Sony A77 II vs Nikon D5500

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A77 II vs Nikon D5500

Leave Feedback

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A77 II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A77 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A77 II.
Compare Sony A77 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A77 II conclusion.

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.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D5600

Buy From

Differences

Sony A77 II 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
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
15 vs 9
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.73x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More AF points
79 vs 39
More AF points improve autofocus
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
11.5 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
28 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon D5500 advantages over Sony A77 II

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$697 vs $1798
Save money for lenses or accessories
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 0.8 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 480 shots
Capture more photos
Lighter weight
668g vs 1351g
Lighter weight
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 26 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

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
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

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
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 A77 II User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A77 II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All A77 II Deals

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

Excellent image quality, especially lower ISOs; Improved high ISO performance when using RAW; Very good dynamic range; High-resolution images; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 12fps burst mode with C-AF; Good value for its class.
Lackluster continuous AF performance; Strong NR processing in high ISO JPEGs; Sluggish buffer clearing; Short battery life compared to most DSLRs; Joystick control easy to press accidentally.
Read our Sony A77 II Review

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 Canon 70D

Sony A77 II

Canon 70D

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1149
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 70D

Nikon D5500

Canon 70D

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1149
APS-C

On-sensor phase detect
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon 70D

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$1799
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Canon 7D Mark II

Nikon D5500

Canon 7D Mark II

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1799
APS-C

Built-in GPS
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon 7D Mark II

Compared to Nikon D7200

Sony A77 II

Nikon D7200

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$1016
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A77 II vs Nikon D7200

Nikon D5500

Nikon D7200

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1016
APS-C

NFC
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Nikon D3400

Sony A77 II

Nikon D3400

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II 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

Sony A77 II

Nikon D5600

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$898
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A77 II 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?