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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57

Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 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
  • Announced January 2015
  • Old Model is Nikon D5300
  • Refreshed by Nikon D5600
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Renewed by Sony A58
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Nikon D5500 and Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and A57 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D5500 was announced 2 years after the A57 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the D5500 matches up against the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Sony A57

 D5500 A57 
ReleasedJanuary 2015September 2012More modern by 29 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Nikon D5500

 A57 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Sony A57

 D5500 A57 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D5500 features exterior measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D5500 and Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the D5500 vs the A57.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D5500 and A57 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the D5500 and A57.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Nikon D5500 to provide you with more detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern D5500 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D5500
Portrait photography with Sony A57
79
manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
75
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
lighter than competitors (420g)
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography details
Sony A57 Sports photography details
68
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (820 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 Travel photography features
Sony A57 Travel photography features
81
better than average battery pack (820 per charge)
lighter than competitors (420 grams)
provides touch to focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
67
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
78
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (820 shots)
does not have image stabilization
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging features
Sony A57 Vlogging features
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
lighter than competitors (420g)
does not have image stabilization
77
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
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Nikon D5500 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Sony A57
 Nikon D5500Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D5500 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2015-01-06 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 4 -
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 39 15
Cross focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420g (0.93 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 84 75
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 14.0 13.0
DXO Low light score 1438 785
Other
Battery life 820 photos 550 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 Single
Cost at launch $700 $1,000