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·11 min read

Nikon D5500 vs D7200: Which Should You Buy?

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We have written an updated version of this article, comparing the new Nikon D5600 and the Nikon D7200. Click here to read the new article, or click here to open it in a new tab.

The newly announced Nikon D7200 has finally been given a significant performance boost, making the choice between it and the D5500 (a less expensive camera that provides identical image quality) a much more difficult one to make.  It’s also worth noting that the changes between the new D5500 and D7200 and their predecessors are not very significant, so you may prefer to save money and buy the older models while they’re still available. My general advice is always this: buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs, and buy the best lenses that you can afford. Below, I’ll cover the differences between these cameras and explain which types of photographers will find the different features useful.

New In the D5500

If you’re deciding between D5500 and older D5300, here’s the difference:

  • a touch-sensitive screen has been added to the D5500
  • built-in GPS have been removed in the D5500
  • the top of the ISO scale has been increased by a stop to 25600, though it may be more accurate to say that the “expanded” ISO of 25600 has been incorporated as “native”
  • its a millimeter shorter and narrower, 5mm thinner, and about 60 grams lighter (about the weight of an egg) than the D5300

That’s it! The D5500 and D5300 are virtually identical, otherwise, so as the price drops on the D5300, many photographers who don’t care about having a touch-screen or who want built-in GPS will be able to pick it up at a great price. Currently, the D5300 body costs $597 while the newer D5500 body costs $747.

The Nikon D5500, left, is slightly smaller than the D5300, and about 60g lighter.
The Nikon D5500, left, is slightly smaller than the D5300, and about 60g lighter.

Nikon D5500 vs D7200: What’s the Difference?

To begin with, we can take a look at the most significant specs for the D5500, D7100 and the new D7200.

Nikon D5500 Nikon D7100 Nikon D7200



Price (body)
 $746 $796 $1096
Price (with 18-140mm kit lens) $1046 $1096 $1396
Body Material Sereebo, (carbon fiber reenforced plastic) body-chassis Partial Magnesium Alloy Frame, Plastic Partial Magnesium Alloy Frame, Plastic
Dust/Weather Sealed Body None Yes Yes
Sensor Resolution 24.2Megapixels
 24.1 Megapixels 24.2 Megapixels
Anti-Aliasing Filter
(Reduces sharpness, prevents moire)		 NO NO NO
ISO Range 100-25600 100-6400
+12800
+25600		 100-25600
Total AF Points 39 51 51
Cross-Type AF Points 9 15 15
AF Motor In Body
(For Using Older AF Lenses)		 NO YES YES
AF Light Level Range -1 to +19 EV -2 to +19 EV -3 to +19 EV
Autofocus Fine Tuning
Adjustments		 NO YES YES
Shutter Speed Range 1/4000th - 30 sec.
+bulb		 1/8000th - 30 sec.
+bulb		 1/8000th - 30 sec.
+bulb
Expected Shutter Life 100,000 Shots 150,000 Shots
Max Frame Rate 5 fps 6 fps
(7 shots in 1.3x crop mode)		 6 fps
(7 shots in 1.3x crop mode)
Max RAW Burst
(buffer size)		 6 shots, compressed 14-bit 7 shots lossless 12-bit
6 shots lossless 14-bit		 18 shots 14-bit
Max JPG Burst
(fine, Large)		 100 33 100
Flash Sync Speed 1/200th sec. 1/250th sec.
(1/320th* sec, or slower,)		 1/250th sec.
Wireless Flash
(Built-in Commander)		 NO YES YES
Auto FP Flash Mode
(High Speed Sync)		 NO YES YES
Media Slots 1 SD / SDHC / SDXC 2 SD / SDHC / SDXC 2 SD / SDHC / SDXC
LCD Size 3.2"
1,036,800 pixels		 3.2"
1,228,800 pixels		 3.2"
1,228,800 pixels
LCD Articulated Yes No No
LCD Touchscreen YES No No
Built-in GPS No No No
Built-in WiFi Yes No Yes
Body Weight 420g (no battery)
470 (with battery)		 675 (no battery) 675 (no battery)
Body Size 124 x 97 x 70 mm 136 x 107 x 76 mm 136 x 106.5 x 76 mm
Battery Life 820 shots
CIPA Standards		 950 shots
CIPA Standards		 1,110 shots
CIPA Standards
Viewfinder Coverage 95% Frame
.82x Magnification		 100% Frame
.94x Magnification		 100% Frame
.94x Magnification
Video Codec MPEG-4 / H.264
.mov		 MPEG-4 / H.264
.mov		 MPEG-4 / H.264
.mov
Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50i, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)		 1920 x 1080 (60i*, 50i*, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)		 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps)
1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps)
640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Video Length Limit 29 min 59 sec. 29 min 59 sec. 29 min 59 sec.
Headphone Jack No Yes Yes
Internal Mic Stereo Stereo Stereo

back view nikon d7200 and d5500

Build Quality

Perhaps the most obvious difference between the D7200 and the D5500 is in their construction. The D5500 body is significantly smaller and lighter, built of carbon-fiber reenforced plastics (Sereebo), while the D7200 is heavier and built for durability, with a metal (magnesium alloy) back and top, and importantly, it is weather sealed. Since the D5500 also uses a smaller battery, the carry-around weight of the D7200 is about 40% more1 Actually 38.6% than the D5500.

Whether this is an advantage or disadvantage depends on your photographic needs; some photographers (especially those with larger hands) prefer a larger camera with some ‘heft’ to it, while others prefer something more lightweight and easy to carry around, especially travelers and hikers. Needless to say, those who work in harsh conditions will also prefer the D7200’s weather sealing and heavier-duty construction, as a matter of practicality.

Nikon D7200 with grip
Nikon D7200 with optional battery grip

The Sensors : Exactly the Same

Like the previous generation, Nikon’s D5500 and D7200 both have 24-megapixel sensors, and neither one makes use of an anti-aliasing filter. Consequently, if you shoot RAW files, you will not be able to detect any difference in image quality between these two cameras, and since both cameras now use the same processor, the JPGs should be equally indistinguishable.

More AA Filter Info
The success of the D800e may have led directly to Nikon’s decision to produce an APS-C camera without an optical low-pass/anti-aliasing (OLP/AA) filter, but whatever led to the fact, the D7200’s sensor is naked. Before the D800e, all of the major SLRs produced their sensors with an AA filter: essentially an extra layer in front of the sensor that blurs the image slightly, in order to reduce the jagged edges and moire 1 that have traditionally been associated with digital capture. With modern improvements in image processing software, though, Nikon was confident that the moire and jaggies could be avoided without the AA filter, so they opted to remove it2 To be more precise, the Nikon D800e does have an AA filter, but it also has an AA-canceling filter, so it does not have one in practical terms. The D810 does not have an AA filter at all, nor do the D5500 and D7200. and allow the cameras to capture finer image detail.

With the success of the D7100, Nikon also decided to remove the AA filter from the D5300 and D5500’s sensors, and now the D7200. For all practical purposes, there is no difference between the sensors the D7200 and D5500, so there should be no difference in image quality if you shoot RAW. Though this lack of AA filter does provide the potential to for the camera to produce sharper images, don’t expect too much.

Why does that matter?
Comparisons of images produced by the D800 (AA Filter) and D800e (no AA Filter) have shown that the principle works; there are subtle improvements in fine detail in the D800e’s images. However, we should not expect such significant improvements in the D7200’s images. The receptors on the 24 megapixel sensor of the D7200 are already much, much smaller than those of the D800e. In fact, the D7200 and D5500 fit about 56% more pixels into the same sensor area as the D800e.

Why does that matter? Even with the much larger receptors of the D800, lens resolution has become a serious bottle-neck for image quality. Nikon has already produced a special list of lenses that can allow you make the most out of your D800 sensor. The dramatically higher pixel density of Nikon’s 24-megapixel APS-C sensors will tax lens resolution even more, meaning that the D7200 and D5500’s images won’t get much sharper unless lenses get sharper first.

Auto Focus Systems

Unlike most entry and mid-level SLRs, the Nikon D5500 has a very sophisticated autofocus system. While cameras like the Canon T6i and 70D have 19 autofocus points, the D5500 has 39, though only the central nine of them are cross-type 3 If you’re not sure what cross-type points are, or why they’re important, check out our short video on the subject, here. . This autofocus system, which also incorporates color information, has been adopted from the Nikon D7000.

The D7200, however, shares the same AF system with the flagship Nikon D4 and the D810: 51 AF points, including 15 cross-type… the best system available in a Nikon body.

For all but the most dedicated action photographers, the system in the D5500 will be more than sufficient, even if you’re buying a camera primarily for shooting sports. If your paycheck, however, is going to depend on your focusing system, the extra several hundred dollars will be well spent on the D7200.

Nikon D7200 af points, focusing screenNikon D5500 af points, focusing screen

Speed

When it comes to speed, the differences between the D5500 and D7200 are more modest that you might expect. The D7200 does have a top shutter speed that is one full f-stop faster than the D5500’s (ie, 1/8000th vs 1/4000th). When it comes to shooting bursts of photos, though, the D7200 only provides an additional frame per second over the D5500’s 5 fps (unless you’re shooting in 1.3x crop mode, in which case it will give up an additional frame per second).

However (unlike the D7100) the D7200 has a significantly larger buffer, allowing longer continuous bursts of shooting. While the D5500 (and D7100) can only shoot 6 14-bit RAW files in a row before filling the buffer and getting bogged down, the D7200 can shoot 18 RAW images in a row, three times more than the D7100 (though it still lags significantly behind Canon’s original 7D, which could shoot 25).

Shooting JPG gives you even more freedom to hold down that shutter button. The D7200 can shoot bursts of 100 frames or more (at 6 fps), just like the D5500. The D7100 was only capable of shooting 33 in a row.

The D5500’s Downfall

Flash. With the popularity of “Strobist” techniques over the past several years, flash photography has become increasingly important to amateur and semi-pro photographers, and this is where the D5500 falls short: it lacks high-speed-sync4 For a quick explanation of what high-speed-sync is, watch our video here. (Auto FP Flash, henceforth AFP) and external flash control with the built-in flash. External flash control may not be a big deal; many of us prefer to use radio-units instead… though the built-in IR system can be very useful with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS).

The lack of AFP, however, is a serious problem. Consider this situation: you’re shooting a portrait outdoors during the day, and you want to use a large aperture to blur the background… perhaps f/2 or f/1.4 . This will push your shutter speed beyond 1/1000ths of a second, much higher than the camera’s 1/200th sec. maximum sync speed. So, if you want to use a flash to soften the shadows or create a catch-light in the eyes of your subject, forget it: the flash will not sync. The same is true if you want to use flash for sports and a high shutter speed, and while you can purchase external command modules or radio transmitters for off-camera-flashes, there’s nothing you can buy to work around the lack of AFP. You’d need to buy the D7200 instead.

In some instances, a neutral density filter can be used to bring the shutter speed down within the range of the D5500’s sync speed. There are several problems with the method, though: the image through your viewfinder can become quite dark, making it hard to frame your shot and making it hard for your camera’s AF system to pull focus, you lose flash power, if you’re shooting with a telephoto lens, shutter speeds at the camera’s sync speed might not be safe for hand-holding, and they’ll always be too slow for sports or fast action (if you’re balancing flash and ambient light).

Nikon SB-910, SB-700, and SB-500
A Nikon Flash Trio

All the Little Things

There are a few other assorted differences that deserve mention here, but they’re mostly the same differences that we saw between the D5100 and D7000. First, the D5500 does not have an autofocus motor built into the camera body, so it will not be compatible with the full range of (old school) Nikon lenses, while the D7200 does posses the motor. And speaking of “focus”, the D7200 is capable of micro adjustments to correct for front or back-focus problems on lenses, while the D5500 is not.

Nikon D5500 articulated screen
The Nikon D5500’s swivel screen.

As should be obvious from the images above, the D5500 has an articulated LCD screen, which some people find helpful for ground-level shots and video but others find a breakage hazard or amateurish.

The D7200 has dual SD card slots. It’s can be nice to have two slots if you want to record JPGs to one card and RAW to the other, perhaps sending JPGs to an Eye-Fi card, for example. However, if you only need storage space, a single slot is fine. These days, a single 64GB SDXC card costs only $30, and I rarely shoot more than 32GB per day, even at all-day events.

The D5300 has built-in GPS tagging, a feature that requires additional equipment with the D7200. This feature was dropped in the D5500, perhaps the result of the ubiquity of smartphones and apps such as GeoTag Photos Pro, but there are also reports of problems with battery drain using the GPS in the D5300, among other issues that I have yet to confirm.

Finally, if you are interested in video, the D7200 has been given a headphone jack for monitoring audio while you shoot. The jack is absent in the D5500 (and D5300, D7000). All of these cameras can shoot video at up to 1080p 60fps, except for the D7100, which can only shoot at 30fps at that resolution.

Which to Buy?

The Nikon D5300 and D5500 are great cameras, and I’d recommend them for the vast majority of amateur photographers, with the exception of those who need superior flash capabilities.

To summarize, you should buy the D5300 if you:

  • want a great, all-around camera
  • shoot primarily with natural light or studio strobes
  • need an articulated LCD screen for video or photos
  • want built-in GPS
  • want to save some money to buy the best lenses possible. At Amazon, the price for the D5300 body is $597

Buy the D5500 ONLY IF you:

  • really care about the weight of your camera. The D5500 weighs about 60g less than the D5300; that’s about the weight of a large chicken egg.
  • think you’ll really enjoy using a touchscreen.
  • find that the current prices are very similar. At Amazon, the price for the D5500 body is $747

Buy the D7100 if you:

  • don’t shoot bursts of action in RAW format and want the other features of the D7100
  • At Amazon, the current price for the D7100 body is $797

Buy the D7200 if you:

  • shoot lots of action, especially in long bursts
  • are hard on your equipment and need a more durable body
  • use flash for action or fill and need high-speed sync
  • use Nikon’s CLS and want to use the built-in command module
  • shoot macro (or other focus critical work) and need to make micro adjustments to your lenses
  • shoot a lot of video and want a simple headphone jack on your camera
  • don’t need to worry about spending a little more. At Amazon, the price for the D7200 body is $1097

For the sake of simplicity I’ve tried to focus on only the differences that, in my experience, will actually be important. There are, of course, numerous differences between the two cameras, though, and some features may be more important to particular photographers. If you think that I’ve left out something important, please feel free to let me know.

Please Comment!

If you have additional questions or comments, please let me know, below. I’ll do what I can to answer questions and clear up any confusion.

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Matthew Gore
Editor-in-Chief
Matthew Gore is the Editor-in-Chief and Administrator of Light & Matter Media.
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333 Comments

  1. First sorry for my english. I am currently in doubt between D5500 and D7100 . it’s almost the same price now. I had an olympus omd10 and it was preatty easy and fast to use .. It has those dials to regulate f and iso (…) I never used nikon . Does the D7100 has better bottons to important functions ? I mostly use the camera on manual mode. which one do you consider is better indicated for someone who wants to go beyond the amateur/enthusiast level ?

    Reply

    1. I’m afraid that there isn’t much that I can tell you that you can’t see for yourself by looking at the pictures above. I prefer the direct access that the controls of the D7100 would give me, but that is all a matter of personal taste. While the D7100 does keep you from having to access the LCD menu so frequently, the D5500 has a touch-screen that makes it easier to use when you DO have to use it.

      Reply

  2. Hi Matthew:
    Your article about the DSLR camera is excellent. I’m really interested in two cameras (Nikon D5500 and D7200) but I’m undecided because I found in both camera really interesting but I don’t know which one of them I should buy. What I’m looking for into a camera is that it can take nice and professional photos with great videos with many functions. The only disadvantage that the model nikon d5500 has is the pentamirror which I wouldn’t want it in a camera. The disadvantage in the model nikon d7200 is the price because I would have a bit effort to buy this camera and I don’t wanna waste my money if I find some dissapointing characteristic in the camera. Please, with your experience about those DSLR camera, help me to decide to buy one of the two models I’ve mentioned before. I hope your answer soon. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Marisela,

      Both cameras are capable of producing really amazing photographs; the image quality is great, and they are both pretty easy to use. When it comes to video, they’re not so good. If video is really important to you, you might also want to consider the Canon T6i/T6s (much, much better auto-focus for video).

      But, if you’re interested in the Nikons, normally I’d recommend the D5500 for you. If you’re concerned about the pentamirror, though, there’s really only one thing to do: go to a camera store and take a look through the viewfinder. Yes, the D5500’s pentamirror means that the D7200 will be a little brighter, and of course, the image in the D5500 will be a little smaller. Whether the difference is significant enough to bother you… well, only you’ll know that.

      Sorry I can’t be of more help!
      – Matthew

      Reply

  3. Hi Matthew,
    Thanks for the comparison of the two cameras. I’m actually looking for a new camera after taking pictures with my D3100 for the last 4 years. I like the camera but I really don’t like the AF. For example when I take pictures (in burst mode) of my dog running through the grass, 70% of the pictures are blurry. Now I want a new camera but I’m not sure if i should buy the d5500 or if i should spend some more money for the d7200. I have read that the AF of the D7200 is much more precise and faster but when it comes to picture quality the two cameras are nearly on the same level. So what do you think, is the AF of the D5500 good enough for such “normal” situations or should I spend a little bit more? Thanks for your answer and sorry for my bad English (I am Austrian)

    Reply

    1. Hi Fabian,
      First let me say that I lived in Austria for a year when I was 16, in the small city of Dornbirn in Vorarlberg. And your English is much better than my German.

      As for the cameras, the D7200 does have a better autofocus system, but the D5500 is still quite capable. However, there are a couple of things that you should remember: first, the autofocus performance depends heavily on the lens that you use; a camera that tracks well may still focus poorly with a slow-focusing lens. Second, it’s also important to use the correct focusing mode: if your camera is set to AF-S, it will not attempt to continue focusing on a moving subject, but if it’s set to AF-C, it will. In AF-C, the frame rate is slower in some cameras, though, so it is tempting to always shoot in AF-S.

      So, as long as you’re using a good lens and the camera settings are correct, then the D5500 should absolutely be able to track focus on something like a running dog. Although I haven’t used the D5500 professionally, I did use the D300 professionally several years ago, and it shared the D5500’s autofocus system… and it was excellent. No problems at all in good light.

      So, should you spend the extra money on the D7200? The D5500 WILL be good enough for “normal” situations. The D7200 will be more reliable in low light, and because it has more AF points, you’ll probably have more reliable focus overall (thought the difference should be minor), so it really depends on how much you’re going to push the camera.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      Reply

  4. Hey there Matthew!
    I am a current user of a Nikon D5500 and I loved it! However, I really like the weather sealing of the D7200, mor focus points, and that I can use older lenses AND the flash sync feature, so I will be upgrading to it soon. I sold my D5500 a while ago in order to buy the D7200, but I think I may wait a little longer because with the new D500 coming out, I think the price will drop on the D7200. Do you have an idea about how long I should wait? Will it even drop? Should I just go ahead and purchase it? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    1. Hi Taylor,

      I would not bother waiting for the price to come down on the D7200; it has already come down about as much as I’d expect it to until there’s a direct replacement (a D7300, perhaps). The D500 is aimed at a different (and smaller) market, and it’s nearly double the price of the D7200 already, so there’s not going to be strong competition there.

      But, of course, that’s just a guess on my part… these things can be hard to predict, even with decades of experience :)

      More important, I think, is this: how much do you expect the price to come down, if it comes down at all? It’s currently at $1097 at Amazon, and even after its replacement is released (probably around $1300 again), the D7200 won’t drop below about $999. So, by waiting, you stand to save about $100, but what will you have missed photographing in the meantime? Will those photos that you’ve missed be worth more than $100 to you in the future? Will the experience you’ve gained from shooting for that extra time be worth more than $100? My guess is that it will be… but you’re the only one who knows :)

      Good luck! Enjoy the new camera, whenever you get it!

      Reply

  5. Hello there. I’m new in photography and gonna buy a camera. I’m really stuck between d5300 and d7200. I’m interested in event photography,family photography and outdoor events. I’m an undergraduate, studying in university-so It’ll be handful if I choose a lighter camera. I need some guidelines.

    And also,which lense should I opt for? A nikkor 35mm or a 50mm? Or will it be wise to buy 18-140mm AF-S VR?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    1. The Nikon D5500 and D5300 are both significantly lighter, but the D7200 is actually still a pretty compact camera (compared to full sized DSLRs like the D610/D810), so I wouldn’t let that worry you too much, unless a little weight really is important. Good lenses are going to end up weighing as much or more than the camera body. That said, unless you know of some reason that the D5300/D5500 won’t work for you, that sounds like the best option; it’s lightweight, has excellent image quality, and is less expensive. If you were going to be shooting lots of action sports, I might recommend the D7200, but even the less expensive models will be just fine for that most of the time.

      When it comes to lenses, it really depends on what perspective you like, and what you’re working on. A prime lens like the 35mm or 50mm will have its advantages (great in low light, relatively compact, good bokeh, sharp images), but they’re also pretty one-dimensional. A 50mm will be good for portraits and some mid-distance stuff, but not good for sports or anything that’s very far away, and also not good in tight places or indoors. The 35mm is even worse for distances, its not great for portraits, and its still not quite wide enough for tighter spaces.

      So, I would start with the 18-140mm, but also think about getting one of the prime lenses for those situations where it would be an advantage. The 18-140 is much more flexible, but it’s not as good in low light, its bigger and heavier). I’d probably go with a 50mm over the 35, but that’s a matter of personal taste.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  6. Hi Matthew – Thanks for your comparison between the D7200 and the D5500. I purchased the D5500 and I noticed that a number of my older AF Nikon lenses which all auto focus on my Nikon D300 do not do so on the D5500. These older lenses seem to have about five contact spheres on the inside on the mounting plate but they all work on the D300 but not on the D5500. Will my older AF lenses autofocus with the D 7200? Is it the autofocus motor that the D5500 lacks that prevent my older AF lenses from auto-Focusing on that camera? If so, maybe I should get the 7200, but I do need a lighter camera for traveling and the 5500 is a pleasure to carry because of its light weight. What do you think? I have about 5 older AF lenses that are useless on the D 5500. But I do have 4 that work on that camera. Many thanks for your help’
    Hal

    Reply

    1. Hi Hal,
      Thats right, the D5500 doesn’t have a built in focusing motor, so it can’t drive the older Nikon AF lenses. However, the D7200 does have the focusing motor, so it should be compatible with all Nikon AF lenses, though some older lenses don’t support all of the camera’s advanced metering features. Those are minor details, though: the lenses will work.

      Compared to the D300 (and the new D500), the D7200 is still a lightweight camera. I also own a D300, and several years ago, I considered replacing it with a D7000, but I found that since my hands were accustomed to a full size camera, the D7000 felt too small in my hands. It just might hit the sweet spot for you, if you’re looking for something compact.

      Reply

  7. I just returned from a trip in the bush, I met a guy who had a Nikon D 5500 with sigma lenses, I have for years been looking for a great camera for taking photos of wildlife, he strongly suggest the camera,I have been reading all the comparison on the different models and still very confused, please help

    Reply

    1. Hi Joe,

      I agree; the Nikon D5500 is a really excellent camera for just about anything. Its image quality is as good as ANY camera out there with the same size sensor, including the D7200. It’s great for landscapes in particular.

      When it comes to photographing wildlife (especially fast moving wildlife), there are some advantages to getting the D7200: it has more focusing points (not a big deal… the D5500 has plenty), it has a faster top shutter speed, so it will stop action a little better, and it has a faster frame rate, so you can take more pictures per second if you want to take bursts of pics. There are also some other things that are easy to work around… the D7200 has a longer battery life, and a partially metal body (so it’s a bit stronger).

      Anyway, I’d definitely recommend the D5500, and a set of the best lenses you can afford… that’s where the biggest advantage in image quality comes from.

      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. I’m new at photography and in my excitement to shoot bird life i bought a tamron 150-600 telephoto lens for my nikon D3200 but I don’t seem to be getting really good photos with it. Could it be my lack of experience or do I need to upgrade to a better camera? Sure could use some help.

        Reply

        1. Hi Gary,
          It’s almost certainly not your camera. It’s possible that it’s just a matter of experience (using long lenses like that requires some specific techniques), or, less likely, it’s possible that there’s a problem with the lens.

          But it’s hard for me to tell without taking a look at some photos. If you can, email me a few of them (uncropped) and I’ll be able to give you a better idea of the cause, and if it’s not an equipment problem, I’ll let you know how you can get better results in the future. My email address is matthew@lightandmatter.org

          Reply

  8. hey ! i am stuck between nikon D5500 n’ canon 750 which one is better or can you suggest any other camera in that range

    Reply

    1. They’re both excellent cameras. The Canon will give you better auto-focus for shooting video, the Nikon will potentially give you slightly higher resolution images (with the right lenses and technique). Consider the price of the body, the prices of the lenses and flashes that you might use in the future, since it can be expensive to switch from Canon to Nikon once you have one or the other already.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  9. So great that reviews like this are available.I bought a coolpix L840 last summer for trip to Tetons,Yellowstone,& Glacier.I think the pics were great,put a lot of them on Facebook and the comments were great,they could not believe I took them.So now I would love to shoot pics of the stars,milky way etc.I want to stay with Nikon,I am a beginner for sure,have read reviews,read also how to shoot nite pics,my question is which model Nikon do you think would meet my needs,we will be traveling every summer,4-6 week trips,so I want to get great pics at nite,I know great pics depend on me,I will have a lot to learn.I have looked at the 5500 and the 7200,kinda think 7200 will be to heavy .Price is not a problem,but i do not want to pay more if something for less will do the same job.Thanks Vermelle

    Reply

    1. Hi Vermelle,

      When it comes to landscapes and nightscapes, the D5500 is just as up to the challenge as the D7200, and it’s significantly lighter (though good quality lenses are going to weigh any camera down quite a bit). When it comes to camera control and image quality, the D5500 should give you everything you need.

      Large aperture lenses make all the difference when you’re shooting at night. Keep in mind that an f/1.8 lens will give you 8 times more light than an f/5.6 lens, which will allow you to shoot at a lower ISO and get less digital noise.

      Good luck!

      – Matthew

      Reply

    2. First off, I¹ve read many of your articles/reviews and have really enjoyed your style.

      I am currently awaiting the arrival of my first child, and as many expecting parents, look forward to documenting this childs life. I am looking for my first DSLR. I will say that I am an engineer, very
      detailed oriented, and tend to get very into hobbies. Since picture quality between the 5500 and 7200 is nearly the same I am left with a couple primary differences that impact the decision for me. I like the smaller size of the 5500 as well as the touchscreen. I like the additional focus points, larger buffer, and the high speed flash sync on the 7200. I also like how the 7200 has a lot more features that I believe will “future proof” me. I envision myself using this for family, sports, automotive, and some landscape photography. I think the biggest thing I may miss if I go with 5500 is the high speed flash sync. I plan on getting a decent flash and use it for shadow filling when the situation calls for it.

      I want my wife to use this camera routinely too. She is not as detail oriented as I am, so for her the biggest thing is image quality and ease of use.

      What would you suggest?

      Reply

      1. Hi Jayson,

        It sounds as though you have a pretty solid understanding of the important differences between the cameras; all that’s left is for you to decide which one is appropriate for you. However, it sounds to me as though the D7200 would make more sense; you have the right mindset to be able to get the most out of its features.

        The nice thing about all of these cameras is that, when you want to hand it off to someone who is less technically oriented, you can simply roll the mode dial around to “P” or full automatic, and it’s as good as a point-and-shoot. Although the D7200 does have more buttons and controls on the back, that actually can make things easier; it means that you don’t have to scroll through menus on the LCD to make changes, and that’s a more daunting task for most people than learning where the most commonly used buttons are. So, I don’t think the D7200 will be a problem for your wife.

        And I might as well mention… my first two Nikons were the D80 and D300. Both excellent cameras, and I used both of them professionally with great results. But the D7200 is smaller and lighter than both of them. Despite the fact that it’s larger than the D5500, the D7000 series are still compact cameras, so if you’re accustomed to a full size SLR, they can take a little getting used to. However, if you’re looking for something compact, don’t let the comparison with the D5500 mislead you into thinking that the D7200 is going to be a heavy camera in absolute terms. It’s not.

        – Matthew

        Reply

  10. Awesome review. I own a D3300 and shoot Macros, portraits, football, basketball, cheerleading competitions, and wildlife. I am thinking about upgrading to either a D5500 or D7200. For the sports shots there can be others closer to me than the ones I want to photo. Single point focus is very difficult for moving subjects. Which of these 2 cameras would offer the most flexibility and what focus mode would work best for the sports shots and same question for wildlife

    Reply

    1. Hi Bob,

      With both the D5500 and the D7200, you can select smaller groups of focusing points: just the central 9 points, or a larger 21 point area (or all of the AF points). Different people have different methods, so it’s hard to say that one AF mode is better than another, but I tend to choose a 9-point zone and it works very well for sports and action, and wildlife. Since the D7200 has more total focusing points and more cross-type points (if you don’t know the difference, this short video of mine explains it), it will ultimately be the most flexible, but both AF systems are excellent.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  11. Hi Matthew,
    I’m also struggling with making up my mind which camera to buy and choices are between the D5500 and the D7200. I’m a pure amateur and take pics just for fun. What I usually photograph is nature, wildlife and equestrian sports both indoors and outdoors but I also use the camera when travelling. I used a Nikon D80 so far but found that usually to slow on the serials and difficult on indoor equestrian shows. Camera came with 2 lenses from Nikon, a 18 – 55 mm and 55 – 200 mm. Anyhow I always had the feeling I had the wrong lens mounted and needed the other one.
    Now I was thinking on one of the above cameras combined with a Sigma 18 – 300 mm 1/3,5 – 6,3 DC HSM OS. I hope to be able to use my old Nikon lenses in the future also but to be able to use a more “universal” lens.

    Regarding the camera I can’t make up my mind. Weight is an issue but speed also. Video is no issue because I’ve an excellent video cam for recording riding lessons for example. The price difference between the above cameras is not really an issue.
    What would you recommend? Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    1. Hi Margrit,

      For shooting action like equestrian, the D7200 is the better option; it’s going to be more responsive, faster focusing (perhaps), faster shooting (shutter and frame rate), and it will allow longer RAW bursts, if you need them.

      You may have read my comments about “all in one” lenses below, but if you haven’t, they generally produce pretty miserable image quality for a good portion of the zoom range. The whole point of getting a high-resolution DSLR is to get great image quality, and if you use an all-in-one lens, that becomes the weakest link in the chain, and you end up getting images that aren’t going to be any better in quality than you’d get with a point-and-shoot compact camera, for the most part. I don’t recommend any of Nikon, Canon, Sigma or Tamron’s 18-200, 18-270, or 18-300mm lenses.

      I do, however, recommend Nikon’s 18-140mm lens (or the old 18-135mm lens that was a kit option with the Nikon D80). If you really need the long reach of the 300mm lens, go with a lens that will give it to you with high quality, like Tamron’s 70-300mm. Otherwise, the 18-140 will cover your needs quite well.

      However, NONE of these lenses will do particularly well indoors. To really shoot indoor sports (and ideally, outdoor too), you’ll really need a lens that has a large maximum aperture, like f/2.8. An f/2.8 lens will let in more than 4x more light than the Sigma 18-300 when you’re shooting it at 300mm f/6.3. The extra light will allow you to use faster shutter speeds and/or lower ISO to get cleaner, sharper images. They’re not cheap: the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 VC USD is as good or better than the Nikon equivalent and almost $1000 less, but it still runs around $1500 USD.

      My general advice is to get the least expensive camera that will meet your needs and then buy the best lenses you can afford: they’re going to give you the biggest improvements in performance and image quality. They’ll focus faster, and they’re sharper. So, if a lens like the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 is beyond your current budget, you might consider buying the lens instead of a new camera, and using it with your D80.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  12. Hi Matthew,

    One more question : with Nikon D7200 can we use the lenses that do not have built in focusing motors (non AF-S), which are usually lower priced. How is the performance in that case ? How about VR ?

    Reply

  13. Hi Matthew,

    Very good articles.

    I have three queries:

    (1) How is Tamron 18-200 Lens with VC & DiII. Is it a better/equivalent option to Nikon 18-140 VR ?

    (2) Upgrading from Nikon D5100, which camera one should go for D5500 or D7200 ?

    (3) I find problems with focusing of D5100 while taking videos. It often loses focus and keeps hunting for it. Among D5500 and D7200 which has more stable and better video taking ability ?

    Reply

    1. Hi Amit,

      1) The Tamron 18-200 (and 18-270) are not as consistently good as the Nikon 18-140. Also, the Nikon 18-200 is not as good as the Nikon 18-140.
      2) They’re both great cameras; it depends on what your needs are as a photographer. I’d lean towards the D7200, but many people will be just as happy with the D5500.
      3) Yes, Nikon’s auto-focus system in their DSLRs just isn’t very good yet. The D5500 and the D7200 will be about the same, there. To get better AF performance, you’ll need to switch to Canon (with their on sensor phase detection AF points) or perhaps a mirrorless system.
      4) With the D7200, you can use all Nikon autofocus lenses, including those without built-in motors. The AF speed then depends on the lens; the larger the lens, the harder it is for your camera to drive the lens. For all lenses smaller than a 70-200 f/2.8, you probably won’t notice much difference; the AF speed is good. For larger lenses, it can be significantly slower.
      VR would be unaffected, but I don’t know of any VR lenses that don’t have a built-in motor.

      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Hi Matthew,
        Thanks for comprehensive reply.

        So it seems that if taking videos is also a priority then I should look into Canon.

        Which Canon model do you feel is at par with Nikon’s D7200 or D5500 ?

        Reply

        1. If shooting video with autofocus is a priority, then yes… Canon is probably the way to go. If you don’t mind manual focus, then it’s not such a big deal. The Canon 70D is roughly on par, feature-wise, with the D7200 and D5500. The Canon 7D Mark II is a better sports/action camera than any of them.

          – Matthew

          Reply

  14. Hi Matthew,
    Thank you very much for such great reviews and information!
    I’m currently looking to buy a DSLR. I read all comments and still not sure which one to choose between D5500 and D7200. I’m looking to buy only one Nikon 18-140 lenses and I need to take a lot of indoor and outdoor photos. I need a good photo quality in low light and in nature. Money is not the issue. Can you please advise which one will be the better option?
    Thank you very much for your input.

    Reply

    1. Hi Amir,

      When it comes to image quality (including low light image quality), the D5500 and the D7200 are going to be virtually identical. The D7200 has significantly better battery life, and it’s faster, not to mention being a generally more solid camera. Normally I’d say that you should buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs (in this case, the D5500) and spend the difference on better lenses… but since you’re already planning on getting an 18-140, I’d go ahead and get the D7200 with the 18-140 kit.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  15. I’ve been doing some heavy research and I really enjoyed reading your post. I’ve been back and forth between the three camera’s for a very long time. I’m upgrading from the 5300 and I was looking for something with good low light capabilities (not just high iso but highest iso with least amount of noise), as well as something that can really capture tones well since I do alot of sunsets and landscapes. I’d like something I’d be able to do very crisp and clear prints on, I know the lens make a huge difference in that, but whatever helps..

    Would you pick the D7100 over the 5500? If so, what would be your 2 choices of lens for said body? i’m sorry if you’ve answered this a hundred times.

    Reply

    1. Yes, I would prefer the D7100 to the D5500, for several reasons that are relevant to the way I shoot, but might not be important to you. I shoot a lot of wildlife and action, so the higher shutter speeds and the flash functionality are important to me, and I spend a long time out in the field, so battery life is important, as well as the ability to set micro AF adjustments (though that is more of an afterthought), and for my hand, the larger body is more comfortable, and I like the weight. If there are any differences in image quality between the two, they’re not significant. I don’t care about a touch screen, and I don’t really like articulated screens. But that’s just me… you may have different needs.

      If I could only choose two lenses, I’d probably go with the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 ART series to start with, and the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 VC USD for the long end. They’re both optically excellent; extremely sharp and give me plenty of light, but are still not outrageously expensive (though the Sigma is a bit pricey). But lens choice is very personal: a lot of people would want to go with something that covers a more common range, and the Nikon 18-140mm kit lens is actually quite good for that. Some people would want only prime lenses: maybe a 24mm or 35mm and an 85mm. It really depends on what focal lengths you like.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      Reply

  16. Great review and thanks for helping so much !

    I currently use a Sony Nex-6 mirrorless and want to move things up a click. I took all of my pics (3000+) with the Sony’s 16-50mm lens and never put my 70-210mm on the camera once. I just didn’t want to carry the big lens around. (or change lens)

    I like to carry my camera at all times and want to start with a camera/lens combo that I will leave on at all times. Future purchases will be more expensive prime lens. I was looking at the Tamron 18-270mm paired with the D5500 as a walkabout.

    Opinions ??

    Reply

    1. Hi Jim,

      I’m a big fan of the Sony NEX/Alpha line… the a6000 in particular, but I certainly understand about the 70-210 lens. It’s bulky on a compact camera, and the image quality isn’t all that great anyway.

      That said, the Tamron 18-270 is not a good lens. In fact, none of the all-in-one lenses are really any good (including the Canon and Nikon 18-200mm). I own the Nikon 18-200 VR, and the optical quality completely defeats the purpose of owning a super-high resolution DSLR like the D5500, and the 18-270 and 18-300 are even worse.

      About the most zoom range that you can get into a single lens and still have good, solid optical performance throughout the zoom range is the Nikon 18-140mm VR (or the Canon 18-135mm STM). Luckily, that’s a pretty perfect zoom range… it’s very similar to 27-210mm, and when I was in college, I had to use an 28-70 and 70-210 to cover that range (and those were the lenses I used while studying photojournalism, and they covered almost all of my needs, except shooting football games and that sort of thing).

      Anyway, I’d recommend the D5500 with Nikon 18-140mm instead of the Tamron, or if image quality isn’t as important as convenience to you, then stick with a compact camera instead.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  17. Greetings sir,
    I’m looking for a camera for wildlife & birding purpose mainly… I’d like to take advantage of the APS-C sensor for its crop factor will be very useful for birding… I zeroed down to nikon d7200 coupled with tamron 70-300 vc usd & nikon 200-400 and also if possible nikon 300mm lens.. What would be your suggestions regarding the choice? Any alternatives? Anything will be of great help… Also I’ve heard that the 70-300mm from tamron is pretty much better than the nikon’s especially the VC.. Is it really true?

    Reply

    1. Hi Srinivas,

      I agree, the D7200 sounds like a great option. It is also true that the Tamron 70-300 is slightly sharper than the Nikon and the Canon, both of which are older lens designs, though it’s relatively small aperture isn’t ideal. The Nikkor 200-400 is an awesome lens.

      It sounds like you’re already pretty well settled on the Nikon, but if you haven’t already looked at it, the Canon 7D Mark II is an excellent birding camera… and amazing autofocus system and 10 frames per second (about twice as fast as the Nikon D7200), and this week it’s on sale for about $500 off. You might think about it. I use the Canon 400mm f/4 DO II lens with it, which makes the whole package not too heavy but gives me great reach and resolution.

      Reply

  18. Hello,

    Thank you for alI of your insight! I am trying to decide between the D5500 w/ 18-140 for $1,000 or the D7100 w/ 18-55 and 55-300 for $1,000. I noticed you’re not a fan of the 55-300, but figured it might be a good enough deal for the D7100 to get it – any thoughts? Or is it a better idea to spend $1,100 for the D7100 and 18-140 lens? Thank you. Mainly looking to shoot landscape, family portraits and sports in the future.

    Reply

    1. Hi :)

      You may have also already noticed my motto: buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs, and the best lenses that you can afford. So, if you think the D5500 is going to satisfy you, that’s a good place to start.

      If not, if you’re concerned that you’ll want a more robust camera, then the D7100 is a good option, but yes… I’d probably go for the kit with an 18-140 instead. If cost is an issue, you can get a factory refurbished D7100 for less than $500 from a couple reputable places (through Amazon), which will give you some room to buy better lenses.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  19. Hi Matthew, Nice detailed comparison. I have a few questions though. I have been looking at basically 3 cameras. The D5500, D7100, and the D7200. With so many intricacies it’s hard to remember all the pro’s and cons when there are so many options. My interest are landscape, night photography, macro,time laps, and pics of the family.

    From what I have read, and what I have seen on DxOmark the 7200 seems to be king of the hill for landscape, though it’s really hard to find still comparison between the 7200 and 5500. I was able to find 7100 vs 7200 and once the ISO was bumped up to even 800 I was easily able to tell the noise difference between the 7100 and 7200. How will that compare to the 5500? I guess my main concerns are between landscape, and night photography.

    I guess with so many options and interest things become difficult to sort out. Hardly anyone talks about macro in relation to cameras, I guess probably due to it mainly being the lens that does the work, but is the micro adjustment something I would need as I have heard it’s useful in such cases.

    Difficult decision because I can pick up the 5500 with a 18-140 or a 7100 with a 18-55 &55-300 for the same price 1K$, (DxOmark, not so hot on the 300mm), or an open box 7200 with a 18-140 for 250$ more. I want to at least pick up a 50mm prime with what ever I get, just don’t want go out of control on cost.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rich,

      If DxO’s tests show a difference between the D7100 and D7200 at ISO 800, then there’s probably something wrong with the test, unless they were looking at JPGs, which are not very relevant to people who care about their image quality anyway. I just double-checked, and found that between the two cameras at ISO 800 and 1600, looking at RAW files, the difference is negligible. Slight changes in contrast or how you apply noise reduction will make a much bigger difference than which camera you choose, on that count. At 3200, the D7100 has slightly more chroma noise and the noise in general is a little more coarse, but at that ISO, neither one looks all that great anyway. So, I wouldn’t get too hung up over the very, very minor differences in image quality. They won’t make a difference in your work. The same is true of the image quality difference between the D7200 and D5500. Maybe there are lab-relevant differences (though that’s hard to believe), but if you took several pictures from each camera, mixed them up, and asked me which camera took which, I wouldn’t be able to answer at a rate better than chance.

      Micro focus adjustment can be helpful for macro, that is true. If you’re expecting to shoot a lot of macro, then it might be worth considering the D7100/7200 rather than the D5500.

      The lenses that you choose ARE going to be very important; much more important than the camera. I’d also avoid the 55-300. The 18-140 is a great lens for what it is (a full range zoom), so that’s a good place to start. The nice thing about landscape photography is that you can usually use a tripod and stop your lens down to f/8, and even less expensive lenses will be very sharp there, across the frame, but you’ll still want to take your time choosing the best optics for the type of images that you’ll eventually be most proud of.

      Reply

  20. Hi Matthew!

    I’m in doubt which camera i should buy. Here are my options:
    Nikon D7200 + 18-105VR kit
    Nikon D5500 KIT WITH AF18-55VRII + AF55-300VR
    Nikon D7100 + 18-140VR kit

    My personal favourite is the first one, I’ve been adviced to buy a better body so I can invest in lenses after I get used to my new camera. But after I’ve read this review I’m starting to think of second offer because it comes with two lenses. The third one is here as i don’t want to have my eyes closed to other options.
    I’m an amateur and never had DSLR in my life, so this is my entry in photography world. (sorry for grammatical mistakes if there are any, I’m Croatian :)

    Reply

    1. Hi Sara,

      As you’ve probably already seen me say, my advice is to buy the cheapest body that will meet your needs and the best lenses that you can afford :) By “best” lenses, I mean those lenses that have the best quality optics, the largest apertures, and the best build-quality… not necessarily the most convenient zoom range.

      So, first you should ask yourself what your needs are when it comes to a body. Do you need something that’s built tough (but heavy) and hast faster shutter speeds and frame rates? Do you need something light weight? Do you only care about image quality? But you also have to know your own personality… if you buy a less expensive camera, are you going to wish for the next few years that you had bought a more expensive one? That’s worth keeping in mind :)

      Personally, I like the 18-140mm lens better than the 18-105, and if we’re talking about kit lenses, I’d rather carry a single zoom lens like the 18-140 than carry two… like the 18-55 and 55-300, even though they’d give me more range. I think that if the choices above were my only three, I’d go with either the D7100 with the 18-140, or buy the same lens with a D7200. But that’s knowing my own tastes… and that’s what a lot of this boils down to.

      – Matthew

      Reply

    1. There isn’t really much competition between the D7200 and the D810: the D810 is really the better camera in just about every way possible: better sensor, better low-light performance, similar speeds and features otherwise. The D810 costs a lot more than the D7200, mostly because of its full-frame sensor, but that sensor really performs well.

      Does anyone need that kind of sensor performance? That’s another question. There are certainly some professionals who use the camera to its potential, and there are probably lots of amateurs who don’t (but that’s true of any camera).

      What are your concerns, between the two?
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Not a concern really… just that I almost purchased D7200 and one colleague suggested that I should look into D810. Mainly for higher pixels, resolution and full frame features. This is for dental photography primarily and secondary for nature/ wildlife photography.

        Reply

    1. Hi Mitch,

      It all depends on what you want to do with it. The easy answer is that The Nikkor 18-140mm is a very convenient zoom range with great optical quality, and it will be good for many types of general shooting. The more complex answer is that there is no single lens that is perfect for every situation, and even when you know the situation, personal, artistic taste plays a big role in lens choice. So, the 18-140 is a good place to start, but if you have specific interests, I can give you some better ideas.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  23. Hi Matthew

    Great comments and great things you have shared. hats off .

    Well I am also seeking help from your side in selection of camera as I am totally confused .

    First I am confused about Nikon and canon as most of people suggest me canon but my choice is Nikon….is I am right here or I go for canon as image quality is more important for me .

    All I need to know is Nikon 5300/5500 and Nikon D7200 image quality is 100% same if not then how much we can say about the difference .

    I am not a professional photographer but all I need is image quality as much as better that I can get in low budget .

    and what you say about Nikon 18-140 lens or would you like to suggest some other .

    Waiting for your reply now . My selection is now depends upon your reply

    thanks

    Reply

    1. Let’s start with the Canon vs Nikon question. The fact is, there are amazing photographers working with both systems, and none of them have any trouble producing gorgeous photographs. Yes, there are differences, but they’re minor. Knowledge, practice and technique are more important. As a general rule, if you get a good camera from either company and you have a problem getting good images, the problem is with you, and not the camera. :) It’s more important to get a camera and start practicing with it than to try to get the perfect camera.

      That said, the sensors of the Nikon D5500 and D7200 have higher resolution than any Canon APS-C camera, if you shoot RAW, with your camera on a tripod, with the mirror locked up, with a remote release, etc. Without all of these precautions, the resolutions between the D5500 and the Canon T6s are going to be invisible, and even with them, they’ll mostly be negligible, and the differences between the D5500 and D7200 will be non-existent under any circumstances if you shoot RAW. If you shoot JPG, there may be some visible differences, since the processing will be different… but if you care about image quality, you’ll shoot RAW anyway. With the D5300, if you completely miss the exposure on an image and have to add lots of exposure (more than 2.5 stops) in Lightroom afterwards, you’re likely to see more banding than with the D5500. If you know what you’re doing, though, this won’t be an issue, and the difference in image quality will be virtually un-detectable. All of the Nikon sensors will have slightly better dynamic range than comparable Canon sensors, though I’ve never found these differences to be very significant.

      So, considering your needs (and I don’t know what you’ll be using it for), I’d opt for the Nikon D5500; it will give you the best image quality for the money.

      As mentioned in the article above, the incredibly high resolution of these sensors demands the highest quality optics. If you use cheap lenses, you won’t get the resolution for your sensor to capture. This is why, in general, getting the best quality lenses is more important than getting the most expensive camera… the lenses are the bottle neck for image quality.

      The Nikon 18-140 is a great lens for general purpose shooting. It’s a very convenient zoom range, it’s nice to be able to carry it around without having to change to other lenses, and the optical quality is very good (but not excellent) throughout the zoom range. It’s a lens that I recommend to most amateurs.

      If you really want top quality optics, though, you’re going to have to pay for them… and be willing to carry the extra weight. They’re big and heavy. Many of Nikon’s professional lenses will give you excellent image quality, though they’re very expensive. Sigma’s ART series lenses are just as good or better, usually at about half the price. The Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 is the best lens made in that zoom range, and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/1.4 are also incredibly sharp. But expensive and heavy, for a casual photographer.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      Reply

  24. Hi Mathew,
    I have been reading all your reviews and it has been very useful, this will be my first camera and your insight on which is better suited for my requirement will be immensely helpful.I have the D7200 or the D5500 on my list, I am a biker and travel a lot, mostly taking pics of bikes and a bit of natural landscape photos and family photography. The D7200 has weather sealing and a rugged body which seems to suit my outdoor travel ,but i am unsure how effective is the weather sealing, will I be able to take photos during rain..?? Or does it just means it needs lesser maintenance than the D5500, I am just getting into photography and know very less about images quality between these cameras, I feel the D5500 is sufficient for me but is there any chance of making the D5500 more weather resistant
    Kindly suggest between D7200 and D5500 and also information on the lenses will be great.
    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    1. Hi Gaurav,

      The weather sealing of the D7200 is less helpful than many people realize for one main reason: most lenses are not weather sealed, and lenses can quickly be ruined by water. If you do happen to have a weather sealed lens, then great: you can get away with shooting in the rain, briefly… though I wouldn’t push it too hard. My cameras are weather sealed, but I don’t trust the sealing. Instead, if I’m going to be in the rain for a long while, I use a rain jacket for the camera. You can buy a pack of 2 for just a few dollars, or a less disposable one for not a whole lot more.

      So, from what you’ve said, I suspect that the D5500 would be a better camera for you. It’s compact so it travels well, and it’s still pretty rugged, and you’ll get equally good image quality.

      -Matthew

      Reply

  25. Hi Mathew,

    I read your superb review.I am confused by reading lot of reviews to take a decision to buy first DSLR,I am looking for camera to take photos during holiday travel, family portrait, child play ..nature photography ..please advise from among these ( Nikon D5500 , D7200 , Canon T6s , Canon 70 D which one is more suitable to me .

    Regards,
    Saifulla

    Reply

    1. Hi Saifulla,

      The good news (and perhaps the bad news) is that ANY of those cameras would be excellent, general purpose camera. Though it may not have been the case 10 years ago, all of the DSLRs on the market today are capable of producing excellent image quality and beautiful photos; most photographers won’t ever bother to develop the skill needed to produce the kind of images that these cameras are capable of. That is not to say that these cameras are all equal, it’s just that the differences are really not very significant (except, perhaps, for people who have very specific needs).

      The lenses that you choose are MUCH more important than the camera body. Good quality lenses will make a dramatic difference in your image quality, while a couple of megapixels will not. Good lenses are available for Canon and Nikon, so my advice is always to buy the least expensive camera that will meet your needs, and the best lenses that you can afford.

      With that in mind, if you have any interest in shooting video, I’d go with the Canon 70D or Canon T6s; they have the best autofocus system for video by far, though the 70D is a bit better than the T6s.

      If you’re not especially interested in video, go with the Nikon D5500. The D7200 will give you a little more speed, as you’ve seen in the article above, but most people don’t need it, and it will take money from your lens budget. The D5500 also more compact and lightweight, which is handy when you’re traveling.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  26. Hi Matthew

    I hope you have the time to answer my question. I’m new to dslr cameras. My main reason for a nice camera is for filming just short 3 – 4 minute videos for music I make. Also breath taking images of mother nature. I’m an independent musician and slowly building a self sufficient arsenal of music equipment and everything related to promoting myself. With a side hobby for learning the basics to taking wonderful photos from a camera that can also film in hd quality. I’m currently looking at the d5500 what is your opinion on this? Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    1. The Nikon is fine for video, but Canon’s cameras have some distinct advantages, and in fact, the Panasonic MFT cameras are even better. For photography, though, I prefer an SLR like the Canons or Nikons, but that will be a matter of personal preference.

      The Canon 70D has the best video autofocus of any DSLR (except the Canon 7D II, which has the same AF system) and their video quality is very high. In comparison, the Nikons are slow and inaccurate. The Canons also support Magic Lantern firmware, giving them a whole host of professional quality audio and video options.

      That said, Nikon and Canon can currently only shoot up to 1080p, while the Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic G7 both shoot 4K video, and have excellent video features. They’re mirrorless, so autofocus is not a problem. The GH4 is one of the best 4K cameras at any price.

      Still, if photography is also an interest, I’d probably go with one of the Canon cameras. The 70D is now just under $1000, and the T6s is significantly less. Both support STM lenses (quiet and accurate, for shooting video).

      – Matthew

      Reply

  27. Hi Matthew…this is a different Michelle with a question about the Nikon D5500 that I bought about a week ago. I took it to photograph my nephew playing football today and noticed a dust spot in the view finder. A few minutes later there were two! When I got home, I was able to use a rocket blower to clean it out but I’m concerned that they got in there so easily. I hadn’t changed lenses or anything like that and they weren’t there when I got to the field. I’m not sure if this is normal or if I should return the camera (it’s still within the return period). I’m also wondering if I should get the D7200 instead. I like to photograph birds, family events, and occasionally a sports event. I also have the Nikon SB 700 speed light. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. I don’t WANT to spend more money but if it’s worth it to do so I will while I’m still within the return period.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle,
      I wouldn’t worry too much about the dust that you can see through the viewfinder. First, that’s on your focusing screen, not your sensor, so it won’t affect your image quality. Sometimes, with new lenses, dust from the manufacturing process and travel can come loose during the first couple of weeks you’re using the equipment. As you zoom your lens, the lens groups moving inside act like the plunger in a syringe and create some air movement, and that dust gets into your camera body. Your camera’s sensor cleaning system should keep that from being a problem, and you already know how to deal with it on your focusing screen. (This was an even bigger problem back in the days of push-pull zoom lenses).

      Whether you should get a D7200 is another question. Photographing wildlife and sports are two of the places that a D7200 can be a bit of an advantage over the D5500, although it’s a very minor advantage if you don’t shoot RAW. So, if you shoot RAW (and you should!), it’s worth considering. If not, then I wouldn’t bother. Really, the D7200 will just give you that extra frame per second, and will allow you to shoot longer bursts. The AF systems on both cameras are excellent.

      – Matthew

      Reply

    2. Also, other advantages of the D7200 over the D5500 that may be relevant to you, are that the 7200 has weather sealing which is better for outdoor and sports photography keeping more dirt, rain and even light splashes out of your camera, and also seeing as you have an SB700, you can use the flash off-camera with Nikon’s remote commander which is built into the 7200.

      Reply

  28. I had recently purchased Nikon D5500 to capture my 1 Year Kid activities.

    I had some issues using with P mode, My kid face comes dull(like blur) in it.

    Also Im not sure if I can use flash to take my Kids as he is still 1 year, could you please throw some light if you are aware of it.

    Reply

    1. As young children move around a lot, the blur may be due to motion. If you are shooting indoors, you may need to brighten the room with more lights, boost your ISO (light sensitivity) to get a high enough shutter speed to limit the blur. Flash shouldn’t have any negative affect on your child, though it can be startling. If you can’t get enough light without flash, I would encourage to not be too close, look into a flash diffuser or bouncing the flash and not firing too many sequential shots. Another thing is the preflash can startle children (and induce blinking in adults) to using your flash in manual mode so you only have the one primary flash and no preflash will lead to better results.

      Reply

  29. Hi Matthew! I’m so thankful that you’ve been so through with the comparisons of these Nikon DSLR. I’m an art student and have yet to take a photography class. I’m in need of a camera that will give me quality portfolio pictures of my 3 dimensional art, mainly sculptures and furniture. I’m also a mom of 3 and want this camera to be beneficial for capturing family events. The user friendly touch screen interface looks nice ans simple but I’m worried about it malfunctioning over time and its fragility. I like the size and weight of the 5500 but the flash lag concerns me, not sure if buying an external flash will fit what I need. The 7200 is significantly heavier and more expensive and seems a bit more complicated but I could definitely learn to use it. Both have snap bridge and WiFi which is a must for me.

    I just purchased the 5500 from Costco as a package deal with 2 Nikkor Lenses AF-SDX 18-55mm f/305-5.6G VRII and AF-SDX 55-300mm f/4 ED VR, 2 batteries 32GB card and system case for $1099. The 7200 comes with the same thing but for $1450. I think the 5500 will sit in the box until I hear from you.

    I definitely want this camera to last me for a very long time and I don’t want to reflect back 3 years from now wishing that I had spent just a little more. Any advice that you can give will definitely help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle,

      Unless there’s something that really worries you about the D5500 (that you haven’t already mentioned), it sounds to me as though you’ve made the right choice. The D5500 has is an awesome camera, and even though it is lightweight, it’s really very robust. The lack of high-speed-sync is a surprisingly minor issue, for reasons that are too complex to explain right now… but you shouldn’t miss it.

      The more that you learn about your camera and photography in general, the more you will understand that the camera body you use is not very important (unless you have some very specific needs). Lens choice, composition, and light are much, much more important.

      If you’re just getting started with the basics of photography, you might consider spending 8 minutes to watch this video I made to explain the 3 basics.
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Thank you! That does help a lot and the video was a perfect tutorial! Now I when I set up shows or installation art most of my pieces are lit over head from various angels and the rest of the space may be dimly lit more so when pieces are light or white and I want to play with how shadows and light fall on my pieces/ sculptures. It seems that the 7200 is a hair better in low light situations, is there a lens or light that you might recommend for the 5500 in this set up?

        Reply

        1. Hi Michelle,

          The D7200 is actually not any better in low light, by itself. At high ISO, if you’re shooting JPG instead of RAW, it might be slightly less noisy, but at that point, either image would be very noisy, and not a good quality photograph. That’s not what you should be aiming for.

          If you’re shooting your art indoors, your best option is generally going to be to use a tripod. If you do that, you can use ISO100, so you won’t have any graininess/digital noise. You can use a small aperture to get as much depth of field as you want (or a large one to get less). That will result in a slow shutter speed, but that’s OK because you won’t get any camera shake (its on a tripod) and your subject won’t be moving (if it’s like most artwork). And you can buy a decent tripod for less than $100.

          There are lenses that will help you shoot in low light. Nikon makes relatively inexpensive 50mm and 35mm f/1.8 lenses. If you shoot them at f/1.8 (which is 1/3rd of a stop less than f/2) it will be letting in a little over 8 times more light than your 18-55mm lens at f/5.6. That’s a significant difference… it will allow you to use a much lower ISO and higher shutter speed. However, the drawback is that it will give you a very thin depth of field, so if your artwork has any depth to it, much of it will be out of focus. Sometimes that can be used for a good effect, but it can also be very limiting.

          The bigger problem that you’ll run into is that when you’re shooting pictures of a light subject against a dark background, the camera’s metering system will be confused, and it will try to make the darker background nice and light. That will, in turn, make your subject too bright… so bright that it will be washed out and lose detail. The only way to counter that is to learn how to adjust your exposure. I have to do the same thing with my $3000 camera… that’s not a camera problem :) .

          Regardless, using a tripod will allow you to shoot with the lights that you have set up in your gallery space. Using a flash on your camera (especially your pop-up flash) will remove all of the interplay of light and shadow in your piece… it will look flat and lose its dimensionality.

          However, using multiple off-camera flashes with light modifiers will give you excellent quality of light. But that’s a steep learning curve, so it’s best not to try to tackle that until you’re really familiar with your camera.
          – Matthew

          Reply

          1. Thank you Matthew!

            I took the D5500 to the maker faire and museums at Balboa Park yesterday. After having watched your video on the 3 Basics I played a bit with the aperture and shutter speed. I know I have a lot more to learn about this camera and will definitely will watch more of your videos.

            Thanks again for being so kind and helpful to everyone here!

            Reply

  30. Excuse me… I will also like to add:
    Light conditions sometimes can get little compromised as it is intraoral!! though we have over head light… still. And, also I will like to add D7100 in the list.
    Look forward in hearing.
    Thank You

    Reply

    1. Incidentally, I just played with the 105mm lens that I mentioned before, and find that the minimum focusing distance is about 5-6″ from the end of the lens to the subject. Wider shots (more than 2 or 3 teeth) would require the camera to be perhaps a foot or two away, which would also make the light from your flash fall off a bit. I’d go with the 85mm or 60mm… but as I say, I don’t have much experience with this sort of thing.

      Reply

      1. HI Matthew
        Excuse me for this
        I have a couple questions please don’t mind –
        I am the one who asked you about photography in dentistry… I am curious to know how are mirror less cameras different or any better than Nikon dslr’s. Also, if you can mention any nicer mirror less cameras comparable to Nikon D5500 or Nikon D7200. And is any better over another.
        Thank you very much in advance!!

        Reply

        1. This is a very difficult issue. Let me start by backing up to what I mentioned before: the camera body itself doesn’t make that big a difference for the type of work you’re doing. What’s more important is going to be its compatibility with the accessories you’ll need.

          The Fuji XT-1 is an excellent mirrorless, but the flash options are limited and there’s only one macro lens available, which may or may not be the best size for you.

          The Sony A7 series cameras are awesome, but quite a bit more expensive than the Nikon DSLRs, and I’m not sure what flash equipment is available, but there’s probably something.

          All of the micro 4/3rds cameras are mirrorless, like the Olympus OM-D EM-1. They’re all going to be lower resolution (16 megapixels vs the Nikon’s 24) and have shorter battery life, but they’re nice cameras. Again, I’m not sure what kind of macro lenses or flash equipment you’ll find for them.

          Personally, I’d go for the Nikon DSLRs unless you can think of some good reason to go with a mirrorless.
          – Matthew

          Reply

  31. Hi Matthew
    Thank you for the detailed comparison between the two cameras. I am beginner in this arena but very much interested in photography. I am a dental surgeon and doing post-graduation; my program requires us to buy DSLR for case presentations and conferences. I am convinced that NIKON is somewhat better than CANON but I am confused with if I should consider D5500 or D7200. My pictures mostly will be surgeries what I do… I will really appreciate any suggestions you can give.
    Thank you

    Reply

    1. Dental photography has some very specific requirements, and actually, the camera itself isn’t very important except insofar as it is compatible with the things that are important. So, let me start with those.

      First and foremost, you’ll need a good macro lens. Nikon makes a few good ones, including a 105mm f/2.8 micro, an 85mm f/3.5 micro, and a 60mm f/2.8 micro. A true macro lens (which Nikon calls a “micro” lens) will give you 1:1 magnification of your subject; ie, it will be the same size on the camera’s sensor as the size of the object in real life. Using a longer lens, like a 105mm will, consequently, give you the exact same magnification as a shorter lens (like the 60mm) when they are focused as close as they can be focused… but the 105mm lens has to be further from the subject to be focused, which gives you more room around the camera to let light in, if you need it (but you probably wont).

      I have never done dental photography on a live human (and only on dead ones in graduate school for biological anthropology), so I don’t know which will be perfect for you. I’m assuming that frequently you’ll want to photograph a group of teeth rather than a single one, so you won’t be using the lens at it’s closest focusing point anyway. I have a Nikon 105mm handy, which I’ll check in a few moments, but my guess is that the 85mm is going to give you the best working distance (not too far, not too close). There is NO zoom lens that will be a substitute for one of these lenses. Both cameras are compatible with all of these lenses, but the D7100/D7200 will allow you to make micro-adjustments to the focus of these lenses.

      The second thing is that you’ll want a ring flash or other close-up flash setup. This will give your subject even illumination, and it fits to the END of the lens, rather than the top of the camera, so it will work perfectly for taking close-up photos. Ideally, you’ll want a true flash (rather than a ring of LEDs) because the amount of light that it gives off is great enough to allow you to use a small aperture and get more depth of field (more of your subject in focus at the same time). Currently, Nikon’s flash system is the R1 or R1C1, which is not a ring flash but a set of two small flashes, and they use the iTTL system from the camera’s flash for triggering and metering. This is ONLY compatible with the Nikon D7100/D7200, not the D5500.

      However, there are other options. Sigma makes a ring flash that costs about $350 called the EM-140, and it has a good reputation, and it will work with either camera. Using flash will also ensure that you don’t have motion blur in your photos.

      There are also lots of cheap LED ring lights out there. They’re not flashes… they’re continuous lights… which has drawbacks and benefits. It allows you to see exactly what the light will look like while you’re taking the picture, but the light it produces will not be as bright as a flash unit. They can be had for $25 – 50. This one costs about $38, and is probably as good as any (and comes with adapters to fit most lenses). You’re much more likely to have motion blur in your photos, though, and insufficient depth of field.

      So, I don’t know what kind of budget you have, but I’d probably lean towards the D5500 with the Sigma flash. If you would like to be able to adjust the focus point of your lens a bit (this shouldn’t be a big deal if you are using a small aperture), then go for the D7100 or D7200. As far as image quality and shooting capabilities, there’s nothing to recommend the D7200 over the D7100, though.
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Hi Matthew
        Thank you very much for the response, I sincerely appreciate your time.
        So, as per your expertise D5500 should be good enough… Thank you for the word.
        As far as lens goes… I am little confused; I request please help.
        I am looking to buy a bundled package with –
        Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II AF-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens

        Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor SLR Camera Lens
        52mm 2X Professional Telephoto Lens
        52mm High Definition 0.45x Wide Angle Lens

        Are these any good to me, with respect to dental photography?
        And will I be able to adjust the focus point on D5500 at all?

        Excuse me for little specific questions, but need/ request your expertise.

        Thank You

        Reply

        1. First, let me explain “micro focus adjustment”, because I don’t want to give you the false impression that the camera won’t focus at different distances at all. It certainly will.

          SLRs use an auto-focus system called “phase detection” with which a separate AF sensor (not the sensor that captures the image) detects exactly how far away the subject is from the sensor, and the camera uses that info to move the lens focus to what it expects the right place to be for that distance (as opposed to using the data from the image sensor itself to make that determination).

          But since the lens is being set to where it is expected to focus correctly (instead of where it is actually focusing correctly), if the lens wasn’t manufactured perfectly, or it’s damaged, or it’s otherwise just a little different from normal, it’s focus point might be just a little bit behind or in-front of where it’s supposed to be. “AF micro adjustment” gives you the option to fix that, so that the actual focus point matches the expected focus point.

          But this is a remarkably rare problem, and even when it is a problem, people rarely notice it. I wouldn’t worry about it.

          That said, the lenses that you mention are not suitable for dental photography. The “52mm 2x telephoto” and the “52mm 0.45x wide angle” lenses are actually just filters that screw onto the end of other lenses, and they’re really just toys, not quality optics. They’re thrown into these packages because they’re cheap and people don’t know what they are, so it sounds like you’re getting a lot.

          The 18-55 is a decent wide-mid zoom lens, and the 70-300mm is a decent telephoto zoom lens, but neither one is a macro lens: they will not allow you to take close-up pictures; they can’t focus that closely.

          If you want to buy a body with a kit lens, I’d recommend going for the D5500 with the 18-140mm instead (it’s a good convenient, general purpose, all-around lens), and then buying one of the macro lenses that I mentioned above… probably the 85mm or 60mm, separately.

          Or, just buy the body alone and buy a macro lens to go with it, if you’re only going to be using the camera for work.

          And the correct flash equipment really is just as important as the camera and lens.

          Good luck!
          – Matthew

          (PS – Keep in mind that I’ve never studied dental photography, specifically… only related subjects where teeth and small objects need to be photographed, so take all of this with a grain of salt.)

          Reply

          1. No, for your purposes they’re pretty evenly matched. The Nikon’s sensors may be very slightly better, but Canon also has some great macro lenses and macro flash equipment; either one would be just fine.
            – Matthew

            Reply

            1. Hi Matthew
              I sincerely want to thank you for your insights and sharing your expertise, I appreciate it.
              Quick question, for photographic needs… not just dental but overall… will a photographer like yourself say D7200 is way much better than D5500 or they are at par!
              Thank you again…

              Reply

              1. For the kind of work that I do, the D7200 has some distinct advantages; it has a heavier, metal body that will hold up better to being handled roughly in the field. It can shoot faster action photos (faster shutter speed, more frames per second), and it can shoot more of them in a row without pausing. It’s not a big difference, but it would be worth it to me.

                I also prefer the controls on the D7200, which are arranged a little bit better for someone how knows what they’re doing, while the D5500 tries to keep things simple.

                Ultimately, the D7200 is a better camera in some ways, which is why it’s more expensive. Many people won’t need its features, though… and there’s no reason that you couldn’t take photos of the exact same quality with the D5500. That’s not a simple answer, but it’s a true answer :)

                – Matthew

              2. Yes true, that was not a simple answer!! ;P :))
                I asked that as I am curious to know what is the best camera. I am looking to get the best one there and at the same time dont want to get something what I will not be able to use… so asked!
                Thank you for responding. :)

  32. Hello Matthew.
    Thank you very much for such great reviews and information!
    I’m currently looking to buy a DSLR because I’m ready to upgrade from point & shoot plus my Canon Powershot G3 that I owned for 12 years died out this year. I take a lot of indoor photos at museums, which can have very poor lighting. Also, I like to take outdoor photos of birds & butterflies. Which camera would you suggest between the Nikon D5500, D5300, D7200, or Canon T6i. Thank you very much for your input.

    Reply

    1. From what you’ve said, it sounds to me as though the D5300 or D5500 would be your best bet, along with a good lens for low-light. They’ll give you low-light image quality that’s as good as any other option (among APS-C options), and it will give you a little extra money to work with for a large aperture lens. The T6i would be a great alternate if you also want to shoot video.

      Lens-wise, you’ll want a lens with at least an f/2.8 aperture available, but ideally f/1.8 or f/1.4. Nikon makes excellent, relatively inexpensive options: a 50mm f/1.8G and a 35mm f/1.8G (less than $200) are both good, depending on whether you’d prefer something slightly wide angle (latter) or closer to mid-range/telephoto (50mm). Both will give you a ton of light to work with, and the 50mm is a pretty good portrait lens, too. There are many more options, but the prices will increase very quickly. The Nikon 35mm f/1.4, for example, will run around $1800… quite a bit more than the f/1.8.

      If your focus is going to be heavily on shooting action shots of wildlife and you want slightly faster bursts/fps and slightly better AF, then you might consider the D7200 as an alternative, but you really shouldn’t need it. The D53/5500 are really excellent.
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Hi Matthew,
        Thank you very much for your prompt response, I really appreciate it. This really gives me a jump start! Tomorrow, I’ll go to Best Buy and hold both the D53 & D5500 in my hands to see which is more comfortable.
        My current point & shoot Fuji FinePix really disappointed me at my Grandmother’s 90th birthday party this summer because it was very slow, which caused me to miss out on a lot of great moments plus the photo quality was very poor with the indoor lights! Luckily, one of my relatives had a Nikon camera & registered all of our party photos to Walgreens website!

        Reply

  33. Hello Matthew!
    First of all, a big thanks for replying to everyone’s question. I really appreciate it.
    I would like to know about normal zoom lenses for D7200, from both Nikon and third parties. Is 18-140 mm good enough?
    Regards

    Reply

    1. Hi Mark,
      It depends on what you want to do. In general, the 18-140 is really a very good lens… much better than the 18-200 (and longer) zooms that are out there. Like most consumer-level zooms, though, it’s not idea for shooting action in low-light situations, since the aperture will be no larger than f/5.6 when zoomed in to 140mm, which doesn’t give you a ton of light. It’s going to be great as a standard, walk-around lens because it’s relatively light weight and compact, with good optical quality.

      If there’s a specific use that you have in mind, though, let me know and I can suggest additional options.
      – Matthew

      Reply

        1. Hi Mark,

          Any f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens would be great for low light, including the 35mm f/1.8G. Most lenses will give you better sharpness and resolution if you stop down a stop or two, so if you want the best image quality, you should look for lenses that perform well wide open.

          The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART series is one of them, though it is quite a bit more expensive than the Nikon 1.8G. Similarly, the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 ART is excellent, even wide open, but it’s pricey.

          If you’re looking for something on a more reasonable budget, 35 and 50mm f/1.8 lenses from Nikon are a good place to start.
          – Matthew

          Reply

  34. Great analysis when read in conjunction with dpreview’s sensor comparisons.

    I’ve been shooting a D7100 for quite a while and have been frustrated by the tiny buffer and low-light focus hunting. Otherwise the D7100 is a super camera. The D7200 may be my crop-sensor upgrade as soon as the prices drop.

    Also… your speculation re: reason for removal of the GPS feature from the D5500 is off-mark. The problem with that feature was two-fold:

    1) It drained batteries within 2-3 hours when standby was not utilized. And under standby setting (which extended battery life) it would take too long to re-acquire location such that (when hiking or driving) you could shoot a quick sequence and be off to another location and that sequence would not be tagged at all because you didn’t allow time for the GPS to “wake up” and reacquire.

    2) You have to download an ephemeris from Nikon’s web site every 2-4 weeks (containing satellite positions) and load it into the camera. If you didn’t do this, then future sat acquisitions could take 20 minutes or longer…. I mean REALLY longer! The ephemeris data was only good for a month at a time.

    Reply

  35. thanks thanks. this is a real comparation. not like other where they compare tech spechs only.
    i fit into the d7200 needs. but i wonder does a d610 would be better?
    what i need is low noise. long exposure shots day and night. some flash shots.
    i like to take pcis of stars. city lights, smoth water (long exposure), in all i include a model. (the same each time:D) i have some lens, and a d3300 but after few months, i have got the d3300 at its limits and i need more. i was also thinking to get the d750, but …
    for the d7200 the best lens i can get is the new 16-80 2.8-4 or 17-55 2.8. boths DX . i need wide angle. but for a FX i have more options. i wish there would be a zoom option for a 1.8 at least, from nikkor. (for fx the best i can get is 14-24 f2.8 (no easy filters), but for dx i have 2 options)
    im reading everyday options and options, and i cant decide. i dont know if even im asking a question right now. any way. thanks for your article

    Reply

    1. “” For nightscapes, the performance of the d5500 and d7200 are not significantly different if you’re shooting RAW. However, if you really want a performance improvement, move up to any of the full-frame sensors.
      The D610 will be better than both. “”

      i havent read the coments. im so tired of reading. hope you understand. this gives me an idea. a good one. i also want to mention that im very afraid of other brands then nikkor, iv seen sigma tamron carl zeiss etc, but im afraid for a failure. what would be the best wide angle(f 2.8 , f1.8 f1.4 zooms, not tele) option for nikkor from a different brand? thanks

      Reply

    2. If low noise is important to you, I’d go ahead and get either a Nikon full-frame body (D610, D750).

      The Sigma “ART” series lenses are equals (optically) to any Nikon or Canon lens, from the tests that I’ve done so far (for example, see my video of the 35mm and 50mm lenses). At the wide end, that pretty much means the 35mm f/1.4 and for APS-C, the 18-35mm f/1.8 . I haven’t had a chance to test the f/2 full frame equivalent yet. Tamron’s new SP 35mm f/1.8 with stabilization should be good, too… but we won’t know until that hits the market at the end of the month.

      I’m in the process of testing the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8, and I’ve been satisfied with it so far, but I’ll have to finish before I can give it a full vote of confidence.

      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. thanks for the reply.
        well. past 2 hours iv read some comments on different forums and blogs, about the tokina sigma etc. and everybody has to say something about them.
        im the kidn of person that if i dont like something i buy something alse as fast as posible so i dont get disappointed for long. so im sure if i buy different lenses other then nikkor and find that is something happening to them, or even “THINK” thats something wrong i will start thinking and regret. so for this not to happen i will have to go with nikkor and im sure i will be sure that if a pic is not good is my fault not like blaming a 3rd party lenses not beeing nikkor.
        so i will try to get the full frame option like d610 or d750. and then some nikkor lenses as in this moment what i own are dx only and i dont want black corners..

        thanks for the addvice and sorry im not convinced about other brands. i think ill feel better knowing i got the best. even if am amateur, i like taking nice pics and i find this step to full frame to be the best for the moment.

        thanks and have a good day

        Reply

  36. Hello and thanks for all the info!

    My husband and I are looking to purchase our first DSLR. Mainly to take pictures of family events, family portraits, kids games, recitals and travel. We also want to really take photography as a hobby (hey you never know where this will take us… maybe a side business to do family pictures, maternity pics and kids sessions.)

    With that being said we are looking at a few DSLRs (Canon 7D Mark ii and Nikon 7200, and now that you mention it maybe the Nikon 5500).

    My first choice would be the Canon 7d M2, because of its speed, but not sure how important 10fps is in what we want to do. We also like the auto focus for videos and crisp pictures. We like that it’s made of weatherproof material and I like the touch screen too. The dislikes are the lower megapixels, no wifi, and the weight, feels clunky.

    The NikonD 7200 would be a second close runner up. We like the way it felt when we held it, the greater megapixels, built in wifi and slightly lower price :) We found that it did not have the same speed nor touchscreen, which we feel would make taking pictures easier.

    So what would be a great starter camera? We want to not only take great pics and video but have the opportunity to learn and as photographers. We want a camera that would be a great second camera should this hobby go anywhere.

    We also can’t decide if we want a Canon or Nikon. I’m partially bias to Canon… Why? Not sure, as I’ve seen great pictures taken with Nikon as well… But I realize we should make a choice now as we start. If we want to upgrade to a better camera later on, sticking to a brand will be more cost effective. Any tips on how to devise? Both seem to have pros and cons.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Making the choice between Canon and Nikon is tricky. Part of the reason that it’s so tricky is that it seems a LOT more important than it really is. Both are excellent systems, both have some excellent lenses, both have some amazing sensors. Whichever you choose, if you end up with poor photos, it’s probably your fault :) They’re all capable of producing excellent images.

      I also would go for the Canon 7D Mark II, if you’re interested in shooting video. It’s an amazing action camera, top-notch autofocus system, and a good sensor. Yes, the sensor of the D7200 is better when it comes to resolution, but if you’re shooting at ISO100-400 with high quality lenses, even 20 megapixels is more resolution than the lenses can generally produce, and it’s more than enough even for very large prints.


      If you were primarily going to be a landscape photographer or you were doing some kind of work where resolution is the critical factor and perhaps dynamic range played a more important role, I might lean toward the Nikon, but it sounds like your needs are better suited to the Canon. If portraits are important to you, you might also consider the 6D, which is not such a great action camera, but the full frame sensor will be a benefit when it comes to shooting portraits with a shallow depth of field.

      As for Wi-Fi, you can buy a 7D II bundled with an Eye-Fi card to give it wireless transfers, and it costs the same as the bundle without it! I use the eye-fi in my 5D Mark III when I’m shooting events so that I can send JPGs to a tablet or a printing station for immediate viewing, and it works nicely.

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      Reply

  37. Hi Matthew. I’ve really enjoyed all of your reviews. I was planning to get d5500 with sigma 18-35mm f1.8 after reading a lot of reviews (and yours) recommending it. However, the autofocus issue made me hesitate. What’s your thought regarding it?

    Reply

    1. Hi John,
      It’s funny… I’ve shot with Sigma lenses (of and on at least) for 20 years now, and I’ve never had any particular focus problems with them. Focus problems are VERY common with large aperture lenses, regardless of the brand, because of the extremely shallow depth of field… but in my serious comparison tests with Sigma large aperture primes (the 35mm f/1.4 ART and 50mm f/1.4 ART), I did not encounter any AF problems. I have heard complaints of focus problems with them from new owners, though.

      I haven’t spent much time with the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8, and haven’t given it a serious test, so I can’t give you a definitive answer, but personally, I suspect that most people are blaming the lens for a problem that is actually just their lack of practice with it.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  38. Hi!
    Is there anything that a D3300 can’t do and D5500 and D7200 can?
    Is D3300 no more than an advanced point and shoot camera?

    Reply

    1. There are certainly things that the more expensive cameras can do that they D3300 can’t, but mostly it’s a matter of degree: they have have more autofocus points (and generally a better AF system), the D7200 has a faster frame rate… but in general, the D3300 is a very capable DSLR, certainly better than an advanced point and shoot. I haven’t done a full comparison, so I can’t give you all of the details.
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. I wish to learn photography and thinking of buying a D3300. I am interested in portraits, night photography including stars, capturing walking pets, and a little action here and there.
        Is D3300’s AF system good enough for my type of photography? How will it’s AF perform at night?

        Reply

  39. Hi Matthew!
    I can’t decide between the D5500 and D7200. Is D5500 capable enough to take action pics like kids playing, jumping and running in daylight and at night? Also, is D7200 too heavy for everyday photography? Which of these will be a better camera for me?
    Please help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Aaron,
      The D7200 is heavy compared to the D5500, but it’s still a small DSLR; it’s light compared to the D300, for example, or a Canon 5D. It’s only going to be heavy for people who are lightly built, or for people who need to save weight because they’re carrying lots of other stuff (hikers, climbers, travelers, etc).

      That said, the D5500 is more than capable for shooting general action and kids’ sports. I wouldn’t use it as a professional sports camera, but a good photographer probably could.
      – Matthew

      Reply

        1. In some cases, with some lenses, a camera will consistently focus slightly behind or in-front of where it is supposed to focus. AF-fine tune allows you to adjust where you lens focuses, slightly, so that the focal plane is exactly where you expect it to be.

          Usually, this is only a problem if you’re using very old lenses (many of which the D5500 is not compatible with anyway, for AF) or off-brand lenses (Sigma, Tamron, etc), and usually even then the amount that the AF is off is very minor… not something that most people will notice. Usually if there’s a problem it’s with the photographer, not the camera/lens. However, for people who shoot with large aperture lenses all the time or who shoot macro work, it can be worth taking care of.

          Generally speaking, I wouldn’t worry about it.
          – Matthew

          Reply

  41. HI there,
    4 questions:
    1. will be going to Africa on safari, looking for one of these two cameras. Will one be any better than the other in this usage?
    2. Which would be an equivalent Canon to look at? And would one of these two Nikons be better than an equivalent Canon?
    3. Costco has a bundle for $1100 for 5500, which includes AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm VR II and AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens, 32GB SD Card, Extra Battery… worth it?
    4. if not this bundle with these lenses, which lens(es) would you recommend for my purpose of Africa safari?

    Reply

    1. Hi Ricky,
      Either one would be great to have, although you’ll also need to understand how to use it to get the most out of it. If you’re experienced with photography already, great. If not, make sure you take the time go learn the basics and get very familiar with your camera before your trip.

      That said, the D7200 will be a little better for capturing fast action sequences. If you happen to be tracking a cheetah tracking down an antelope, the D7200 will give you more and faster bursts of shots, though they both do quite well. The D7200 also has dust/weather sealing, so you’ll be less likely to have serious camera damage if you get caught out in the rain or a dust storm. If you’re going to be near a vehicle (or have a good camera bag handy), that might not be an issue.

      The Canon T6s is a good equivalent to the D5500, and the 7D Mark II is probably the closest equivalent to the D7200. The Canons don’t match up exactly. The 7D Mark II is an awesome, pro-level performance action camera: it has an awesome AF system (better than the Nikons) and it can shoot 10 frames per second for action shots, and it has wonderful video functionality. It is a couple hundred dollars more than the D7200, though, and it has a slightly lower resolution sensor (20MP rather than 24).

      The Costco bundle sounds fine (although similar bundles are available for a bit less on Amazon.com, for example). The 18-55 should give you good quality at the wide angle end, and the 55-300 should give you good telephoto reach at good quality. There are, of course, more expensive options if you have an unlimited budget, but most of us don’t :)

      Good luck!
      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Many thanks for the quick response. Definitely plan to learn the camera before we go. Actually, for my daughter to use…..

        Reply

  42. Hi Matthew !

    I want to do nightscape photography, so the low noise high iso is important. Is there any winner here for this purpose ? Otherwise, I like (and my neck …) the articulated LCD screen of the d 5500, but I also like the weather sealing of the d7200 … So the image quality for this specefic application will define the best choice. Many Thanks,

    Jacques

    Reply

    1. For nightscapes, the performance of the d5500 and d7200 are not significantly different if you’re shooting RAW. However, if you really want a performance improvement, move up to any of the full-frame sensors.
      The D610 will be better than both.

      Reply

  43. Matthew, great review and e act,y the question I have been asking myself. I am a novice and have been using a D3000 with an 18-105 lens, the excellent 50mm AFS f1.4 prime lens and a speed light 750. Mostly I do Motorsport, friends & family etc and starting on landscapes and night time cityscapes. I also do some CCTV control room interior shots on a tripod without flash for work. There is a big difference in light levels around the room with overall light low but high light levels from the screens.
    Looking to upgrade to either 7200 or 5300. Think I can cope without the articulated viewfinder. Main drawback with my D3000 for me is noise at ISO over 400 but it was a good intro to DSLR.
    Any clues to which of the 2 would be best for me would help with my choice before I get my wallet out?

    Reply

    2. Hi Neil,
      For most of the things you mention, the D5500 would be just as good as the D7200. The only possible exception is going to be Motorsport shooting, where the D7200 will have an advantage… better AF and top shutterspeeds. But the D5500 should be fine.

      Reply

  44. Great article Matthew!
    One little suggestions though – the current must-have-lens that makes these cameras really shine is the Sigma 18-35mm F1,8 which fully replaces 3 prime lenses and produces sharper results than any of the primes (edge to edge!). The price is quite affordable (approx. $799) so even cheaper than buying 3 primes and it has it’s own motor (so works on the D5500). The only downside is that it’s quite heavy.

    Reply

    1. That’s what happens when you don’t read all the comment. I just seen you already recommended this lens, so my bad and good on you :)

      Reply

  45. Hi. This article really convinced me of buying d7200 as a good start in dslr field. I got a mirrorless last year but i sold it because the battery won’t last for a day. Admin, what lens you do know for a tight budget intended for landscape scenes? It is fine for me if i go with tamron or sigma as long as it produced better shots. Tnx

    Reply

    1. Lens choice is really difficult, since it’s so much a matter of personal preference, but I’m a big fan of the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS, which is good for low light and it’s good for everyday shooting and landscapes. It’s not cheap, exactly, but it’s much cheaper than the Nikon equivalent, and the image quality is very good.

      One of the best lenses you can buy, period, is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. It’s not a lens for a tight budget at all, and the zoom range is a bit short, but the image quality is amazing, and it lets in more light than any other zoom lens made.

      If you want an even wider field of view, the Sigma 10-20mm is a good option.

      Reply

      1. Hi….after trying all d5300 d7200 and d610 for couple of years. ….i find d7200 is a good choice (d610’s sensor is amazing but its af is not, and far behind d750 in low light)
        More important if somebody planning to purchase sigma lens like 17 50 2.8 or 17 70 c ,18 35 1.8 art…… you shoud know about the scrolling and zooming issues with d5300 and d7100 when sigma lens is attached, but there are no issues with d7200 ..just my thoughts for someone might find it helpful. ..☺

        Reply

      2. I like the idea of teaming the sigma 17-50mm f2.8 with the Nikon. The risk of getting a front or back focusing lens together with the absence of in camera focus correction worries me though

        Reply

    1. Hi Jangiri,

      Actually, both cameras are equally well suited for high-key and low-key photography (these are more related to how you use your camera than which camera you use, as long as you know how to use your camera). If you’re thinking specifically about high-key portraits, for example, or still-life, the additional features in the D7200 won’t make any difference, so you’re just as well off saving the money and buying the D5500 and better lenses. If you’re shooting high-key with bright back-light, like shooting a portrait with the sun low and behind the subject, you’ll get a little more shutter speed to work with with the D7200, which will give you 1 stop of extra speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000), but I can’t think of any other situation in which the D7200 would be a benefit, specifically.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  47. Thanks Matthew for this great comparison. This has been my main difficulty in choosing a DSLR of my own for the first time (I do have moderate experience with other people’s and school-owned DSLR’s). I’m looking at one of these two to use for use in, and in order of increasing priority: concerts, travel landscapes, pro sporting events (baseball, hockey, football, basketball, golf), and close-up pictures/quick vids of my friend’s theater performances (potentially low-light) while seated about 10-15 feet from the stage. I’m trying to keep my budget under $2000, the less cost the better so I can afford better lenses down the road. Do you think a D5500 bundle of 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G + 55-300mm f/4-5.6G lens is enough for my purposes for now? Or should I get a D7200 with the same lenses but $500 more?

    Reply

  48. Hi, sorry if I don’t speak english very well, I’m spanish speaker. So, I have a Nikon d3100 and I want to change for something better, I’m not professional, I use my camera for travels and I like to take some photos, landscape, bokeh, but not every single day, It’s just a hobby, therefore, what you recomend for me? I thinking between d5500 or d7200. Thank you very much!

    Reply

    1. Hello Agustin,
      It sounds to me like the D5500 would be a great choice for you. The D7200 has some advantages for shooting sports and action, but the D5500 is excellent for landscapes and general photos, and the image quality will be just as good for any of those things.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  49. Matthew – firstly, to reiterate what others have said, thank you for a great comparison

    I have an ageing Nikon D60, I shoot mainly landscape and occasional action/wildlife. I have the Std 18-55 lens and also the 18-200mm lens as my go anywhere lens

    My photography is not at the stage where I can justify spending the money on a full frame DSLR, and the associated lenses! So, having read the above, I’ve just ordered a D5300 and will put money towards a decent lens for landscapes, which leads to my question…

    What lens should I buy? A decent DX lens or a full frame lens that I can ultimately use if I upgrade in the future? I suspect though that the latter won’t give me a wide enough angle?

    Many thanks once again

    Reply

    1. Hi Mike,

      In general, if you’re thinking about getting a wide-angle lens and you’re shooting APS-C, I’d get a lens that is designed for APS-C. If you’re thinking about a telephoto lens, get a standard full-frame lens. My favorite lens for just about everything (including landscape) is a 70-200 f/2.8, but for APS-C, the 17-55mm f/2.8 is also a good option. There are a few very good ones available: of course the Nikon, but also the Sigma and Tamron 17-50mms are quite good.

      However, if you’re looking for something wider, the 10-24mm range is also popular for really emphasizing foreground details and giving that exaggerated wide-angle perspective. Like most lenses of this type, the borders of the Nikon lens get really soft at the wide end until you stop down to about f/8, but otherwise, it’s a great lens all around. My personal favorite is the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (the original and the II are both great), which gives the best optical performance, although it’s range is a little more limited than the others.

      And the nice thing is that if you buy high quality lenses, APS-C or full frame, when it’s time to move on to another set of lenses, they hold their value well if you want to sell them on Craigslist or Ebay, so you don’t lose much by switching.
      Good luck!

      – Matthew

      Reply

    2. Thanks again Matthew. Just ordered a Nikon 17-55mm lens from eBay in as new condition for less than 50% of retail!

      Reply

  50. Hello,i have been wondering whether i should get the d7200 or the d5500.price is no problem for me and i have started photography and am very interested please help me.i like to take portraits and wild life photographs.

    Reply

    1. Hello Abdullah,
      If price is not a concern, then the D7200 is the superior camera. The only reasons that you’d really want to go with the D5500 are the fact that it’s a bit smaller and lighter, or if you want a touch-screen or articulated/swivel screen. Otherwise, the D7200 is faster and stronger.
      – Matthew

      Reply

  51. Hi – great review of differences. I guess for me as a basic new hobbyist with a simple camera (Canon G7X) the image quality are about the same for each and more than good enough. What seems to be different then (apart from body size, AF, weather proofing etc) is the controls. I would have thought that was an important difference – having those extra buttons and dial. Do they make life easier or are the controls on the D5500 effective enough? Thanks Tom

    Reply

    1. Hi Tom,
      Sorry for the delay; it’s been a busy week! Personally, I find the extra buttons on the D7200 more convenient, but once you get used to the workflow of the D5500, it’s fine… of course, you can do everything that’s needed, and with the touch screen, access to all of the menus is fast if you need to get into a menu to make a change. All of that is a matter of personal preference, though… some people find that extra controls are confusing. We’re probably not in that camp :)
      – Matthew

      Reply

  52. Hi Matt,

    Firstly i wanted to thank you and appreciate the time and effort you have taken to write this article. It means a lot especially for someone like me trying to buy their first DSLR.

    I had precisely these choices: D5300/5500 vs. D7200 (overlooked 7100 lack of wifi). I also omit D5500 as i believe touchscreen gonna be nusansce of leaving finger prints on the screen! Though it provides better battery life (# of shots). Now, i’m left with D5300 vs. D7200 both at different spectrum of price points! Here are my questions to you:

    I currently have had a digital camera Panasonic DMC-FZ50 and predominantly use it only in Manual mode. These are the drawbacks i find: 1. Picture quality 2. Horrible low light photographs 3. Subject blurs in low light (e.g. my child’s action blurs if photographed inside house) 4. Biggest problem of all: Subjects have dark face (guess shadow) when photographed outside in daylight or with back light!!

    I’ll need good photographs of my family outside / inside (ligh tings) and wlldlife photographs as i hike a lot.

    Can D5300 be able to address the above issue and my need. Or will D7200 be better. This is my first and investment on a body for longtime to come so wouldn’t mind stretching my budget.

    Please recommend. (also is top deck display important? (D7200))

    Thank you so much!

    Reply

    1. Hello Krishnan,

      There are some problems that a camera can solve, and some that only a photographer can solve.

      Both the D5300 and D7200 will give you excellent image quality, when used correctly. They have excellent sensors and processors, and if you use them with good lenses, the images can be professional quality every time… at least in terms of quality.

      They both also have very impressive low-light quality. As you probably know, in low light, the camera has the option of either raising the ISO, which can cause digital noise and a grainy appearance, especially in older cameras, or it can use a slower shutter speed, which causes subject motion blur at first, and eventually camera-shake blur. The D5300 and D7200 both have good enough performance at high ISO that you can maintain a fast shutter speed without the image getting too noisy. That should address your points 2 and 3. Neither camera has an advantage there.
      If you’re not familiar with the relationship between ISO, shutter speed and aperture, I recommend my quick video or my article on the subject.

      Dark faces in difficult lighting situations is something that some cameras might be able to deal with sometimes, but no camera will be able to deal with most of the time. This is something that requires some input from the photographer. There are a few different ways that you can deal with this:

      1. use exposure compensation to add extra exposure to the photo overall. This will make the background excessively bright, but the faces will be light enough.
      2. use spot metering. This takes the light reading from the specific place you choose rather than the whole frame, so if you meter on the face, then the face will be properly exposed (though the background will also be very bright).
      3. use fill flash. Flash can brighten up subjects that have shadows in their eyes or faces, and it will not make the background too bright, so you’ll have a more balanced photo, but using flash can sometimes make the image look artificial. There are ways around that, but it’s more than I can explain here.

      Each of those methods takes some familiarity with your camera and with photography in general. The D7200 has slightly better spot-metering, which may help, but it won’t solve anything by itself. You have to know how to use it.

      Since the D7200 will give you a higher top shutterspeed and better frame rate and burst length, it will be better for wildlife photographer, although they’re both pretty solid cameras for action.

      All of my cameras (since I starting shooting with autofocus cameras in 1991) have had a camera top display, and I’ve always used it and I still do… but I don’t know if that’s only because that’s how I first learned. It may be that if you didn’t have one, you wouldn’t miss it… I just don’t know. I love having quick access to that information, though.

      – Matthew

      Reply

      1. Thanks Matt for the prompt response! Agree with your comments and i never hesitate from playing with the manual controls even though i end up getting not great pics. But i believe learning and experience leads to perfection.

        Now, have two followup questions: Which brand would you recommend if i have to start building lenses slowly & steadily for the long run: Canon or Nikon (given that i’m starting from ground zero). As you would have noticed in my previous post Wildlife is one of my imp. area of interest.

        Guess telephoto lenses can become quite expensive.

        If you believe Canon, can i choose Rebel T6i over Nikon D5500?

        Thank you so much!

        Cheers – Krishnan.

        Reply

        1. Canon vs Nikon is a hard question, and the answer will depend almost entirely on who you ask. They’re both excellent camera systems, and a good photographer will be able to use either one effectively.

          They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I think that even most Nikon shooters would agree that Canon makes the best telephoto lenses. They also have the best autofocus systems.

          On the other hand, Nikon makes some excellent prime portrait lenses, and the sensors they have been better than Canon’s for the past few years, although that tends to flip back and forth.

          What I can tell you, though, is that if you want to go with a Canon, go with the T6s rather than the T6i. If you want more information about that, you can read my article that talks about the differences between the T6i and T6s here. The T6s has much better video AF than the D5500, if you shoot video, but the Nikon’s sensor will give you slightly (probably not perceptibly, usually) better resolution.

          -Matthew

          Reply

  53. Thanks for the enlightened comments.
    Have been toying with the idea of a D7200, with the view of getting a TAMRON 150-600mm to go with it. Wondering whether one can get away with teaming it up with the D5500 as I do like the idea of a touch screen. My main aspirations centre around shooting surfing scenes.

    Reply

  54. I’m planning for d5500 along with 18-140 mm & 35mm prime.Im not a professional but know how to handle manual mode.I like to use it for all round purpose casual ,street, portrait , landscape etc. M I going for the right camera n lenses? 35 mm I think is better than 50mm as I can use in tight spaces n it makes d camera easy to carry around n I can also shoot portraits.

    Reply

    1. Hi Tomal,

      The D5500 with the 18-140 is a great choice. Whether you go with the 35mm or a 50mm as a prime is really a matter of personal preference; 35mm is not generally considered ideal for portrait work because the focal length tends to distort features (noses appear a little too large, etc), although it’s a great choice for full-length portraits. I’d go ahead and get the 35mm, and if for some reason it turns out that it’s not as useful as you’d hoped, you can easily sell it for close to full price (Nikon lenses hold their value) and get a 50 or 85mm instead.
      – Matthew

      Reply

    2. I have same question as Tomal…35mm or 50mm . nikon india has a offer of DSLR kit+ combo lens (35mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.8) at reduced price..local storeoffering D5500 at 62,000 rs(mrp is 72000 rs) so at rs 70000 i can have one of theseprimes with D5500+18-140…looking for 50mm first …my priorities are flower photography(not macro) casual,portraits,landscapes…also how good 18-140mm at 35mm focal length?

      NICE REVIEW!! thanks
      looking for dslr after practicing over 7000 shots with nikon l820 since year and half

      Reply

      1. Hi Suyash,

        Again, lens choice is very much a matter of taste and personal preference. The 18-140mm range will cover both the 35 and 50mm focal lengths, so the question you’ll have to ask yourself is: which one of those lenses would you want to use at large aperture? Which would be more useful for you for low-light and/or portraiture work, or other work that requires background separation? For me, that’s usually the 50mm lens, but it may be different for you.

        Unfortunately, I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison of the zoom lens and the 35mm, so I can’t tell you how different the two lenses are at that focal length, but I can tell you that the 18-140mm is really nice and sharp; I wouldn’t worry too much about the resolution difference. There will be a difference in distortion (the zoom will have more) but not a ton more… the worst of that will be at the very wide end.
        – Matthew

        Reply

  55. Hi Matthew,

    I’m upgrading from a D5000 so at first glance, looked at the D7200 / D7100 and still thinking seriously about it. Outside of still pictures, I need a better video camera, my D5000 does not have Auto-Focus once you begin shooting and that’s one of my other key needs. I use an external SB-800 flash so i definitely need a camera that works / sync well with external flashes as well. Low light shooting is another need but I think both cover that well. So, between the D5500 and D7200 / D7100, which has better and continuous Auto Focus in videos? Also, been considering a D610 (used) which will end up at the same price as the D7200 (new).

    Thank you in advance for your advice.
    Babak

    Reply

  56. I’m still confused
    I’m a noob. I have used a D5300 and did OK. Still learning to shoot in manual mode.
    I shoot sports from late afternoon into night. Auto mode is fine while the sun is out but as soon as it goes down and the stadium lights g in I have to go into manual and play with App, Fstop and shutter.

    Seems like the 7200 mad fit best but it does scare me a bit (too Advanced for a noob) and its a bit pricey for my budget.

    Reply

    1. The D5500 and D5300 are also going to be great cameras for shooting sports, even in low light, though of course, not quite as good as the D7200 in some regards.

      As long as you have a good understanding of what Aperture, Shutterspeed, and ISO do to your pictures, you should be in good shape with any camera for sports. If you’re not entirely clear on those things, a good place to start would be my (short) video on The Three Basics of Photography. It’s quick and simple.

      – Matthew

      Reply

  57. Thanks for the detailed comparisons. I was flipping between many of these models, not sure whether the D7100/D7200 are worth the costs. I think I will start out with the D5300.

    Reply

  59. Nice incremental upgrades.

    I might have been tempted by the D7200 instead of the D750 I ended up getting for the cost and weight savings but had to go on a trip and the D750 timing worked the best for me.

    Reply

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