Nikon D5500 vs Olympus TG-5

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Nikon D5500 vs Olympus TG-5

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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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.0 megapixels
25.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Olympus TG-5 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus TG-5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the TG-5.
Compare Olympus TG-5 image quality against competitors.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Olympus TG-6
Compare TG-5 vs TG-6

Compare NIKON D5600 vs OLYMPUS TG-6

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Olympus TG-5

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 1.54 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.3 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 340 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
30 vs 4 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 21 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus TG-5 advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$299* vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
Waterproof
Yes vs No
Take photos underwater without destroying your camera!
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
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Thinner
31 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
20.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 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)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read TG-5 User Reviews

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Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
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Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

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Olympus TG-5 (Black)

Olympus TG-5 (Black)
Olympus TG-5 (Red)

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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

We haven’t finished our review of the Olympus TG-5, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Olympus TG-5 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-S1

Olympus TG-5

Pentax K-S1

$299
1/2.3 inch

Waterproof
Shoot 4K video

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus TG-5 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Olympus TG-4

Nikon D5500

Olympus TG-4

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$379
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus TG-4

Olympus TG-5

Olympus TG-4

$299
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

$379
1/2.3 inch

Fast startup
More pixels

Compare Olympus TG-5 vs Olympus TG-4

Compared to 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

Olympus TG-5

Nikon D3400

$299
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Waterproof

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus TG-5 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to 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

Olympus TG-5

Nikon D5600

$299
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus TG-5 vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Olympus TG-6

Nikon D5500

Olympus TG-6

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$466
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus TG-6

Olympus TG-5

Olympus TG-6

$299
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

$466
1/2.3 inch

Fast startup
More dots on screen

Compare Olympus TG-5 vs Olympus TG-6

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