Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic FZ2500

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Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic FZ2500

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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 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 480.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic FZ2500 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic FZ2500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the FZ2500.
Compare Panasonic FZ2500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic FZ2500 conclusion.

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Panasonic FZ2500

Less expensive
$697 vs $898*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.3 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 350 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
70 mm vs 134 mm
Thinner
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Panasonic FZ2500 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 (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.4 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
35 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

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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.
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

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

User reviews

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Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read FZ2500 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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Panasonic FZ2500 (Black)

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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

Rugged camera body with many physical controls; Generally excellent image quality & high ISO performance for its class; Versatile zoom lens; Fast and accurate autofocus; Unlimited 4K video recording; Fast full-res burst mode with generous buffers.
Continuous autofocus performance struggles at telephoto end; Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); Lens produces soft corners at most focal lengths.
Read our Panasonic FZ2500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Nikon D5500

Panasonic FZ1000

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$773
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic FZ1000

Panasonic FZ2500

Panasonic FZ1000

$931
1 inch

Touchscreen
More telephoto lens reach

$773
1 inch

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Panasonic FZ1000

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

Panasonic FZ2500

Pentax K-S1

$931
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Nikon D5500

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$899
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Panasonic FZ2500

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$931
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$899
1 inch

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

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

Panasonic FZ2500

Nikon D3400

$931
1 inch

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 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

Panasonic FZ2500

Nikon D5600

$931
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$898
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic FZ2500 vs Nikon D5600

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