Nikon D5500 vs Nikon A900

Cameras
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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon A900

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.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 840.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon A900 Review.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Nikon A1000
Compare A900 vs A1000

Compare NIKON D5600 vs NIKON A1000

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Nikon A900

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
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 270 shots
Capture more photos
Manual focus
Yes vs No
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Higher-res screen
346k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
30 vs 8 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon A900 advantages over Nikon D5500

Less expensive
$397* vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Thinner
39 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Faster JPEG shooting
7.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Read D5500 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read A900 User Reviews

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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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Nikon A900 (Black)

Nikon A900 (Black)
Nikon A900 (Silver)

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

We haven’t reviewed the Nikon A900.
Read our Nikon A900 Preview

The Competition

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

Nikon A900

Pentax K-S1

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon A900 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Panasonic ZS60

Nikon D5500

Panasonic ZS60

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic ZS60

Nikon A900

Panasonic ZS60

$397
1/2.3 inch

Tiltable Screen
NFC

$448
1/2.3 inch

Focus peaking
Slower slow-motion

Compare Nikon A900 vs Panasonic ZS60

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

Nikon A900

Nikon D3400

$397
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Nikon A900 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$1065
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

Nikon A900

Nikon D5600

$397
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1065
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon A900 vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Canon SX730 HS

Nikon D5500

Canon SX730 HS

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$399
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon SX730 HS

Nikon A900

Canon SX730 HS

$397
1/2.3 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$399
1/2.3 inch

Manual focus
Higher-res screen

Compare Nikon A900 vs Canon SX730 HS

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