Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55
Portability
71 Imaging
66 Features
85 Overall
73
71 Imaging
66 Features
85 Overall
73
Portability
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Key Specs
Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
(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
- Replaced the Nikon D5300
- Later Model is Nikon D5600
Sony A55
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Revealed August 2010
- Successor is Sony A57
Photography Glossary Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Overview
On this page, we will be reviewing the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A55 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (APS-C).
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe D5500 was unveiled 4 years after the A55 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the D5500 scores vs the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon D5500 and Sony SLT-A55. The full galleries are provided at Nikon D5500 Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A55
| D5500 | A55 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | January 2015 |  | August 2010 | Newer by 54 months |
| Screen dimensions | 3.2" |  | 3" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
| Screen resolution | 1037k |  | 921k | Sharper screen (+116k dot) |
| Touch friendly screen |  | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Nikon D5500
| A55 | D5500 |
|---|
Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A55
| D5500 | A55 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually |  | Very exact focus | ||
| Screen type | Fully Articulated |  | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated screen |
| Selfie screen |  | Both are selfie friendly |
Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. 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) whilst the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Analyze the Nikon D5500 versus Sony A55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the D5500 versus the A55.
Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D5500 and A55 is 71 and 67 respectively.
Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The image below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D5500 and A55.
All in all, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Nikon D5500 to render greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The newer D5500 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.
Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder
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Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Nikon D5500
Portrait photography with Sony A55
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsStreet Comparison
Street photography with Nikon D5500
Street photography with Sony A55
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features touch focus
lighter than average (420 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoSports Comparison
Nikon D5500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (820 shots)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
terrible battery life (380 per charge)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealingTravel Comparison
Nikon D5500 Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
great battery (820 shots)
lighter than average (420g)
features touch focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (380 shots)
Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixelsLandscape Comparison
Nikon D5500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (820 shots)
lack of image stabilization
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesVlogging Comparison
Nikon D5500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
lighter than average (420 grams)
lack of image stabilization
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Nikon D5500 vs Sony A55 Specifications
| Nikon D5500 | Sony SLT-A55 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Nikon | Sony |
| Model type | Nikon D5500 | Sony SLT-A55 |
| Category | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Announced | 2015-01-06 | 2010-08-24 |
| Body design | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | 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 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Peak resolution | 6000 x 4000 | 4912 x 3264 |
| Highest native ISO | 25600 | 12800 |
| Highest enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW pictures | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detect focus | ||
| Contract detect focus | ||
| Phase detect focus | ||
| Total focus points | 39 | 15 |
| Cross type focus points | 9 | 3 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Nikon F | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
| Number of lenses | 309 | 143 |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
| Display diagonal | 3.2" | 3" |
| Display resolution | 1,037k dot | 921k dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch operation | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,150k dot |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.55x | 0.73x |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Continuous shutter speed | 5.0fps | 10.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
| 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 | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash sync | 1/200 secs | 1/160 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| 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) |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
| Mic input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| 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 | BuiltIn |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 420g (0.93 pounds) | 500g (1.10 pounds) |
| 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 | 73 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 24.1 | 23.0 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 14.0 | 12.4 |
| DXO Low light rating | 1438 | 816 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 820 shots | 380 shots |
| Form 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) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Cost at release | $700 | $800 |
