Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 III

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Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 III

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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.

4/3 226.2mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 III Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10 III.
Compare Olympus E-M10 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 III conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Nikon D5600 vs Olympus E-M10 III

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Olympus E-M10 III

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 330 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Olympus E-M10 III advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Thinner
49 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
503g vs 668g
Lighter weight
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.62x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.6 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
33 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

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
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

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

Superbly-built, comfortable and compact body; Pairs beautifully with pancake kit lens; Excellent image quality; Excellent performance in most respects; Great single-shot autofocus; Really nice viewfinder and touch-screen display; Friendlier user interface courts amateurs.
Some controls are a bit small and tightly-packed; Hand grips are still a bit modestly-sized for larger lenses; Continuous and video autofocus just isn't up to snuff; New user interface can feel limiting to advanced photographers; Underwhelming battery life.
Read our Olympus E-M10 III Review

The Competition

Compared to 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

Olympus E-M10 III

Pentax K-3 II

$549
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$830
APS-C

Larger sensor
High resolution composite

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Nikon D5500

Olympus E-M10 II

$797
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus E-M10 II

$549
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Bigger JPEG buffer

$349
4/3

Less expensive

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Nikon D5500

Panasonic GX85

$797
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 III

Panasonic GX85

$549
4/3

More telephoto lens reach
Higher max flash sync

$598
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$797
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Olympus E-M10 III

Nikon D3400

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Nikon D3400

Compared to 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

Olympus E-M10 III

Nikon D5600

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Nikon D5600

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