 has exterior 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 A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D5500 and Sony A580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the D5500 vs the A580.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D5500 and A580 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D5500 and A580.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Nikon D5500 to give extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer D5500 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A580 as a Portrait photography camera
79
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5500
Street photography with Sony A580
75
screen articulates
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (420g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography features
Sony A580 Sports photography features
68
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (820 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery (1,050 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography highlights
Sony A580 Travel photography highlights
81
great battery pack (820 shots)
lighter than competition in class (420 grams)
offers focus by touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
60
good battery (1,050 per charge)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D5500
Landscape photography with Sony A580
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (820 shots)
no image stabilization
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (1,050 per charge)
two card slots
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5500
Vlogging with Sony A580
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
lighter than competition in class (420 grams)
no image stabilization
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony A580
 Nikon D5500Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2011-05-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
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 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
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 All around rating 84 80
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 13.3
DXO Low light rating 1438 1121
Other
Battery life 820 images 1050 images
Style of battery 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Dual
Pricing at launch $700 $848