Unleashing the Power of Nikon D5500: A Comprehensive Review

Looking for a camera that can capture stunning images and videos, while also being easy to use and affordable? Look no further than the Nikon D5500! This blog post will provide a comprehensive review of this popular DSLR camera, covering everything from its key features and capabilities to user experience and pricing. Whether you're a professional photographer or an amateur enthusiast, this guide will help you unlock the full potential of your Nikon D5500.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Nikon D5500 article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 06 2015

Announced

24 megapixels

Resolution

BrandNikon
Sensor TypeAPS-C
SensorCMOS
Weight420g
MSRP$999USD

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Overview of the D5500

Are you looking for a powerful and versatile camera that can capture breathtaking photos and videos? Look no further than the Nikon D5500! This popular DSLR camera has been designed to offer users a perfect blend of performance, functionality, and affordability. With its high-quality sensor, advanced autofocus system, and versatile shooting modes, the Nikon D5500 is an ideal choice for photographers of all skill levels. In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into everything that makes the Nikon D5500 such a beloved camera among photography enthusiasts. We'll explore its key features and capabilities, explain how to get the most out of its intuitive user interface, and provide tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shots in any setting. So whether you're a professional photographer looking to upgrade your gear or an amateur enthusiast looking for a powerful yet accessible camera, keep reading to discover all the magic that the Nikon D5500 can bring to your photography game.

Nikon D5500 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Nikon D5500 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

High image resolution
Excellent low-light performance
User-friendly interface
Touchscreen LCD display
WiFi and GPS connectivity
Fast autofocus system
Compact and lightweight design

Cons

No image stabilization
Limited lens selection
No headphone jack for audio monitoring
No weather-sealing for protection against elements
Short battery life (820 shots per charge)
No 4K video recording
Limited buffer capacity for continuous shooting

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Nikon D5500

Weather sealed
Dimensions124 x 97 x 70mm
Weight420g
Thickness70mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
This
Max

Weather Sealing

The Nikon D5500 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderOptical (pentamirror)
Screen TypeFully Articulated
Screen Resolution1,037k dots
Body typeCompact SLR

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fully articulated 3.20" screen, with a display resolution of 1,037k dots. This makes the Nikon D5500 very suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you can view yourself while shooting selfies. The camera also features a touch screen, which adds to its ease of use.

Viewfinder

D5500 includes a optical (pentamirror) viewfinder with no electronic viewfinder of resolution with a coverage of 95% and a magnification of 0.55x. This feature enhances the camera's suitability for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Nikon D5500 has a 24MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 24 pixels. Nikon D5500 has a native ISO range of 100 - 25600 which can be boosted to null - null. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Jan 06 2015

Announced

100 - 25600

ISO Range

SensorAPS-C
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution6000 x 4000 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

84 / 102

Color Depth

24.1 / 26.5

Dynamic Range

14 / 14.8

Low Light ISO

1438 / 4505

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Nikon D5500 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain low amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is poor, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the D5500 is above average

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1.5x

Full frame equivalent

36mm

This camera: APS-C

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC
Battery Life820 shots
Battery ModelEN-EL14,EN-EL14a
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Nikon D5500 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Nikon D5500 uses the EN-EL14,EN-EL14a model of battery pack. This is rated for 820 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Nikon D5500 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. It also offers a flash shoe that allows you to attach external flashes. This provides more versatility in your lighting choices.

Shutter

The Nikon D5500 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Nikon D5500 includes two autofocus (AF) systems: contrast detection and phase detection, with 39 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Nikon D5500?

The Nikon D5500 features a CMOS sensor

Is the Nikon D5500 weather sealed?

No the D5500 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Nikon D5500 announced?

The Nikon D5500 was announced on Jan 06 2015

Does the Nikon D5500 have in-body image stabilization?

No the D5500 does not have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Nikon D5500?

The D5500 has a native ISO range of 100-25600, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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