• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Sony A7 III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $697 vs $1498
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Lighter weight
    668g vs 945g
    Lighter weight
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos

Sony A7 III advantages over Nikon D5500

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 3.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,730 vs 1,438 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    7 years vs 10 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.55x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    163 vs 100 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.7 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
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 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
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • 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 panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

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Buy the Nikon D5500
Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Red)
  • Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
  • Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)
All D5500 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A7 III
Body Only
  • Body Only
  • Kit with 28-70mm Lens
All A7 III 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

  • New 24MP sensor offers excellent image quality; Outstanding high ISO performance and dynamic range; Improved JPEG colors; Improved build quality; Fast autofocus; Excellent 4K video; Very good battery life.

  • Buffer clearing can be slow even with fast UHS-II cards; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No losslessly compressed RAW option; Dedicated battery charger not included; Menus are still confusing; No built-in flash.

  • Read our Sony A7 III Review

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

Sony A7 III
Pentax K-S1
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony A7 III vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Sony A7 II

Nikon D5500
Sony A7 II
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Sony A7 II

Sony A7 III
Sony A7 II
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A7 III vs Sony A7 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

Sony A7 III
Nikon D3400
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 III 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

Sony A7 III
Nikon D5600
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $898
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compare Sony A7 III vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Nikon Z6

Nikon D5500
Nikon Z6
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon Z6

Sony A7 III
Nikon Z6
  • $1531
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • NFC
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • More dots on screen

Compare Sony A7 III vs Nikon Z6

Compare Other Cameras?