Nikon D5500
Announced January 5, 2015
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Nikon D5500 is a lightweight and compact DSLR that offers impressive image quality and a responsive touchscreen interface for beginners or budget-conscious enthusiasts. While it provides a solid feature set and reliable performance, it remains an incremental update that lacks significant advancements over its predecessor.
Weighted from 34 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent image quality and wide dynamic range
- Compact, lightweight, and well-built body with a comfortable grip
- Responsive 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen LCD
- Reliable autofocus performance and subject tracking
- Strong battery life
Cons
- Slow and sluggish autofocus in Live View and video modes
- Removal of built-in GPS functionality
- Limited control buttons and cramped ergonomics for larger hands
- Inconsistent Wi-Fi connectivity and basic smartphone app
- Lack of advanced features like a headphone jack and depth-of-field preview
- Launch price $899 (USD)
- Sensor 24.2MP APS-C CMOS
What the Reviewers Say
All 34 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 79/100
The D5500 is a compact, lightweight, and very competent DSLR. Its image quality and continuous AF is impressive, feature set is broad, and performance is strong.
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Read More The Nikon D5500 raises the bar in Nikon’s mid-level DSLR line-up, blending a smaller form factor with improved image quality, excellent dynamic range and improved performance in many areas.
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Nikon's D5500 is an upper entry-level DSLR aimed at photographers looking for a step-up from a budget model without the expense or complication of a higher-end camera.
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You have only to cast your eyes over the specification sheet of the D5500 to see how strikingly similar it is to the D5300.
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It’s what the D5500 does best: great-looking images in almost any situation you can throw at it.
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Now as I said at the top of the show, the D5500 has a lot to prove; it's a competitive market, but if you want to stick with an SLR, you could do a lot worse than this camera.
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The Nikon D5500 takes the tried and tested Nikon D5x00 series and updates it with a new more compact and ergonomic body, upgrading the screen in the process to a 3.2inch touch-screen version and adding built in Wi-Fi.
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Nikon's mid-range DSLR camera continues to evolve with the introduction of the D5500, which is smaller and significantly lighter than its predecessor whilst additionally offering a new touchscreen LCD/interface.
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The Nikon D5500 is a good entry-level DSLR. It’s light and comfortable to use, and has a good set of features.
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The Nikon D5500 D-SLR delivers images that are just as good as the D5300 it replaces, and manages to do so in a smaller body.
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While Nikon hasn't exactly created a game changer with the Nikon D5500, it's nevertheless a very pleasing entry-level camera that brings a lot of very useful features to the beginner user. It's ideal as your first DSLR, or perhaps as an upgrade from a much older model.
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Excellent image quality, a full range of features that will satisfy enthusiasts (and help DSLR newcomers learn new skills) and convenient updates such as a touch-screen LCD make the D5500 a solid day-to-day camera.
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On the whole, the D5500 undoubtedly builds on the performance on its predecessor and is certainly a welcome addition to the manufacturer’s burgeoning DSLR roster.
- Digital Trends 8/10
The Nikon D5500 is a good entry-level option for those looking to buy their first DSLR.
- CNET 8/10
If you can find the D5300 for less money, there aren’t enough differences to justify paying more for the D5500, and you’re better off spending the difference on a better lens. The D5500 is still an excellent camera, though I recommend you grip it before you buy it.
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It's so much like the D5300 that if you're looking to buy this camera, unless you really need a touchscreen, you might as well just go out and buy the D5300.
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With the right lens and in the right hands, this camera is capable of capturing some very telling moments.
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The Nikon D5500 is an excellent entry-level and enthusiast-on-a-budget DSLR. The camera is not overly intimidating for new users and offers plenty of features to move you along as you learn.
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The kit lens is a significant setback for people who don’t anticipate buying additional lenses anytime soon.
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For the most part, a few little changes can add up to a great camera with the Nikon D5500.
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The Nikon D5500 is a nice lightweight DX format DSLR, and the 24.2 megapixel sensor and all those features I've told you about will help ensure that you'll be capturing great memories from the first time the shutter clicks.
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The Nikon D5500 is an entry-level DSLR. It offers a nearly identical specifications to the D5300.
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For conclusion, I can say Nikon D5500 is quite a capable camera. I like image quality and video quality the most.
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The D5500 is a high-end entry-level DSLR, but it is also capable of delivering professional results in many situations.
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My Nikon D5500 is fantastic: it's tiny and weightless and makes breathtaking images in any light. Colors are fantastic, and it focuses and works well in dim light or at crazy high ISOs unheard of just a few years ago.
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The more photography, the better you'll like the Nikon D5500, making it an ideal camera to start, learn, or practice your photographic creativity.
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The Nikon D5500 is a relatively small incremental update to the already very good D5300. If you are an owner of the D5300 there is really very little point upgrading to the D5500 (even upgrading from a D5200 is not going to be a huge update for most users).
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It is, however, a different case if you’re upgrading from an earlier version of a D5000 series camera or if you’re in the market for your first DSLR camera. If that’s the case, then this camera should be among the top of your list.
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The Nikon D5500 is an excellent DSLR in the budget segment.
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[T]he D5500 lacks a lot of bells and whistles, but perhaps because of that it is a very good camera; it gets the photographic part of things very, very right.
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So in closing if you are just starting out, this is an absolute must have. Wish I had this kind of camera when I was starting out.
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Such minor changes in this camera may not be as groundbreaking as you'd expect, but the Nikon D5500 is the best consumer camera in Nikon's lineup. In fact, it's the best consumer camera in its class of any brand.
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If you have money, of course, you go ahead and buy this, it's a great body, it's going to last you very, very long.
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The Nikon D5500 is the Japanese giant’s current entry-level DSLR, and for young photographers or enthusiasts looking to upgrade from earlier models without taking the next step into a truly professional kit, this is a fine choice.
