Nikon D5500

Nikon D5500: full review

Not a simple entry level camera, but something more ambitious. Nikon D5500 belongs to the high range of DX digital reflex cameras, just below its more expensive sisters D7200 e D7500. To be short, it is an excellent digital camera but in the following review you’ll figure if – for budget or technical reasons – this camera is the right one for you.

Nikon D5500: structure and design

The camera body of Nikon D5500 is ergonomic and single-piece, with a comfortable grip also for big-handed users. The structure in carbon fiber makes it pleasant to see and to touch: even if it’s not made of magnesium alloy – much more expensive – the “plastic” effect is less annoying than in other cheaper models.

The size of Nikon D5500 is quite contained: 124 x 97 x 70 mm, 420 grams. Less than D3300 that, from a technical point of view, is a little less good. In addition, it is more solid than other lower-level cameras, since they’re made of many parts put together.

Technical features

The sensor of D5500 is 24 megapixels CMOS, sharp and bright. The absence of the low-pass filter gives an incredible sharpness and moiré reduction – a visual effect that occurs when two overlapping textures generate a third completely different texture. A very annoying visual distortion.

Lately, Nikon has decided to remove the low-pass filter in several models, in order to get more sharpness, as we’ve just explained.

• The ISO sensitivity of Nikon D5500 has a range between 100 and 25,600. Up to 600 the grainy effect is definitely low. At 1600 ISO the performance is still more than decent!
• The same sensor is also present in D3200, D3300 and D3400, much cheaper models than Nikon D5500.
• The Expeed 4 processor isn’t exactly new in House Nikon, but I would not complain about it, given its good quality. It is fast and precise, for still good level performances. Also this element is now the standard for cheaper models.
• The display of Nikon D5500 is touch-screen (optional) and adjustable: image rendering, with 1040K dots definition, is excellent in liveview mode, for possible adjustments after the shot.
• Autofocus: Multi-Cam 4800 DX with 39 cross-centered points is much more performing than the lower series with 11 points. And you can see the difference especially if you take pictures of moving subjects. It’s the same one of Nikon D5200.
• Burst mode: 5 frames per second means… it’s good without slowing down.
• Video: with 60 frames per second, 1280 x 720 shooting (20 minutes of battery life), or 1920 x 1080 (10’ of battery life). In flat picture mode, you can shoot videos with more information (as it happens with RAW mode for images).
• Connectivity: incorporated Wi-fi to share images in real time: Nikon D3400, for instance, has only bluetooth Snapbridge, but it needs an external adapter for WiFi.

Taking pictures with Nikon D5500

Nothing to say about the quality of the images. Nikon D5500 offers brightness, sharpness and the usual high-level color range of Nikon cameras. As far as the technical aspects are concerned, I can say I’ve had a very positive experience, starting from the adjustable display that will keep you from contorting yourself in many situations. Turning it on, focusing and shooting are very fast operations and holding the camera in your hand, with its deep grip, is very pleasant. It is also lighter than other models, and you can feel it.

Many websites complain about too small buttons. Also in this case, it’s subjective. Since I don’t have excessively big hands, I haven’t had such problems.

With the burst mode, you can choose among 5 different scenarios, while in manual mode you can select other preset shooting scenarios.

Compared to the reflex cameras of the 3000 series, there are more direct drives: in the end, Nikon D5500 is not a basic entry level camera. It’s not a “take it, go and shoot” device, it is more complex than D3400. If you don’t use the “autopilot”, you need to learn some things first. It is not for absolute beginners, but the time spent learning its characteristics will be repaid by a more professional approach to photography.

Are you the right photographer for Nikon D5500?

For the professional, Nikon D5500 has a limit: the DX sensor. And then a camera body that cannot be compared to the full frame models one, like D750 for example. Of course, these are partial limits. What is not very performing for a professional might be even too much for your needs. Let’s see if that’s the case.

If this is your first reflex camera, to be used in your travels, maybe it’s better to spend less and buy D3300 or D3400. They have the same sensor and processor, you spend less and they’re more friendly to use.

If you already have an entry level camera, you’re interested in professional photography and you have a higher budget…then Nikon D5500 is the perfect camera for you. Surely, there’s always something better, before taking a full frame camera. And at that moment, you can go for Nikon D7200 or the more recent D7500.

Nikon D5500 is also an excellent camera for the professional looking for a second camera body: it doesn’t weigh much, it’s easy to handle and with the right lens can give results very close to professional standards.