• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Sony A6300

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $697 vs $848
    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 820 vs 400 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 44 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A6300 advantages over Nikon D5500

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 70 mm
    Thinner
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.55x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    22 vs 7 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 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
  • 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 Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • 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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Buy the Nikon D5500
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  • Body Only (Black)
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  • Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)
All D5500 Deals

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Buy the Sony A6300
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  • Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Silver)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
  • Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)
All A6300 Deals

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

  • Excellent image quality; Improved high-ISO performance; Better JPEG quality; Fast autofocus; Very good subject tracking with real-time live view feature; All-magnesium body construction; 4K video.

  • Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); No touchscreen, Clunky menus; Wi-Fi can be a bit frustrating to use.

  • Read our Sony A6300 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A6000

Nikon D5500
Sony A6000
  • $797
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $548
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Sony A6000

Sony A6300
Sony A6000
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Fast startup
  • $548
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A6300 vs Sony A6000

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

Sony A6300
Pentax K-3 II
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $830
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6300 vs Pentax K-3 II

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

Sony A6300
Nikon D3400
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A6300 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Fujifilm X-A3

Nikon D5500
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $797
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Sony A6300
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony A6300 vs Fujifilm X-A3

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

Sony A6300
Nikon D5600
  • $748
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $898
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6300 vs Nikon D5600

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