Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500 – Detailed Comparison

You’re welcome to this Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500 comparison article. Here, you’ll get to see how similar and/dissimilar the cameras are. Hopefully, you’ll be able to make a decision of which is the better camera for you.

To help you with that decision, we’ve researched on the features of each camera and pitted those of one camera against those of the other. This way, you know where one camera does better than the other.

However, if you are pressed for time, be sure to peruse the comparison overview and comparison table below. You’ll get quick information to help you make a quick decision.

Comparison Overview — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

Here’s your quick comparison of the Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500:

Overall Rating Of Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

From our research, we consider both cameras really good cameras. However, they each have areas where they are better at.

The Sony a6000 is the better camera for stuff like sports photography or toddler photography; basically any kind of photography where the subject(s) moves around a lot.

What makes the Sony a6000 good for this kind of photography is the continuous shooting of 11 frames per second. Also, weighing 0.76 pounds, the weight might also have something to do with it.

On the other hand, the Nikon D5500 would be better for video related recording including recording that video for your vlog.

The reason for this is that the Nikon D5500 comes with a microphone port which makes for better audio recording. The touch and fully articulating screen also has a part to play in this.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

First off, while the Sony a6000 is a mirrorless camera, the Nikon D5500 is a DSLR. And they both generally have features in tandem with the kind of camera they are.

Hence, the Sony a6000 is the smaller of the two cameras while the Nikon D5500 has the longer battery life (820 shots per charge). Also, while the Nikon D5500 comes with an optical viewfinder, the Sony a6000 comes with an electronic viewfinder.

Furthermore, the Nikon D5500 gets a lot of points for its screen. It has the better screen resolution (1037k dots vs 922k dots), has the larger screen (3.2 vs 3 inches) and a selfie friendly screen.

The Sony a6000, on the other hand, gets points for wireless connectivity (NFC enabled) and focus points (179 vs 39).

Which Has The Better Price-Value Ratio: Sony a6000 or Nikon D5500

The Nikon D5500 has a better price-value ratio than the Sony a6000. It is the slightly better camera and, on top of that, still the more affordable one. So, surely, the a6000 will be giving you value for your money, but the Nikon D5500 will be giving you even more value than for your dollars spent.

About The Brands

Sony

Sony is a Japanese brand that can best be described as a conglomerate and this is because its businesses are really diversified.

Look at it! Its products appear in the entertainment, gaming and electronics industries. And not just that, it does a thing or two about financial services.

Its entertainment branch is a diverse venture of its own including such mini brands as Sony Mobile, Sony Pictures and even Sony Music. And just so you know, Sony is credited for having the largest music entertainment venture in the World.

Nikon

The Nikon brand, on the other hand, is more specialized. Its products are basically within the imaging and optics venture.

From its founding days in 1917, the Nikon brand has grown and expanded even though it is still headquartered in Japan. And just so you know, Nikon is part of the Mitsubishi group of companies.

Comparison Table — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

	Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
Weight	0.76 pounds	0.9 pounds
Dimensions	4.7 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches	4.9 by 3.8 by 2.6 inches
Battery Life	360 shots per charge	820 shots per charge
Continuous Shooting	11.0 frames per second (fps)	5.0 frames per second (fps)
Wireless Connection	In-built	In-built
Screen Type	3 inch tilting screen	3.2 inch fully articulated
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical
ISO	100 – 25600 and can be expanded to 51200	100 to 25600

A Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500 Comparison Video

Which Is Better Under What Circumstance — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500?

Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
The Sony a6000 is the faster of the 2 cameras. So, if speed is really important to you, consider getting this camera.	On the other hand, the Nikon D5500 has the longer battery life.
The Sony a6000 is also the lighter of the 2 cameras. So, if you are going to be lugging your camera around a number of times, consider getting this camera.	Also, the Nikon D5500 comes with a microphone port. This makes it the better camera option for recording videos.

Common Features — Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500

Here are features common to both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D5500:

i. Viewfinder

ii. Built-in flash

iii. Built-in Wi-Fi

iv. 100 – 25600 ISO range

v. Articulating screen

vi. RAW support

vii. 24 mega pixel maximum sensor resolution

viii. UHS memory card support

ix. Face detection focus

We will now look at each of them in detail…

1. Viewfinder

If you’ve gone through our comparison overview, you probably already know that not all cameras come with a viewfinder. And this is the reason we felt the need to point out that both cameras do come with a viewfinder.

Now the viewfinder is that small screen-like thing in the camera that you look through to focus on and shoot images. With those cameras that do not come with a viewfinder, you’ll have to make do with the LCD screen.

That may be good in certain circumstances. However, if you are in a place that is too brightly lit (like out in the sun), the LCD screen would be practically useless.

Thankfully, both cameras in this review come with a viewfinder. However, while the Sony a6000 has an electronic viewfinder, the Nikon D5500 has an optical viewfinder. And this is basically due to the kind of camera they are.

One other thing. The viewfinder of the Sony a6000 has a 100% coverage while the viewfinder of the Nikon D5500 has a 95% coverage. 95% isn’t bad but total coverage is always better than almost total coverage.

2. Flash

This is another feature that, surprisingly, does not come with all cameras. Now, what we mean is that not all cameras have an in-built flash feature, they only come with a port for attaching an external flash.

Thankfully, both cameras come with an in-built flash. We like this because the in-built flash can be used to quickly light-up settings that are not properly lit so that you can take that perfect feature. And you can always be sure that you have your flash with you.

Furthermore, both cameras also come with that external flash port. Now, because there is an inbuilt flash, you can use your external flash for some more intense stuff like flash photography.

3. Wireless Connection

This is another thing that both cameras have built-in. Unlike some cameras to which you have to attach an external device to be able to connect to the internet, both the cameras in this review have the wireless connection built-in.

This way, all you really need to be able to connect your camera to the internet is said camera and a Wi-Fi connection.

Now, still in the spirit of wireless connections, both cameras can be connected to and controlled using a smartphone. You’ll have to get the appropriate app and then via the app, connect the camera to the smartphone and you’re good to go.

Once connected, the screen of your smartphone can serve as both the viewfinder and the control panel. Such convenience!

4. ISO Range

Both cameras have practically the same ISO range but first, what is an ISO range? First off, ISO tells us, in numbers, how sensitive a camera is to light.

If the ISO numbers are low, it means the camera (at that point) isn’t very sensitive to light and so will not capture so much light. Furthermore, if the camera is not very sensitive to light, there are lesser chances of the photos taken having grains.

This automatically means that a camera in high sensitivity (represented as high ISO numbers) wi capture more light but then will have a higher possibility of grains on photos.

An ISO range is basically the upper and lower limit (in numbers) of light sensitivity of a camera. And knowing all that about light sensitivity, it only makes sense that a camera has a wide enough ISO range so that the photographer has as many ISO options as possible.

That said, both cameras have an ISO range between 100 and 25600, however, the range of the Sony a6000 can be expanded to 51200. While this ISO range might not be the widest among cameras, it is sure impressive for a semi-pro and an entry level camera.

5. Articulating Screen

An articulating screen is that screen that can be moved in certain angles and directions without moving the camera body itself. The basic idea of this is for you to be able to take photos from certain angles without necessarily manipulating the entire camera.

That said, both cameras have an articulating screen. However, while the Sony a6000 has a tilting screen, the Nikon D5500 has a fully articulating screen. We’ll explain.

A tilting screen can be moved (or tilted) upward and then back down with angles varying from camera to camera. On the other hand, a fully articulating can basically be rotated.

This is one of the features that makes the Nikon D5500 a great camera for taking selfies. Well, that and the fact that the Nikon D5500 has a touch screen.

Anyway, seeing as we are still on the topic of screens, there’s one more thing you need to know. The Sony a6000 has a 3 inch screen while the Nikon D5500 has a 3.2 inch screen. Is that enough to make you swing one way or the other? You decide!

OK! One last thing! The screens of both cameras have pretty high screen resolution. The Sony a6000 has a 922k dot screen resolution while the Nikon D5500 has a 1037k dot screen resolution.

6. RAW Support

This is basically about the format in which photos taken on a camera are stored. To better appreciate the RAW format, you need to understand the alternative. Photos stored in the jpeg format usually have their quality reduced. However, these pictures do not take up as much space as pictures saved in RAW format.

On the other hand, photos saved in RAW format are saved in their original quality. And this is good news for both these cameras seeing as they have good picture resolution. Which leads us to….

7. Picture Resolution

As we earlier pointed out, both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D5500have good picture resolution. The picture resolution tells us in numbers how well detailed photos taken will be.

That said, both cameras have a 24 megapixel picture resolution. So, whichever camera you decide to go with, you can be sure of getting really detailed pictures.

8. Memory Card Support

Cameras do not have sufficient in-built memories. So, in order to store the numerous shots that it gets with one charge (we’ll discuss that later), a memory card has to be attached to it.

Now, there are different kinds of memory cards. However, the most basic kinds are usually compatible with practically all kinds of digital cameras. Nonetheless, the kind we are concerned about in this review is the Ultra High Speed (UHS) kind.

The UHS memory card, as the name goes, allows for ultra-high speed transfer of photos to storage. And both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D5500 allow for the use of this memory card.

9. Face Detection

Both cameras have this feature that makes them able to recognize and focus on faces. This makes them great cameras for portraits.

A Sony a6000 Demonstration Video

Unique Features — Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500

Which is more lightweight: a6000 or D5500?

The Sony a6000 weighs 0.76 pounds while the Nikon D5500 weighs 0.9 pounds. You might not appreciate the weight of a camera until you have to lug it up the hill on that hike or you lift the camera to take a shot and feel like there’s nothing in your hand. The weight of a camera is a very important thing to consider when choosing a camera.

We personally prefer our cameras lightweight because that makes for easy traveling. However, we do understand why some other people prefer the weight. It is kinda reassuring when you want to take your photos. You’ll have to decide for yourself which you prefer, though.

And just so you know, the fact that the Nikon D5500 is heavier than the Sony a6000 doesn’t necessarily mean it is heavy. It is actually a decent weight if you ask us.

That said, in deciding which camera to take based on weight, don’t forget to factor in the weight of the lenses. You can’t do without them and their weight could actually make one camera heavier than the other.

Now, because we can’t go checking out the weight of the different lenses, here’s what you need to know. Both cameras have the same APC-S sized sensors which means that for the same aperture and focal length, both cameras will use the same weight and size of lens.

So, the lenses will not affect the weight of the cameras so much that the lighter camera now weighs heavier than the heavier one.

Which is faster in continuous shooting: a6000 or D5500?

The Sony a6000 can take 11 frames per second (fps) in continuous shooting and that is pretty fast. The Nikon D5500, on the other hand, is not as fast; you can only take 5 frames per second (fps) with this camera. Continuous shooting is basically how we measure the speed of a camera. The more pictures the camera can take in one second, the faster we can say the camera is.

Which has the longer lasting battery: a6000 or D5500?

You can get 360 shots per full charge of the Sony a6000’s battery. This is not impressive at all. But well, mirrorless cameras aren’t exactly known for having a long battery life. On the other hand, the Nikon D5500’s battery gives you 820 shots before it needs to be recharged, which is great but very expected of a DSLR camera.

Which comes with near field communication: a6000 or D5500?

The Sony a6000 comes with near field communication which allows you to create a wireless connection with a compatible smartphone just by touching the phone and the camera together. Via this connection, files can be transferred quickly and seamlessly.

Which offers an option for enhanced audio quality: a6000 or D5500?

The Nikon D5500 comes with an external microphone jack while the a6000 does not. What this means is that the D5500 is the only one of the two which allows you to enhance your audio quality beyond what the built-in microphone has to offer. You will appreciate this a lot if you will be recording a lot with your camera.

Which can record time-lapse videos: a6000 or D5500?

With the Nikon D5500, you get an in-camera app that helps you make time-lapse videos. However, with the Sony a6000, you will need to download an app for that. Time-lapse recording is basically shooting at a lower frequency than normal. When you then playback what you’ve recorded, it plays faster than regular. Basically, what you are doing with this app is just messing around with time.

Which has more lenses available: a6000 or D5500?

Both the a6000 and the D5500 have a decent variety of lenses. However, with the Sony a6000 sporting 102 lenses and the Nikon D5500 sporting 302, it is easy to see that the Nikon D5500 has a lot more lenses available.

Furthermore, neither camera has an image stabilization feature. What this implies is that if pictures are taken with the camera in motion, the pictures might come out blurry. Now, to counter this, you’ll need to get optical optimization lenses. The Sony a6000 has 23 of those available while the Nikon D5500 has 88 of them available.

A Nikon D5500 Demonstration Video

Unique Pros — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

Pros Of The Sony a6000

• With a continuous shot of 11 frames per second, the Sony a6000 is the faster of the 2 cameras.
• Also, we consider the fact that the Sony a6000 is lightweight a pro. However, you need to remember that this is subjective.
• Unlike the Nikon D5500, the Sony a6000 is NFC enabled. Which means it can be wirelessly connected to other devices that are also NFC enabled and files can be transferred that way.
• With the Sony a6000 at 179 and the Nikon D5500 at 39, the Sony a6000 has more focus points than the Nikon D5500.
• The Sony a6000’s viewfinder has a 100% coverage as against the Nikon D5500’s 95%.
• While both cameras have the same ISO range, the Sony a6000’s can be expanded up to 51200.
• Finally, the Sony a6000 is the more affordable of the 2 cameras.

Pros Of The Nikon D5500

• The Nikon D5500 has a longer battery life than the Sony a6000.
• We also like that the Nikon D5500 has a fully articulating screen. In addition, the screen of the Nikon D5500 is 0.2 inches longer vs that of the Sony a6000. There’s also the thing about the Nikon D5500 having a touch screen. And, together with the full articulation, the Nikon D5500 has a screen that makes it great for taking selfies.
• With a 12.0 meter reach, the flash of the Nikon D5500 has twice the reach of that of the Sony a6000.
• Furthermore, the Nikon D5500 comes fitted with a microphone port. And this makes it the better camera for video recording.
• While you can time-lapse record with both cameras if need be, the Nikon D5500 has this feature built in.
• Finally, the Nikon D5500 has more lenses available to it than the Sony a6000.

Unique Cons — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

Cons Of The Sony a6000

• The Sony a6000 doesn’t have as long a battery life as the Nikon D5500.
• Also, the Sony a6000 might not be of tremendous use to you if you need a camera for recording videos.

Cons Of The Nikon D5500

• The Nikon D5500 is not as fast as the Sony a6000.
• Also, the Nikon D5500 doesn’t have as many focus points as the Sony a6000.

Check out these other articles:

• Sony a7 vs Nikon D750 – Detailed Comparison
• Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5600 – Detailed Comparison
• Sony a7III Vs a7RII – Which Is Better For You?
• Sony a7S Vs a7SII – Which Should You Buy?
• Sony a7 Vs a7II – An Extensive Comparison
• Sony a6000 Vs a7II – Detailed Comparison

Common Pros — Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500

	Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
Viewfinder	Thankfully, the Sony a6000 comes with an inbuilt electronic viewfinder and you don’t need to depend solely on the LCD screen.	Same as the Sony a6000. However, the Nikon D5500 comes with an optical viewfinder instead of an electronic one.
RAW Support	The Sony a6000 stores photos as RAW which means the pictures will be in their original quality.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Picture Resolution	Also, the picture resolution is of the Sony a6000 is pretty decent at 24 megapixels. Which means that photos taken will be in great detail.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Smartphone Control	With the right app, the Sony a6000 can be connected to a smartphone. And then the Sony a6000 can be controlled from the smartphone.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Flash	The Sony a6000 has an in-built flash that can be used in places where the lighting is low. It also comes with a port for an external flash that can be used for flash photography.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Wireless Connection	The Sony a6000 comes with an in-built wireless connection that enables the camera wirelessly connect to the internet.	Same as the Sony a6000.

Common Cons — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

	Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
Image Stabilization	The Sony a6000 doesn’t come with an image stabilization feature. As a result, pictures taken with this camera in motion could come out looking all blurry.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Environmental Protection	The Sony a6000 is not protected against the elements. Simply speaking, it is not waterproof, water resistant or dust proof.	Same as the Sony a6000.

What People Think About Both — Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D5500

Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
A good number of people really seem to like the Sony a6000. One of the reasons that seems to come up a lot is the fact that the camera takes great pictures. The weight is another feature that comes up quite often. People like that the camera is able to do all it does and it still is pretty lightweight. Another feature is the wireless connection amongst others.	The Nikon D5500 also gets favorable feedback. People seem to think that this camera makes for a great beginner camera. People also agree that the Nikon D5500 takes really nice pictures, all the features are just right for this. One other thing that gets people excited is the weight. Apparently, the weight it significant enough that you feel like you’re holding something.
There have been a number of complaints, though. Chief among them looks to be the fact that the camera is not weather sealed. This is because there are limits to the places and times the camera can be used.	There have been some complaints with this too. The speed looks to be a problem for those who are into something more professional. While the lack of a weather sealing feature seems to be a general issue.

Our Take — Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500

Sony a6000	Nikon D5500
We really like the Sony a6000 and really, there is a lot to like. The speed is something we can’t get enough of. It isn’t the fastest camera, but for a semi-pro camera, it does try. We also like that the camera is lightweight. As we said earlier, we like to be able to easily lug the camera around. And the fact that the camera can be smartphone controlled? Who doesn’t like convenience? Picture quality, viewfinder and wireless connection are just some other things we like about this camera.	We also really like the Nikon D5500 and believe it will make a good camera for those looking for something for random family gatherings. Why do we like it? Well, first off the battery life is pretty decent. Then of course, it takes really good pictures, especially for an entry-level camera. There’s also the part about the Nikon D5500 being the better camera for taking videos because it comes with a microphone port.
There are things we do not like about the camera. However, they do not sway our like for this camera.	Like with the Sony a6000, there a number of things we don’t like about the Nikon D5500. However, those things are not enough to change our minds about this camera.

Sony a6000 vs Nikon D5500 – FAQs

What is the difference between Nikon D5500 and D5600?

	Nikon D5500	Nikon D5600
Camera weight	420 grams	465 grams
Near field communication	No	Yes
Bluetooth	No	Yes
Estimated start up time	0.4 secconds	0.2 seconds
Shutter lag	0.2 seconds	0.11 seconds

Is the Nikon D5500 a good camera?

The Nikon D5500 is a good camera. It comes with a 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a screen resolution of 1.037k dots. It also has a display that is larger than normal (3.2 inches) and is also touch sensitive, making it a cool camera to shoot with.

Also, the D5500 has a pretty impressive battery capacity for an entry-level camera, and has a built-in flash coverage of 12 meters while still being compatible with external flashes. So, basically, you will not be having so much trouble shooting in low light.

And on top of all that, this camera does not cost so much. So, yes, for sure, the Nikon D5500 is a good camera.

Is the Nikon D5500 good for beginners?

The Nikon D5500 is a very easy camera to use, so, of course, it is good for beginners. One thing a beginner camera has to be is user-friendly, and this camera is just that. It even has a touch screen so you won’t find it so difficult navigating through its functions and menus; its basically like your smartphone.

More so, the D5500 does not cost so much; it goes for under 500 bucks, so, this is one that can fit right into an amateur’s tight budget.

Is the Nikon D5500 a good choice to vlog with?

The Nikon D5500 is a good camera to vlog with. It shoots full HD (1080p) and that is good enough quality for YouTube and any other social media platform your videos may be uploaded to. It also comes with an external microphone jack, meaning that you can always connect a microphone and get better audio than the built-in microphone will ever give you.

Most importantly, perhaps, the D5500 comes with a fully articulated LCD screen which means that self-recording will be possible and easy. This is something vloggers do not take for granted.

Let us also not forget that the D5500 is easy to use, so, you don’t have to be a pro photographer to record videos with this.

Is the Nikon D5500 good for video?

The Nikon D5500 is surely not the best camera to record videos with, but for a beginner camera, it surely does hold its own pretty well. This camera shoots full HD which is pretty decent quality, especially if your videos are for the internet.

More so, you won’t have to rely on the camera’s built-in mic and its poor noise cancellation as this camera allows you to use external microphones.

In addition to that, the D5500 comes with an in-camera app that helps to record time-lapse videos, so, if you want to get creative and play around with time a little, you can totally do that.

Does the Nikon D5500 have wireless connection?

The Nikon D5500 has a provision for wireless connectivity, but the question has always been: is it enough? This camera comes with built-in W-Fi, which, of course, is great for quick and easy transfer of files. But that is all this camera provides you with; no near field communication for one touch wireless connections, no Bluetooth; just Wi-Fi.

Now, of course, some people don’t mind having just Wi-Fi. It is convenient and easy to use. Also, via the wireless connection created, you can remotely control the D5500 with your smartphone, which is, of course, so cool. But some other photographers wanted a little bit more; even if it was going to be just NFC.