Canon T5 vs Nikon D5500

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Canon T5 vs Nikon D5500

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APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon T5 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon T5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the T5.
Compare Canon T5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon T5 conclusion.

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 T6
Compare T5 vs T6

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Compare CANON T6 vs NIKON D5600

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Differences

Canon T5 advantages over Nikon D5500

Less expensive
$399 vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Nikon D5500 advantages over Canon T5

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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 T5 test data on DxO Mark

1,438 vs 724 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 T5 test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 11.3 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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

820 vs 500 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More cross-type AF points
9 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Less shutter lag
0.20 vs 0.31 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.55x vs 0.50x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
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
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.0 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

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
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Pentaprism viewfinder
Neither provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
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 T5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon T5

Kit with 18-55mm lens

All T5 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

Very good image quality with great color accuracy; Lightweight and compact design; Great value for the money; Canon EF-S mount provides access to a vast array of lens options; Feature Guide and Creative Auto helps new users.
Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer; Without AF assist from flash low-light AF can struggle; Dynamic range and high ISO performance not as good as some competing models; No continuous AF in movie mode; Mono sound; No external mic jack.
Read our Canon T5 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 Sony A58

Canon T5

Sony A58

$399
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T5 vs Sony A58

Nikon D5500

Sony A58

$697
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Sony A58

Compared to Canon T5i

Canon T5

Canon T5i

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$539
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Canon T5 vs Canon T5i

Nikon D5500

Canon T5i

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$539
APS-C

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Canon T6

Canon T5

Canon T6

$399
APS-C

Less expensive

$550
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

Compare Canon T5 vs Canon T6

Nikon D5500

Canon T6

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$550
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6

Compared to Nikon D3400

Canon T5

Nikon D3400

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Has anti-aliasing filter

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon T5 vs Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Nikon D5600

Canon T5

Nikon D5600

$399
APS-C

Less expensive
Has anti-aliasing filter

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon T5 vs Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$898
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

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