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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D5500

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD500NikonD5500
Overview
ReleasedApril 2016February 2015
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.7 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution20.9 MP24.2 MP
Largest image5568 × 37126000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200100–25600
Sensor detail21.51 million total pixels; Japan gives 20.88 million effective pixels, rounded to 20.9 million in Nikon USA. DX and 1.3× image areas; maximum cropped image 4272 × 2848; sensor-cleaning systemNikon DX CMOS without an optical low-pass filter; 24.2 million effective pixels globally, 24.16 million in Japanese specifications, and 24.78 million total; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG. Medium/small RAW are 12-bit losslessly compressedCompressed 12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISOISO 100–25600 in one-third stops; the full range is standard sensitivity rather than an expanded setting; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED 5; dedicated autofocus processor; Advanced Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 4
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst10 fps5 fps
Lens detailCompatible G/E/D AF NIKKOR lenses support full functions, subject to PC lens restrictions; body AF motor for compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU AI lenses support aperture-priority/manual; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedAutofocus with AF-S, AF-I and, in the updated Japanese compatibility list, AF-P lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-CAM 20K; 153 points including 99 cross-type, with 55 manually selectable including 35 cross-type; 15 points support f/8, nine selectable. Centre detection to -4 EV; single-point, dynamic 25/72/153, 3D tracking, group and auto-area; automatic AF fine-tuningMulti-CAM 4800DX; 39 phase-detection points including nine cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; selectable 39-point or 11-point layouts, dynamic 9/21/39-point areas and 3D tracking. Contrast-detection autofocus in live view
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode; shutter tested to 200000 cycles1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detailUp to 10 fps with full AF/AE; up to 200 losslessly compressed 14-bit RAW images or 79 uncompressed 14-bit RAW images under Nikon's specified ISO 100 conditions with Lexar Professional 2933× XQD 2.0. Card, settings and scene affect burst depth; quiet continuous approximately 3 fpsUp to approximately 5 fps for JPEG or 12-bit RAW, 4 fps for 14-bit RAW and 3 fps in continuous low; specified with AF-C, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and default settings; quiet release and interval-timer shooting
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Electronic movie VR available at Full HD, with an additional cropOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal. Compatible Speedlights provide Nikon CLS; radio control of SB-5000 requires optional WR-R10/WR-A10Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, including manual full output; accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 180000-pixel RGB metering with 3D Colour Matrix Metering III, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-LightingP/S/A/M, Auto, scene and special-effects modes; 2016-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; exposure, white-balance and Active D-Lighting bracketing
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at 4K UHD 30p/25p/24p, Full HD up to 60p and 720p up to 60p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976/59.94. Maximum clip 29 minutes 59 seconds; Flat Picture Control, power aperture, time-lapse and HDMI output. 4K uses a further approximately 1.5× crop within DX (Cameralabs). Live view and movies use contrast-detection AF-S/AF-FH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720p 60p/50p or 640 × 424 at 30p/25p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Up to 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or 10 minutes depending on resolution, frame rate and quality. Photography Blog's Motion JPEG AVI passage differs from Nikon's technical sheet
AudioBuilt-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCMBuilt-in stereo microphones with adjustable sensitivity; external stereo microphone through 3.5 mm input; linear PCM audio
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3.2″3.2″
Screen dots2,359,0001,037,000
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailReinforced tilting TFT with 170° viewing angle; limited touch functions for live-view AF/shutter and playback; dots count subpixels. Original Nikon US announcement gives 2359000 dots; Japan rounds approximately2360000Side-hinged 3.2-inch 3:2 vari-angle touchscreen, approximately 1037000 dots globally, rounded to 1040000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and 100% coverage; Touch AF, touch shutter, playback gestures and assignable Touch Fn for viewfinder shooting; eye sensor switches display off; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% DX or 98% 1.3× coverage; 1.0× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 16 mm eyepoint; viewfinder shutter and grid overlaysPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.82× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Wi-FiYes–
BluetoothYes–
Battery life (maker's claim)1240 photographs820 photographs
Body weight760 g420 g
Release detailNikon's surviving Japanese product page records sale on 28 April 2016. The original US January announcement proposed March; that planned date was superseded. The same announcement explicitly calls D500 the successor to D300SNikon Japan records first sale on 5 February 2015; global announcement on 6 January 2015
Recording mediaOne XQD slot and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-II support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. CFexpress Type B support added to the XQD slot with firmware C 1.30One SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with UHS-I support; MMC unsupported
PortsUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC sync. Optional GP-1/GP-1A or MC-35 connects GPS equipmentHi-Speed USB, HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output, 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input and accessory terminal for optional WR-1/WR-R10 wireless remote, MC-DC2 remote or GP-1/GP-1A GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC; SnapBridge smartphone transfer and location sharing. Direct SnapBridge Wi-Fi connections added with C 1.20; optional WT-7 supplies wired/wireless network transferBuilt-in IEEE 802.11b/g Wi-Fi for still-image transfer and remote shooting with Wireless Mobile Utility; WPA2-PSK/AES security and WPS. No integrated GPS; optional GP-1/GP-1A accessory
Battery life detailEN-EL15 at launch; EN-EL15a/b subsequently supported. Approximately 1240 CIPA photographs with AF-S DX NIKKOR 16–80mm f/2.8–4E ED VR and no live view; separate Nikon continuous test approximately 2740 with AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II and VR off. Optional MB-D17 grip supports one EN-EL15-series battery, EN-EL18-series with BL-5 cover, or eight AA batteriesEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 820 CIPA photographs per charge. Photography Blog's 600-shot passage differs from Nikon's specifications
ChargingExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connectorExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5A power connector
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mmApproximately 124 × 97 × 70 mm
Weight detailApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body capApproximately 420 g body only or 470 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy top/rear and carbon-fibre-reinforced front monocoque; dust and moisture sealing; not a waterproof ratingMonocoque structure using carbon-fibre composite for front body and front/rear covers
Colours–Black or red; regional body-only and kit availability varies
In the boxOriginal EN-EL15 battery, MH-25a charger, DK-17F eyepiece, UC-E22 USB cable, USB/HDMI cable clips, AN-DC17 strap and BF-1B body cap; later Japanese supply also lists EN-EL15bEN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, UC-E23 USB cable, EG-CP16 audio-video cable, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecup

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