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Nikon D5500

 
Nikon D5500 front
 
Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Nikon D5500 summary

Nikon D5500 is Nikon's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera first released on January of 2015. It comes with a 24 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a full resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Nikon launched this model to replace the previous Nikon D5300 (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards introduced the updated Nikon D5600 (Read Full Comparison) in order to update this model.

The D5500 is scored #8 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & overall #132 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please use our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your customized criteria.

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Here is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Nikon D5500 history

The Nikon D5500 is part of a family of products. You can see the full list underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-D3500 front thumbnailNikon D3500
D5500 vs D3500
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2018
Nikon-D5600 front thumbnailNikon D5600
D5500 vs D5600
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
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Nikon-D3400 front thumbnailNikon D3400
D5500 vs D3400
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
Nikon-D5500 front thumbnailNikon D550024MPAPS-C5.0 fps2015
Nikon-D3300 front thumbnailNikon D3300
D5500 vs D3300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
Nikon-D5300 front thumbnailNikon D5300
D5500 vs D5300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
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Nikon-D5200 front thumbnailNikon D5200
D5500 vs D5200
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2013
Nikon-D3200 front thumbnailNikon D3200
D5500 vs D3200
24MPAPS-C4.0 fps2012
Nikon-D5100 front thumbnailNikon D5100
D5500 vs D5100
16MPAPS-C4.0 fps2011
Nikon-D3100 front thumbnailNikon D3100
D5500 vs D3100
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Nikon-D3000 front thumbnailNikon D3000
D5500 vs D3000
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence
Nikon-D5000 front thumbnailNikon D5000
D5500 vs D5000
12MPAPS-C4.0 fps2009
Nikon-D60 front thumbnailNikon D60
D5500 vs D60
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Nikon-D40X front thumbnailNikon D40X
D5500 vs D40X
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2007
Nikon-D40 front thumbnailNikon D40
D5500 vs D40
6MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006
Nikon-D50 front thumbnailNikon D50
D5500 vs D50
6MPAPS-C3.0 fps2005

Nikon D5500 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Nikon D5500 based on things which are usually regarded as crucial in a digital camera.

better than average battery life (820 per charge)
built-in flash
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
display is selfie friendly
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
focusing manually
has external microphone port
has HDMI port
has phase detect autofocus
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
includes focus by touch
includes tracking autofocus
lighter than average in class (420g)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
screen articulates
very good high ISO (25,600)
very good minimum ISO (100)
very good screen resolution (1,037 thousand dot)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of headphone port
lack of image stabilization
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
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Nikon D5500 Sensor information

The Nikon D5500 houses the Expeed 4 chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Nikon D5500 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 6000 x 4000 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor has 24 megapixels and gives a standard ISO range of 100 to 25600. RAW format is supported which means that you have more margin for error.

Nikon made the decision to omit the anti aliasing filter in the Nikon D5500. This will result in more clear pictures but may create moire in some circumstances.

The graphic underneath displays the D5500's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The D5500 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.

Nikon D5500 sensor size Kodak's Tri-X Black-and-White Film Now 30% Cheaper

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon D5500 dimensions

Nikon D5500 weighs in at 0.93 lbs (420g / 14.82 ounces) & the physical size of the camera is 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8"). The weight of average Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540g and the Nikon D5500 is less heavy as compared with its rivals.

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Here is a picture of the Nikon D5500 beside a softdrink to help you get a feel for its size.

Nikon D5500 dimensions scale

The top view just below will highlight the button layout on the D5500.

Nikon D5500 topview buttons dials

Nikon D5500 Lens information

The D5500 works with the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses to select from. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the D5500.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Hartblei-Superrotator-40mm-F4-IF-TS-Nikon-F-FX lensHartblei Superrotator 40mm F4 IF TS40mmf/4.0 1550g
Tamron-SP-45mm-F1.8-Di-VC-USD-Nikon-F-FX lensTamron SP 45mm F1.8 Di VC USD45mmf/1.8 520g
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Nikon-AF-S-Nikkor-18-35mm-f3.5-4.5G-ED lensNikon AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f3.5-4.5G ED18-35mmf/3.5-4.5 385g
Sigma-20mm-F1.8-EX-DG-Aspherical-RF-Nikon-F-DX lensSigma 20mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical RF20mmf/1.8 520g
Carl-Zeiss-Distagon-T1.4-35-Nikon-F-FX lensCarl Zeiss Distagon T 1,43535mmf/1.4 830g
Samyang-14mm-F2.8-IF-ED-MC-Aspherical-Nikon-F-FX lensSamyang 14mm F2.8 IF ED MC Aspherical14mmf/2.8 552g
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Sigma-20mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A20mmf/1.4 950g
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Nikon D5500 Connectivity

The D5500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras which have NFC or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to copy images and oftentimes alter camera settings without connecting straight with the camera.

Several apps also allow a Liveview and release the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Nikon D5500 Video information

The highest possible video resolution on the Nikon D5500 is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance between video quality vs file size but 1080p won't give you any room to downsample. While the body offers a microphone jack, it is unfortunately missing a headphone jack which means that you won't have the capability to monitor your audio levels.

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Nikon D5500 Weather Sealing

Nikon D5500 does not have environment proofing so wet conditions can ruin the camera.

Nikon D5500 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon D5500 comes with a 3.2 inch fully articulated screen having a resolution of 1,037 thousand dots.

It has a selfie friendly screen to take self portraits as well as group shots if needed. Additionally the screen is touch friendly which means that you can change focus points plus change settings by using your fingertips.

Nikon D5500 screen and viewfinder Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

The View Finder specifications for Nikon D5500 are below:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 95%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.55x

For sunny outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and difficult to see, viewfinders are rather valuable.

Nikon D5500 Shutter information

Nikon D5500 has the ability to shoot continuously at 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Nikon D5500 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon D5500 features both built in flash along with external flash support. The max flash sync is 1/200s.

Nikon D5500 Autofocusing information

Nikon D5500 features both Phase Detect AF as well as Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier & precise as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which can be helpful for portrait photography.

It comes with 39 focus points to choose from. Nikon D5500 has tap to focus. You are able to use your fingers to change focus points. It also has Tracking AF for moving subjects. Nikon D5500 can use manual focus if needed during low light occasions or you want to have more exact focus control.

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Nikon D5500 Battery life

The battery life (EN-EL14,EN-EL14a) in the Nikon D5500 is fashioned to last for 820 shots with respect to the CIPA requirements making it higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The average Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x has the best (1900) battery life within this class of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Entry-Level DSLR cameras that have the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
D5500 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Nikon D5500 for various kinds of photography

The following chart displays a outline of the Nikon D5500 for various kinds of photography. To view more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Nikon D5500 as a Portrait photography camera

The Nikon D5500 has a rating of 79 which is tremendous, meaning that it is a tremendous fit to use for portraits. Photographing portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimension, RAW support & ability to use off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats

Nikon D5500 as a Street photography camera

With a nice points tally of 75, the Nikon D5500 is a fine pick to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
includes touch focus
lighter than competition in class (420g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization

Nikon D5500 as a Sports photography camera

A above average sports photography rating of 68 indicates the Nikon D5500 is a respectable option for shooting sports. A camera really should have great focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (820 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization

Nikon D5500 Travel photography advice

Portability is pretty crucial when selecting a camera for travel. All round, the Nikon D5500 gets a superb 81 as a travel camera which is a awesome option to take with you on your vacations.

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better than average battery pack (820 CIPA)
lighter than average (420 grams)
comes with touch focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography info

For those who are looking to purchase a camera for landscape pictures, the most critical aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon D5500 at it's wonderful rating of 78 for a landscape camera is a superb fit in the current market.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (820 per charge)
does not have image stabilization

Vlogging with Nikon D5500

A vlogging camera really should have a articulating display, microphone port and ideally image stabilization. Considering everything, the Nikon D5500 is a good fit for vlogging as it receives a above average score of 75.

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selfie friendly display
touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
lighter than competitors (420g)
does not have image stabilization

Nikon D5500 Alternatives

If you are in the market for alternatives to the D5500, here is a collection of the highest ranked cameras that fall into the family of Entry-Level DSLR.

The line chart followed below will give you a bird's eye view of the D5500 compared to it's top rated rivals listed above.

There are more cameras you may take into account as alternatives. To go through a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model
Nikon D5500
Category
Entry-Level DSLR
Announced
2015-01-06
Body design
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Expeed 4
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Max resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW photos
Max native ISO
25600
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points
39
Cross focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
Nikon F
Amount of lenses
309
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Fully Articulated
Screen size
3.2"
Resolution of screen
1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95%
Viewfinder magnification
0.55x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
84
DXO Color Depth score
24.1
DXO Dynamic range score
14.0
DXO Low light score
1438
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync
1/200 seconds
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)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
420g (0.93 lb)
Physical dimensions
124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
Other
Battery life
820 photographs
Battery form
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL14,EN-EL14a
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Launch pricing
$700