Looking ahead

As the D5500 has the same sensor, processing engine, metering, white balance and autofocus systems as the D5300 we can reasonably expect the quality of the images that it produces to be the same. However, the fact that Nikon has included the D5300’s sensitivity expansion settings within the D5500’s native range suggests that the new camera’s noise control may be a little better – perhaps as much as +1EV better.

Conclusion

While some may be disappointed that the D5500 doesn’t make any huge leaps in pixel count, it’s important to remember that 24 million pixels is more than enough for most uses. The files also usually have plenty of detail and don’t suffer from excessive noise, while the memory card isn’t filled up too quickly.

While it’s unlikely that any D5300 users will want to upgrade to the D5500, the enhancements made keep it relevant in the current marketplace. It’s a solid and versatile camera that looks to be a good option for novices who want to get more creative.