Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 II

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Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 II

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.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 II Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10 II.
Compare Olympus E-M10 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M10 III
Compare E-M10 II vs E-M10 III

Compare NIKON D5600 vs OLYMPUS E-M10 III

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Olympus E-M10 II

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 0.8 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 E-M10 II test data on DxO Mark

1,438 vs 842 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 E-M10 II test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 12.5 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 320 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Olympus E-M10 II advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$550 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
Thinner
46 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
488g vs 668g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.62x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.9 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.9 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
18 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
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 panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)

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

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Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Silver)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Black)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Brown)
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Kit with 14-42mm II R lens

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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

Excellent value for the money; Professional-grade ergonomics; Incredibly good image quality for its class; Solid performance specs across the board; Loaded with features.
Kit lens may not be quite as sharp as previous kit lens from this line; Below average battery life; Somewhat confusing menu systems.
Read our Olympus E-M10 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M10

Nikon D5500

Olympus E-M10

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10

Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10

$349
4/3

Fast startup
Shoots 24p video

$399
4/3

Compare Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10

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

Olympus E-M10 II

Pentax K-S1

$349
4/3

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Olympus E-M10 II 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

Olympus E-M10 II

Canon T6i

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M10 II vs Canon T6i

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Nikon D5500

Panasonic GX85

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic GX85

$349
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

$598
4/3

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic GX85

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

Olympus E-M10 II

Nikon D3400

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M10 II vs Nikon D3400

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