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Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D5500

5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
4.88 in
3.82 in
Nikon D5500 Digital Camera
Nikon D5500
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
34
4.1 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
41 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
41
4.1 out of 5
22 user ratings
5 stars
31 %
4 stars
54 %
3 stars
9 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
51
3.9 out of 5
51 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
1 %
49
4.0 out of 5
49 user ratings
5 stars
40 %
4 stars
28 %
3 stars
24 %
2 stars
4 %
1 stars
2 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.93 in0.93 in
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx24.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4928 x 3264 px6000 x 4000 px
Other resolutions
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
  • 4496x3000
  • 2992x2000
ProcessorExpeed 2Expeed 4

Image

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
ISO
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • 100
  • 25600
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum2560025600
Maximum image resolution4928 x 3264 px6000 x 4000 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Supported aspect ratios16:9
  • 3:2
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Optical zoom3.0 x7.8 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture2.84.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesyes
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selectionAuto
  • Auto
  • Manual
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1139
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)1139
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.83 in2.05 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDyesyes
Screen technologyLCDLCD TFT
Screen dots9210001037000
Touch screennoyes
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %95.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.78 x0.82 x
Dioptre correctionyesyes
Diopter adjustment (D-D)1.7 - 0.7-1.7 - 0.5
Eye relief0.7 in0.67 in
Separate info displaynono

Photography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Manual
  • Movie
  • Program
  • Scene
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Sensitivity priority
  • Shutter priority
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures33
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames33
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1212
Flash modes
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Fill-in
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Second-curtain Sync
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive4.0 fps5.0 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Landscape
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)4.0 fps5.0 fps
Speed (RAW)4.0 fps5.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 0.5±EV0.3 - 0.5±EV

Videography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HDFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
Analog signal format systemNTSC
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 10801920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)30.0 fps60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps60.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeMonoStereo
Voice recordingyesyes
Supported audio file formatsLPCMPCM

Design

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlasticPlastic
Colour of productBlack
  • Black
  • Red
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Weight17.99 oz15.87 oz
Width5.0 in4.88 in
Height3.8 in3.82 in
Depth3.1 in2.76 in

Storage

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)660820
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesY

Connectivity

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
HDMIyesno
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version2.02.0
Microphone portyesyes
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedBuilt-In
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesyes
Bluetoothnono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D5500Nikon D5500
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnoyes
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Languages supportMultiMulti
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D5100

          Often compared with Nikon D5500