Canon 60D vs Nikon D5500

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Canon 60D vs Nikon D5500

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APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon 60D Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 60D.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 70D
Compare 60D vs 70D

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Compare CANON 70D vs NIKON D5600

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Differences

Canon 60D advantages over Nikon D5500

Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1100 vs 820 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
216 mm vs 83 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster RAW shooting
5.3 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
15 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Nikon D5500 advantages over Canon 60D

Less expensive
$697 vs $900
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark 60D test data on DxO Mark

1,438 vs 813 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark 60D test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 11.5 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Newer
10 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
668g vs 1234g
Lighter weight
More pixels
24.2 vs 18.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
More AF points
39 vs 9
More AF points improve autofocus
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 34 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Tilt-swivel screen
Both provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 60D User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 60D

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens
Kit with 18-200mm Lens

All 60D Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D5500

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Red)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

All D5500 Deals

Review Excerpt

Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; 3.0-inch, 1,040K-dot Vari-angle LCD is very useful for video and Live View; Sharp 18-135 kit lens with above average zoom range and I.S.; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.
Body not as rugged as mag-alloy 50D; AF assist only works when flash is up, though flash can be forced off; Auto-exposure not reliable in very low light; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.
Read our Canon 60D Full Review

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 60D

Canon 7D

$889
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1499
APS-C

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon 60D vs Canon 7D

Nikon D5500

Canon 7D

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1499
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Top deck display

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon 7D

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon 60D

Nikon D7000

$889
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 60D vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D5500

Nikon D7000

$797
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$699
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D7000

Compared to Canon T3i

Canon 60D

Canon T3i

$889
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$549
APS-C

Compare Canon 60D vs Canon T3i

Nikon D5500

Canon T3i

$797
APS-C

Larger sensor
Touchscreen

$549
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T3i

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Canon 60D

Pentax K-3 II

$889
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 60D vs Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-3 II

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Nikon D5600

Canon 60D

Nikon D5600

$889
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
Top deck display

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 60D vs Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$898
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

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