Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D7100

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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
Videography notes
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
Connectivity
USB
HDMI
Wireless
Wireless notes
Remote control
Other features
Orientation sensor
Timelapse recording
GPS
GPS notes
Samples
Videos

8.00/10

Main
Model
Nikon D5500
Price
Advantages
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Articulated LCD: Fully articulated
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 1,037,000
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Touch screen: Yes
PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
CONNECTIVITY Wireless: Built-In
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8.00/10

Main
Model
Nikon D7100
Price
Advantages
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): 950
OTHER FEATURES GPS: Optional
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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
Videography notes
—
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
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
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launch
Announced
Feb 21, 2013
Body type
Camera subcategory
Mid-size 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
—
Image ratio w:h
3:2, 16:9
Other resolutions
6000 x 3368, 4800 x 3200, 4800 x 2696, 4494 x 3000, 4496 x 2528, 3600 x 2400, 3600 x 2024, 2992 x 2000, 2992 x 1680, 2400 x 1600, 2400 x 1344
Sensor photo detectors
25 megapixels
Image
ISO
ISO 100 – 6400, Lo-1 (ISO 50), Hi-1 (ISO 12,800), Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
—
Boosted ISO (minimum)
50
Boosted ISO (maximum)
25600
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
Yes
Built-in flash
Yes (Pop-up)
Flash range
12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash
Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless)
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Continuous drive
6.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2 or 10 seconds)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Average
- Spot
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
(2, 3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Fixed
Screen size
3.2″
Screen dots
1,228,800
Touch screen
No
Screen type
Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD monitor
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.94×
Videography features
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 24 fps)
File Format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone
Stereo
Speaker
Mono
Videography notes
1080i60, 1080p25 in NTSC countries, 1080i50, 1080p24 in PAL countries
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Center
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
—
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
51
Lens mount
Nikon F
Focal length multiplier
—
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
765 g (1.69 lb / 26.98 oz)
Dimensions
136 x 107 x 76 mm (5.35 x 4.21 x 2.99″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes (Water and dust resistant)
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion EN-EL15 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
950
Storage
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC x 2 slots
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (Mini Type C)
Wireless
Optional
Wireless notes
—
Remote control
Yes (Optional, wired MC-DC2 or wireless WR-1 and WR-R10 )
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
GP-1
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

Summary

The D7100 provides more focus points in compare with the D5500: 51 vs 39. More number of focus points means more convenience when attempting to focus on subjects that are not centred.

The Nikon D5500 is equipped with swiveling LCD that will allow you to take photos from any odd perspective. The D5500 screen is better as it has more screen dots 1,037,000 in compare to 1,228,800 dots of the D7100 screen. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing photos on your camera. The Nikon D5500 is produced with a touch screen.

The Nikon D5500 is produced with built-in Wi-Fi that will help you to transfer photos quick and easy. The D7100 is environmentally sealed which means that the camera will be safe even uncovered if the photographer is out shooting in the rain and snow. The D7100 battery life is better in compare to the D5500 battery life. According to CIPA standards the camera owner will be able to produce 950 shots with the D7100 and only 820 with the D5500. The Nikon D5500 weighs 420g that is 345g lighter than the weight of the Nikon D7100. The Nikon D7100 can utilize optional accessory GPS devices. Recording GPS data can be useful if you like to travel, to be able to check the picture metadata and find out exactly where an image was taken.

The Nikon D7100 has 6 advantages and the D5500 only 5 so the D7100 will be the best choice. Get the list of the best offers on Amazon.