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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
56
Features
70
Overall
61

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 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
  • Announced January 2015
  • Older Model is Nikon D5300
  • Later Model is Nikon D5600
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony A33
  • Successor is Sony A37
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A35, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A35 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D5500 was brought out 3 years later than the A35 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the D5500 scores versus the A35 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A35

 D5500 A35 
LaunchedJanuary 2015September 2011More recent by 41 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Nikon D5500

 A35 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A35

 D5500 A35 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5500 provides outside 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 A35 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A35 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the D5500 and the A35.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and A35 is 71 and 69 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5500 and A35.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Nikon D5500 to produce more detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer D5500 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5500
Portrait photography with Sony A35
79
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 Street photography advice
Sony A35 Street photography advice
75
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
lighter than competition (420g)
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
71
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (415 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography features
Sony A35 Sports photography features
68
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (820 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery life (440 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A35 as a Travel photography camera
81
good battery power (820 per charge)
lighter than competition (420 grams)
features touch focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
58
lighter than competitors in class (415 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (440 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A35 Landscape photography highlights
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (820 shots)
no image stabilization
69
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (440 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging factors
Sony A35 Vlogging factors
75
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic support
lighter than competition (420 grams)
no image stabilization
36
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
lighter than competitors in class (415 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony A35
 Nikon D5500Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D5500 Sony SLT-A35
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2011-09-20
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 39 15
Cross type focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, 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 grams (0.93 lbs) 415 grams (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 84 74
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 12.7
DXO Low light rating 1438 763
Other
Battery life 820 shots 440 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $700 $598