Nikon D5500 Review

Photographers who have been looking for a highly powerful compact DSLR that provides a greater degree of enthusiast features than the D3000 series, which is the series that sits below it, have found the Nikon D5000 series to be a solid option for some time now.

The Nikon D5500, Nikon’s most recent model, continues this trend, even though there aren’t many significant differences between it and the Nikon D5300, which was the model that came before. The image quality, flip-out LCD, and overall feature set of the Nikon D5300, released in the fall of 2013, left a positive impression on us. However, the performance of its live View and menu system did not wow us as much as we had hoped.

So, what exactly has changed? In a nutshell, the body of the Nikon D5500 is more compact and lighter and has a better grip. Additionally, it boasts a quicker CPU, a touch-enabled LCD, a ‘flat’ picture control, and built-in Wi-Fi. In the future, we will determine whether or not the manufacturer resolved some of the problems we had with the Nikon D5300.

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It would be an understatement to say that the D5500 competes in a saturated market today. It competes with DSLR cameras such as the Canon EOS Rebel T6i (750D) and the Pentax K-S2, as well as mirrorless cameras such as the Fujifilm X-T1, Olympus E-M10, Panasonic DMC-G6, and Sony a6000. On the DSLR side, it also competes with the Sony a6000.

Nikon D5500 Body & Design

The Nikon D5500 is the most “pocketable” digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) you’ll discover. Even though it’s a little bit bigger than the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (100D), the Nikon D5500 can still fit into a tiny bag if you use a lens on the smaller side.

The body is made of ‘long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics,’ which allows it to be both lightweight and rigid while having a monocoque construction (meaning it’s all one piece). In other words, the D5500 is highly light without having a low-cost feel.

Aside from the specialized AF-assist bulb and the IR receiver, the front of the camera does not reveal much information to the user. The camera’s connector for an HDMI cable and its slot for a microSD card is located on the right side of the device, while the remainder of its input and output ports are on the left.

On the rear of the D5500 is where all the activity occurs. In this area, you will discover a decently sized optical viewfinder and a multitude of controls. The LCD screen is 3.2 inches and is thoroughly articulating. Say that three times quickly. Unfortunately, these buttons are tiny, and it may be challenging to differentiate between them; nonetheless, there is not a lot of space available on a body of this size.

Nikon D5500 Video Quality

The video capabilities of the D5500 are, for the most part, quite comparable to those of its forerunner, the D5400. This indicates that you can record 60 frames per second video at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 or 1280 by 720, with a duration restriction of 10 or 20 minutes, respectively. A setting with a resolution of 1080 and a frame rate of 24 frames per second is also available. Under movie mode, you may alter the ISO and shutter speed (by turning on manual movie settings in the movie options); however, the aperture cannot be changed, and the ISO cannot be changed once recording has begun.

The D5500, like its predecessor, the D5300, can produce clear video output through HDMI in the format of 8-bit 4:2:2.

The ‘Flat’ Picture Control (profile) added to the D5500 is the new video function added to the camera. This records a scene with low contrast and a high dynamic range. This mode is perfect for making post-production adjustments to the exposure or color (it also works for stills). After the D810, all Nikon DSLRs launched since then have had this setting.

Nikon D5500 Image Quality

The fact that the image quality of the D5500 is practically identical to that of the D5300 is a positive development. Despite the absence of an anti-aliasing filter, the 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor maintains a shallow noise level and excellent clarity over a significant amount of its ISO range.

Because the sensor, which Sony most likely produced, can capture a significant degree of dynamic range, the photographer is afforded great creative freedom when dealing with Raw photographs. EveIn addition, though it is a camera in the middle price range, the D5500 includes advanced control over the Auto ISO setting, which is generally only found on more costly cameras.

Nikon D5500 Specs

Body type	Compact SLR
Sensor
Max resolution	6000 x 4000
Other resolutions	4496 x 3000, 2992 x 2000
Image ratio w h	3:2
Effective pixels	24 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	25 megapixels
Sensor size	APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	Expeed 4
Color space	sRGB, Adobe RGB
Color filter array	Primary color filter
Image
ISO	Auto, 100 – 25600
White balance presets	12
Custom white balance	Yes (1)
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Fine, Normal, Basic
File format	JPEG: Fine, Normal, BasicRAW: 12- or 14-bit, compressedDPOF compatibleDCF 2.0 compliant
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View.
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes
Digital zoom	No
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	39
Lens mount	Nikon F
Focal length multiplier	1.5×
Screen/viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Fully articulated
Screen size	3.2″
Screen dots	1,037,000
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT LCD monitor
Live View	Yes
Viewfinder type	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage	95%
Viewfinder magnification	0.82× (0.55× 35mm equiv.)
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Exposure modes	Programmed auto with flexible program (P)Shutter-priority (S)Aperture priority (A)Manual (M)
Scene modes	Autumn ColorsBeach / SnowBlossomCandlelightChildClose-upDusk / DawnFoodLandscapeNight LandscapeNight PortraitParty / IndoorPet PortraitPortraitSportsSunsetSpecial Effects Mode
Built-in flash	Yes (Pop-up)
Flash Range	12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash	Yes (Hot-shoe)
Flash modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear-curtain
Flash X sync speed	1/200 sec
Drive modes	Single frame continuous (low, high)Self-timerDelayed remoteQuick-response remote, quiet shutter release interval timer
Continuous drive	5.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2, 5, 10, or 20 sec)
Metering modes	MultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Videography features
Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Format	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (mini-HDMI)
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	No
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	Remote control/photo retrieval via smartphone
Remote control	Yes (MC-DC2 (wired), WR-1/WR-R10 (wireless))
Physical
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	EN-EL14 / EN-EL14a lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	820
Weight (inc. batteries)	420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
Dimensions	124 x 97 x 70 mm (4.88 x 3.82 x 2.76″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes
GPS	None

Nikon D5500 Final Verdict

The Nikon D5500 is a camera that can be found on the shelf at retailers such as Target and Costco, but it should not be underestimated because of this fact (no pun intended). The Nikon D5500 is a tiny, well-built, user-friendly digital SLR camera with a comprehensive feature set. However, many of the D5500’s capabilities are derived from those of higher-end versions.

The image sensor of the Nikon D5500 is capable of producing images of exceptional quality with a wide dynamic range, and the camera’s video output is on par with that of other cameras in its class. In addition, because the D5500 has a battery life that is two to three times longer than that of comparable midrange interchangeable lens cameras, you will be able to capture images and movies for a significantly extended period.

Unfortunately, the D5500 is not ideal; certain concessions had to be made to keep its size down, and others had to be made to encourage customers to continue purchasing the D7200. When using Raw, the camera does not have a secondary dial, the buttons are tiny, and the buffer fills up very quickly. The video features include no headphone jack, aperture control, or zebra pattern. Additionally, there is no zebra pattern.

Suppose you’ve used Wi-Fi on cameras made by other companies. In that case, you’ll notice that Nikon is playing catch-up in smartphone apps, particularly regarding the ability to manage a camera from a distance (which is point-and-shoot here).

Nikon D5500 FAQs