Nikon D5500 Review – First Look

Nikon has today announced the latest addition to its DSLR stable in the form of the Nikon D5500.

The new DX-format DSLR takes over from the D5300 in the manufacturer’s ‘advanced beginner’ range, and while the list of improvements in specification are relatively minor they are still likely to prove welcome for the target market.

The headline of these new additions concerns the camera’s vari-angle LCD screen. While the size and resolution of the screen remain the same as the D5300 – at 3.2in and 1,037k-dots – the unit now benefits from the addition of touchscreen functionality.

The touchscreen allows for a host of different functions to be operated directly from the unit, including swipe image review and pinch-to-zoom.

The D5500 now also offers a ‘Touch Fn’ function which facilitates adjustment of key shooting settings via the screen when shooting through the viewfinder, including focus points, aperture and ISO sensitivity.

Elsewhere, a host of the specification remains as before. This includes the model’s 24.2MP APS-C sensor, which once again has the optical low-pass filter and should thus be able to capture large amounts of fine detail.

This sensor is paired with an EXPEED 4 processor delivering a continuous shooting speed of up to 5fps as well as advanced image processing and movie recording. The D5500 also features a 39-point autofocus system complete with nine of the more sensitive cross-type sensors, and as such it should deliver some speedy focusing.

The D5500 also benefits from the retention of built-in Wi-fi functionality that allows for the wireless control of the camera via a smart device such as a tablet or smartphone, as well as the wireless transfer of images.

The other key change to the D5500 concerns the camera’s physical design. Thanks to the incorporation of a new monocoque structure the model is around 60g lighter and reasonably smaller than its predecessor. It also incorporates a new, much deeper handgrip for a more secure hold when shooting.

The Nikon D5500 is due on sale on 5th February in either black or red, and in the following configurations –

Nikon D5500 body only – £639.99
Nikon D5500 and 18-55mm VR II lens – £719.99
Nikon D5500 and 18-140mm VR lens – £899

Nikon D5500 – First Look

While the differences between the D5500 and its predecessor – the D5300 – might be relatively limited, that’s not necessarily the worst thing.

The D5300 is a solid ‘advanced beginner’ DSLR, so the retention of the 24.2MP DX sensor, Expeed 4 processor and 39-point AF system makes complete sense.

The addition of the touchscreen – the first on any Nikon DSLR – is a welcome improvement on the predecessor and its implementation is certainly well considered. It’s a responsive unit complete with a well-designed interface and suitable distance between the various touch buttons so as to make operation a breeze.

The ability to pinch-and-zoom to check focus on captured images is also welcome as it’s an action that comes intuitively to those familiar with smartphones and touchscreens in general.

While the changes to the build of the camera are billed as an ‘overhaul’, in reality on the whole they are a touch more subtle than that. That being said, the handgrip has been deepened significantly giving a much more secure and comfortable grip on the camera.

On the whole, the Nikon D5500 feels like a welcome progression of the D5x00 series rather than a complete overhaul.

We hope to get our hands on the camera soon for a full review, so be sure to check in for regular updates.