Nikon D5500 vs Pentax KP

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Nikon D5500 vs Pentax KP

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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.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax KP Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax KP in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the KP.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Nikon D5600 vs Pentax KP

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Pentax KP

Less expensive
$697 vs $999*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.4 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 390 shots
Capture more photos
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More AF points
39 vs 27
More AF points improve autofocus
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 35 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax KP 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
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
7.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
7.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
10 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/24000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 25600 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
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting 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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read KP User Reviews

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

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Buy the Pentax KP

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Body Only (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

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax KP, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Pentax KP 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

Pentax KP

Pentax K-S1

$999
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
High resolution composite

$502
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
HDMI out

Compare Pentax KP vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-3 II

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 II

$999
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

$830
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

Compare Pentax KP vs Pentax K-3 II

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

Pentax KP

Nikon D3400

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Pentax KP 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

Pentax KP

Nikon D5600

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Canon T7i

Nikon D5500

Canon T7i

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

NFC
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T7i

Pentax KP

Canon T7i

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Canon T7i

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