Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5100

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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 (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
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
SENSOR Effective pixels: 24 megapixels
SENSOR Max resolution: 6000 x 4000
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 5.0 fps
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen size: 3.2″
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 1,037,000
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Touch screen: Yes
VIDEOGRAPHY FEATURES Microphone: Stereo
OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 39
PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
CONNECTIVITY Wireless: Built-In
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7.66/10

Main
Model
Nikon D5100
Price
Advantages
SENSOR Sensor size: APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm)
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 (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
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
Apr 5, 2011
Body type
Camera subcategory
Compact SLR
Sensor
Effective pixels
16 megapixels
Max resolution
4928 x 3264
Sensor size
APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Expeed 2
Image ratio w:h
3:2
Other resolutions
3696 x 2448, 2464 x 1632
Sensor photo detectors
—
Image
ISO
Auto, 100- 6400 (plus 12800, 25600 with boost)
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes (5)
Image stabilization
No
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Fine, Normal, Basic
Boosted ISO (maximum)
25600
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
4.0 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″
Screen dots
921,000
Touch screen
No
Screen type
TFT LCD monitor
Live view
Yes (With contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking)
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95%
Viewfinder magnification
0.78×
Videography features
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
File Format
MPEG-4
Microphone
Mono
Speaker
—
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Center
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes
Number of focus points
11
Lens mount
Nikon F
Focal length multiplier
1.5×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
560 g (1.23 lb / 19.75 oz)
Dimensions
128 x 97 x 79 mm (5.04 x 3.82 x 3.11″)
Environmentally sealed
No
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion EN-EL14 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
—
Storage
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (Mini Type C)
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Wireless notes
—
Remote control
Yes (Optional ML-L3)
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes
GPS
Optional
GPS notes
GP-1
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

Summary

The Nikon D5500 maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels (24 megapixels) is better than the Nikon D5100 maximum resolution of 4928 x 3264 pixels (16 megapixels). The Nikon D5100 is produced with larger sensor compared to the Nikon D5500: APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) versus APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm). It is the most significant difference between these cameras because large sensor lets the camera owner to make photos of the higher quality. The Nikon D5500 provides more focus points than the Nikon D5100: 39 vs 11. More focus points means less risk of losing focus lock while tracking a moving subject.

The Nikon D5500 screen is better as it offers more screen dots 1,037,000 in compare to 921,000 dots of the Nikon D5100 screen. The higher dot count screen is better for reviewing pictures on your camera. The Nikon D5500 has Yes inch touch screen which is larger in comparison to No inch screen of the Nikon D5100.

The Nikon D5500 is produced with built-in Wi-Fi which will help the camera owner to transfer photos wirelessly from a digital camera to a notebook. The Nikon D5500 weighs 420g which is 140g lighter than the weight of the Nikon D5100. The Nikon D5100 can utilize optional accessory GPS devices. This feature can be useful if you like to travel, to be able to go into the picture metadata and find out exactly where a picture was produced.

Taking into account the above-mentioned differences the Nikon D5500 becomes the best buy. Check the lowest price on Amazon.