Nikon D5500 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon D5500 is a mid-range DSLR reviewed by CHIP as a compact, lightweight contender designed to compete directly with mirrorless system cameras. Weighing just 480 grams, the camera features a slimmed-down plastic body with a deeper, more ergonomic handgrip that ensures comfortable handling. A standout hardware highlight is its 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen display—a first for Nikon—which allows users to swipe through galleries, adjust parameters, and intuitively shift between 39 autofocus points via its integrated proximity sensor. Photographers will benefit from the 24-megapixel APS-C sensor that omits an anti-aliasing filter to deliver razor-sharp imagery, exceptionally low noise up to ISO 1,600, and a vastly improved battery capacity reaching up to 1,900 shots per charge. The camera also features built-in Wi-Fi and comprehensive Full HD video recording at up to 60 frames per second with a dedicated microphone input.

The Digitalkamera.de review highlights the Nikon D5500 as a compact, lightweight DSLR featuring a high-resolution, vari-angle touchscreen and fast, precise phase-detection autofocus for traditional shooting. Key advantages noted include responsive handling, an eye-proximity sensor, and a highly customizable "recent settings" menu tab. Conversely, the review identifies significant limitations, particularly the extremely slow contrast-detect autofocus when using the Live View system and an exceptionally small optical viewfinder. Further cons include reduced touchscreen visibility in direct sunlight and potentially confusing menu navigation for new users. Digitalkamera.de

The Nikon D5500 is characterized as a subtle, practical evolution over its predecessor, the D5300, maintaining the same exceptional 24-megapixel APS-C sensor without an optical low-pass filter and featuring a highly accurate autofocus system. The reviewer strongly praises the redesigned, significantly deeper handgrip and the prominent metal command dial, which collectively make the smaller, lighter body much more comfortable and ergonomic for users with larger hands. Key additions include a responsive fully articulating touch-screen display that allows for convenient tap-to-focus during live view tripod work, and a new "Flat" Picture Control mode. This profile provides a more realistic histogram and preserves maximum dynamic range for raw image processing and video post-production. To better understand your needs, could you tell me: Are you planning to buy this camera used, or do you already own a D5300? What is your primary shooting style (e.g., travel landscape, video, or fast-moving action)?

The COMPUTER BILD review concludes that the Nikon D5500 is a highly successful model update rather than a revolution, making it an excellent, easy-to-use DSLR option for beginners and budget-conscious photographers. Key advantages highlighted in the review include its high image quality delivered by a 24-megapixel sensor with no low-pass filter, which produces noticeably sharper and lower-noise images at high ISO settings compared to its predecessor, the D5300. Users also benefit from enhanced shooting comfort due to a newly integrated eye sensor that turns off the screen when using the viewfinder, a fully articulating touchscreen, and a significantly slimmer, lighter body design weighing only 470 grams without a lens. On the downside, the review criticises Nikon for entirely removing the built-in GPS receiver to save battery life, which means users can no longer geotag their photos natively. Additionally, the camera suffers from a mediocre burst shooting speed—topping out at a maximum of 5 frames per second only during very short bursts. Video capture is restricted to Full HD (1080p at 60 fps) and suffers from a sluggish live-view autofocus that...

The Nikon D5500 is a lightweight, 24.2MP APS-C DSLR praised for its high-resolution, sharp image quality, and improved battery life, while featuring a highly responsive, fully articulating 3.2-inch touchscreen. The monocoque design significantly enhances ergonomics, and the 39-point AF system performs well in traditional photography, making it a competitive mid-range option. YouTube · However, the camera suffers from poor, slow contrast-detect AF in Live View, which severely limits its effectiveness for video, alongside a shallow RAW buffer that hurts performance in high-speed, continuous shooting scenarios. Further limitations include the lack of aperture control in Live View, no headphone jack for audio monitoring, and the inconvenience of only having a single control dial for settings.

The Heise Online review highlights the Nikon D5500 as a well-equipped, compact APS-C DSLR delivering excellent image sharpness, low-noise performance, and extended battery life, marking a milestone as the first Nikon with a fully articulating touchscreen. Key advantages include its 24.2-megapixel sensor without a low-pass filter, improved deeper grip, and built-in Wi-Fi. However, the review notes drawbacks such as the removal of the built-in GPS found on the predecessor and somewhat cramped, tiny buttons due to the reduced size. Additionally, the camera is criticized for average live-view autofocus performance and a limitation in aperture control during live view, which can hinder videographers.

The Nikon D5500 is a feature-rich, 24.2-megapixel APS-C DSLR designed for ambitious beginners that excels in image quality and ergonomics. A standout feature is its innovative 3.2-inch swiveling touchscreen, which introduces an intuitive "touch autofocus" system allowing photographers to shift focus points with their thumb while looking through the viewfinder. Thanks to its new "monocoque" chassis design, the camera body is 13% lighter and more compact than its predecessor, the D5300, providing a deeper grip and better overall handling. Reviewers praised its improved image resolution and noise performance, noting that the camera delivers incredibly sharp, noise-free images up to ISO 400 and remains highly usable up to ISO 3200. It also features built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing via mobile devices and supports Full HD video recording up to 60p. Despite achieving a top score of 91% in its class review, the D5500 carries a few notable drawbacks. Its most significant flaw is a sluggish autofocus speed in Live View mode, lagging at around 1.8 seconds due to its outdated Multi-Cam 4800DX autofocus sensor module—making it poor for spontaneous snapshots...

This review evaluates the Nikon D5500 consumer DSLR camera in a real-world sports photography setting, specifically during a floodlit soccer match in drizzling rain. The reviewer tested the camera alongside heavy professional lenses like the AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII. While its small, lightweight body and narrow grip made handling difficult and front-heavy with larger sports lenses, the camera performed surprisingly well on the field. Its 5 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed proved sufficient for action scenes, and the 39-point continuous autofocus (AF-C) remained fast and accurate despite the challenging low-light conditions. Furthermore, the APS-C sensor provides a useful 1.5x crop factor, turning a 70-200mm lens into a versatile 105-300mm equivalent focal length perfect for sports. The camera delivers impressive image quality, showcasing moderate noise and very good sharpness even when pushed to high sensitivities between ISO 2000 and 3200. Another notable positive feature is its fully articulating swivel touchscreen, which is highly practical for setting up the D5500 as a remote camera behind a soccer goal. However, the review highlights distinct consumer-level drawbacks, most notably the lack of weather-sealing against rain...

The avguide.ch review highlights the Nikon D5500 as a highly capable but somewhat half-hearted hybrid DSLR that shines brightest in its photographic versatility, image quality, and modern touch-based operation. On the positive side (pros), the camera delivers excellent, low-noise video and photo quality even in low-light conditions, largely due to its large APS-C sensor. It stands out for its extensive creative options, including a 16-scene mode system, 10 special effects, a flexible "Picture Control System" for custom image optimization, and high-performance in-camera HDR. Furthermore, the review praises its Full HD video capabilities at up to 60 frames per second, a built-in external microphone jack with manual volume controls, and seamless Wi-Fi integration through the Wireless Mobile Utility app, which enables intuitive touch-to-focus remote shooting via a tablet or smartphone. However, the review details several significant drawbacks (cons), particularly regarding its video and audio execution. A major flaw is the sluggish live-view autofocus, which produces a loud, persistent buzzing noise that ruins audio recordings made with the built-in microphone. Operating the autofocus and image stabilization simultaneously also drains the battery very...

The Nikon D5500 features a 24-megapixel APS-C (DX-format) sensor without an optical low-pass filter, resulting in exceptionally detailed, high-quality images that rival more expensive entry-level cameras 0.1.1. In testing, image noise is virtually non-existent up to ISO 1,600 and remains well-controlled through ISO 6,400, making it a powerful performer in low-light conditions 0.1.1. The camera records continuous bursts at up to 5.1 frames per second (for up to 100 JPEGs or 15 12-bit RAW files) and showcases an impressive startup performance, readying its display in 0.91 seconds and capturing its first shot in just 0.33 seconds 0.1.1. Paired with the standard AF-S Nikkor DX 18-105mm F3,5-5,6G VR kit lens, focus is sharp and prompt at 0.25 seconds 0.1.1. Video capabilities are equally strong, supporting sharp Full HD recording at up to 60fps with manual exposure controls, stereo audio level adjustments, and a 3.5mm external microphone jack 0.1.1. Despite these performance strengths, the camera struggles significantly with an agonizingly slow autofocus speed of 1.44 seconds when operating in Liveview mode 0.1.1. Video recording also carries the frustrating limitation of not allowing...

The avguide.ch review concludes that the Nikon D5500 is an exceptional DSLR for beginners and an excellent choice for experienced amateur photographers due to its high utility and extensive manual control settings. The camera stands out for its excellent image quality and high detail resolution, which is achieved by omitting an optical low-pass filter. Additional prominent strengths include its highly flexible, tiltable, and swiveling touchscreen LCD, good color reproduction, extensive in-camera image adjustment tools, and a reliable autofocus system when shooting through the optical viewfinder. Reviewers also praise the camera's superb, secure grip and its compact, lightweight body design. However, the review highlights several limitations, particularly regarding sluggish autofocus performance during live-view mode and video recording. Hardware compromises include an optical viewfinder that only provides 95% frame coverage, the omission of a headphone jack for audio monitoring, and the complete removal of the built-in GPS module found in its predecessor. Furthermore, the review notes that the camera's Wi-Fi capabilities are not fully utilized. Ultimately, because the D5500 shares identical image quality with the older D5300, the review notes that buyers...

The reviewer evaluated the Nikon D5500 DSLR camera paired with an 18-105mm NIKKOR kit lens during a family trip to Scotland, assessing its viability as a dedicated travel camera. A standout benefit of this model is its exceptionally compact and lightweight body compared to traditional DSLRs, combined with a deep handgrip that ensures a secure, comfortable hold. The camera features a highly functional 180-degree swivelling touchscreen monitor that simplifies ground-level or overhead shooting, allowing users to accurately set the focus point with a simple tap. Additionally, it boasts an impressive 24-megapixel resolution that gives photographers enough freedom to crop images later to compensate for missing focal range, a helpful prism viewfinder, low shutter lag, built-in Wi-Fi for instant social media sharing, and an optical image stabilizer in the lens to assist in low-light environments. However, the reviewer noted several compromises that come with the kit's affordable price point. The included 18-105mm lens is not particularly fast, featuring a limited maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6 which restricts performance in low light without relying heavily on the stabilizer. Furthermore, the lens's built-in autofocus...

Despite its strong performance, the camera has notable drawbacks, most significantly the omission of a built-in GPS module, which was present in its predecessor. It lacks an electronic level for aligning horizons, weather sealing to protect against elements, and a second command dial typically found on rival cameras in this class. The body is also constructed out of plastic, though the reviewer notes this material choice is standard for this budget segment. Overall, the review concludes that the D5500 remains an absolute "buy recommendation" because its stellar display interface and overall capabilities provide beginners with a fantastic platform to grow their skills.

The avguide.ch review of the Nikon D5500 highlights it as a highly capable, lightweight, and compact DSLR that offers an excellent balance of automatic modes for beginners and robust manual controls for intermediate photographers. A key feature of the camera is its high-resolution 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, which lacks an optical low-pass filter to maximize image detail and color reproduction. The camera excels with its rapid autofocus through the optical viewfinder and its versatile, fully articulating 3.2-inch touchscreen monitor. However, the review notes that the camera faces stiff internal competition from its predecessor, the D5300, which offers largely identical image performance for about 100 Swiss Francs less if a user does not require touchscreen capabilities. The evaluation outlines distinct pros and cons regarding the camera's design and operation: Pros Superior Image Quality: Delivers high detail resolution due to the omitted low-pass filter and excellent color reproduction. Excellent Handling: Features a deeply recessed, highly ergonomic grip and an intuitive, articulating touchscreen interface. Fast Viewfinder Performance: Provides rapid and reliable autofocus speed when shooting through the traditional optical viewfinder. Cons Sluggish Live-View/Video Autofocus:...