• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Olympus SZ-16 advantages over Nikon D5500

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Thinner
    39 mm vs 70 mm
    Thinner
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Nikon D5500 advantages over Olympus SZ-16

  • 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 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 820 vs 270 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • 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
  • More dots on screen
    1037k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.9 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    100 vs 3 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 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus SZ-16

Your purchases support this site

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

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

The Competition

Compared to Olympus SZ-12

Olympus SZ-16
Olympus SZ-12
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $128
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bulb shutter

Compare Olympus SZ-16 vs Olympus SZ-12

Nikon D5500
Olympus SZ-12
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $128
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus SZ-12

Compared to Pentax VS20

Olympus SZ-16
Pentax VS20
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • HDMI out
  • $106
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Olympus SZ-16 vs Pentax VS20

Nikon D5500
Pentax VS20
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $106
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax VS20

Compared to Olympus SZ-15

Olympus SZ-16
Olympus SZ-15
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • Longer exposure
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Olympus SZ-16 vs Olympus SZ-15

Nikon D5500
Olympus SZ-15
  • $697
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor
  • $162
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus SZ-15

Compared to Nikon D3400

Olympus SZ-16
Nikon D3400
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Olympus SZ-16 vs 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

Compared to Nikon D5600

Olympus SZ-16
Nikon D5600
  • $230
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner
  • $898
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus SZ-16 vs 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

Compare Other Cameras?