Do you want to know what's better Nikon D5500 or Nikon D300? SpecsPRO has compared Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D300: weight, battery, sensor, resolution, ISO, dynamic range and other important specifications.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D300

  • Main

  • Model

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • launch

  • Announced

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

  • Max resolution

  • Sensor size

  • Sensor type

  • Processor

  • Image ratio w:h

  • Other resolutions

  • Sensor photo detectors

  • Image

  • ISO

  • White balance presets

  • Custom white balance

  • Image stabilization

  • Uncompressed format

  • JPEG quality levels

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

  • Maximum shutter speed

  • Aperture priority

  • Shutter priority

  • Manual exposure mode

  • Subject / scene modes

  • Built-in flash

  • Flash range

  • External flash

  • Flash modes

  • Continuous drive

  • Self-timer

  • Metering modes

  • Exposure compensation

  • AE Bracketing

  • WB Bracketing

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

  • Screen size

  • Screen dots

  • Touch screen

  • Screen type

  • Live view

  • Viewfinder type

  • Viewfinder coverage

  • Viewfinder magnification

  • Videography features

  • Resolutions

  • File Format

  • Microphone

  • Speaker

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

  • Digital zoom

  • Manual focus

  • Number of focus points

  • Lens mount

  • Focal length multiplier

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

  • Dimensions

  • Environmentally sealed

  • Battery

  • Battery details

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

  • Storage

  • Storage types

  • Storage included

  • Connectivity

  • USB

  • HDMI

  • Wireless

  • Wireless notes

  • Remote control

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

  • Timelapse recording

  • GPS

  • GPS notes

  • Samples

  • Videos

  • Main

  • Model

    Nikon D5500

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • SENSOR Effective pixels: 24 megapixels

    SENSOR Max resolution: 6000 x 4000

    SENSOR Sensor photo detectors: 25 megapixels

    IMAGE ISO: Auto, 100 - 25600

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Subject / scene modes: Yes

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Articulated LCD: Fully articulated

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen size: 3.2

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 1,037,000

    SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Touch screen: Yes

    VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Microphone: Stereo

    VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Speaker: Mono

    PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)

    Go to the Summary

  • Main

  • Model

    Nikon D300

  • Price

  • Advantages

  • SENSOR Sensor size: APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm)

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Maximum shutter speed: 1/8000 sec

    PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 6.0 fps

    OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 51

    PHYSICAL Environmentally sealed: Yes (Water and dust resistant)

    PHYSICAL Battery Life (CIPA): 1000

    OTHER FEATURES GPS: Optional

    Go to the Summary

  • launch

  • Announced

    Jan 6, 2015

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    Compact SLR

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    24 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    6000 x 4000

  • Sensor size

    APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)

  • Sensor type

    CMOS

  • Processor

    Expeed 4

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2

  • Other resolutions

    4496 x 3000, 2992 x 2000

  • Sensor photo detectors

    25 megapixels

  • 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

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/4000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Subject / scene modes

    Yes

  • 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

  • Continuous drive

    5.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-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)

  • 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×

  • 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)

  • File Format

    MPEG-4, H.264

  • Microphone

    Stereo

  • Speaker

    Mono

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Phase Detect
    • Multi-area
    • Center
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Touch
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Digital zoom

    No

  • Manual focus

    Yes

  • Number of focus points

    39

  • Lens mount

    Nikon F

  • Focal length multiplier

    1.5×

  • Physical

  • 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)

  • Environmentally sealed

    No

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    EN-EL14 / EN-EL14a lithium-ion battery & charger

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    820

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    SD/SDHC/SDXC

  • Storage included

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    Yes (mini-HDMI)

  • Wireless

    Built-In

  • Wireless notes

    Remote control / photo retrieval via smartphone

  • Remote control

    Yes (MC-DC2 (wired), WR-1/WR-R10 (wireless))

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

    Yes

  • GPS

    None

  • GPS notes

  • Watch sample photos

  • Watch video reviews

  • launch

  • Announced

    Aug 23, 2007

  • Body type

  • Camera subcategory

    Mid-size SLR

  • Sensor

  • Effective pixels

    12 megapixels

  • Max resolution

    4288 x 2848

  • Sensor size

    APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm)

  • Sensor type

    CMOS

  • Processor

    Expeed

  • Image ratio w:h

    3:2

  • Other resolutions

    3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424

  • Sensor photo detectors

    13 megapixels

  • Image

  • ISO

    200 - 3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (100 - 6400 with boost)

  • White balance presets

    12

  • Custom white balance

    Yes (4)

  • Image stabilization

    No

  • Uncompressed format

    RAW + TIFF

  • JPEG quality levels

    Fine, Normal, Basic

  • Boosted ISO (minimum)

    100

  • Boosted ISO (maximum)

    6400

  • Photography features

  • Minimum shutter speed

    30 sec

  • Maximum shutter speed

    1/8000 sec

  • Aperture priority

    Yes

  • Shutter priority

    Yes

  • Manual exposure mode

    Yes

  • Subject / scene modes

    No

  • Built-in flash

    Yes (Pop-up)

  • Flash range

    12.00 m (at ISO 100)

  • External flash

    Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless plus sync connector)

  • Flash modes

    Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain

  • Continuous drive

    6.0 fps

  • Self-timer

    Yes (2 to 20 sec)

  • Metering modes

    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Average

  • Exposure compensation

    ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)

  • AE Bracketing

    (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)

  • WB Bracketing

    Yes (2 to 9 frames in 10,20,30 steps in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis))

  • Screen / viewfinder

  • Articulated LCD

    Fixed

  • Screen size

    3

  • Screen dots

    922,000

  • Touch screen

    No

  • Screen type

    Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle

  • Live view

    Yes

  • Viewfinder type

    Optical (pentaprism)

  • Viewfinder coverage

    100%

  • Viewfinder magnification

    0.94×

  • Videography features

  • Resolutions

  • File Format

  • Microphone

    None

  • Speaker

    None

  • Optics & Focus

  • Autofocus

    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Phase Detect
    • Multi-area
    • Selective single-point
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Face Detection
    • Live View

  • Digital zoom

    No

  • Manual focus

    Yes

  • Number of focus points

    51

  • Lens mount

    Nikon F

  • Focal length multiplier

    1.5×

  • Physical

  • Weight (inc. batteries)

    925 g (2.04 lb / 32.63 oz)

  • Dimensions

    147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.79 x 4.49 x 2.91)

  • Environmentally sealed

    Yes (Water and dust resistant)

  • Battery

    Battery Pack

  • Battery details

    Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger

  • Battery Life (CIPA)

    1000

  • Storage

  • Storage types

    Compact Flash (Type I or II)

  • Storage included

    None

  • Connectivity

  • USB

    USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)

  • HDMI

    Yes (Mini Type C)

  • Wireless

  • Wireless notes

  • Remote control

    Yes (Optional)

  • Other features

  • Orientation sensor

    Yes

  • Timelapse recording

    Yes

  • GPS

    Optional

  • GPS notes

    GP-1

  • Watch sample photos

  • Watch video reviews

  • Summary

    The Nikon D5500 highest resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 megapixels) is better in comparison with the Nikon D300 maximum resolution of 4288 x 2848 pixels (12 megapixels). The Nikon D300 is produced with larger sensor compared to the Nikon D5500: APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) versus APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm). It is the most important advantage of this camera as large sensor allows you to produce photos of the more professional quality. The Nikon D5500 offers a wider ISO range of 100-25600 in compare with 200-3200 ISO range of the Nikon D300. Such ISO range let the photographer to produce better photos in dim light conditions. The Nikon D300 offers more focus points in compare with the Nikon D5500: 51 vs 39. More number of focus points means more convenience while attempting to focus on subjects which are not centred.

    The Nikon D5500 is equipped with swiveling LCD which will let you to shoot great selfies. The Nikon D5500 screen is better as it offers more screen dots 1,037,000 in comparison to 922,000 dots of the Nikon D300 display. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing pictures on your camera. The Nikon D5500 is produced with Yes inch touch screen which is larger than No inch screen of the Nikon D300.

    The Nikon D300 is weather sealed which means that it will be safe even uncovered if the camera owner are out capturing photos in the rain and snow. The Nikon D300 battery life is better in compare to the Nikon D5500 battery life. According to CIPA standards you will be able to make 1000 photos with the D300 and only 820 with the D5500. The Nikon D5500 weighs 420g that is 505g less in comparison with the weight of the D300. The D300 can utilize optional accessory GPS devices. This feature can be convenient if you like to travel, to be able to check the picture metadata and find out exactly where a photo was shot.

    Considering the above differences the Nikon D5500 becomes the best choice. Check the lowest price on Amazon.