Nikon D5500 vs Canon EOS M3

Cameras
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Nikon D5500 vs Canon EOS M3

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

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M6
Compare EOS M3 vs EOS M6

Compare NIKON D5600 vs CANON EOS M6

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Canon EOS M3

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark

1,438 vs 1,169 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 11.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

820 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 4.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
7 vs 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Nikon D5500

Less expensive
$549 vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
44 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.13 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 100 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D5500

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Red)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

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Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.
No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A5100

Nikon D5500

Sony A5100

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$348
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Sony A5100

Canon EOS M3

Sony A5100

$429
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
External Mic Jack

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Sony A5100

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-S1

Canon EOS M3

Pentax K-S1

$429
APS-C

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$502
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Canon T6i

Nikon D5500

Canon T6i

$597
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6i

Canon EOS M3

Canon T6i

$429
APS-C

Focus peaking
Higher effective ISO

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Canon EOS M3

Nikon D3400

$429
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Nikon D5500

Fujifilm X-E3

$597
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-E3

$429
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

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