So, you are currently confused in choosing between Nikon D5500 and Nikon D7100, which are two DX-format DSLR cameras that are very much loved in the market. Of course, Nikon D5500 is a little bit less expensive than Nikon D7100, but the pricier model does come with a better viewfinder, a more powerful autofocus system, and some other additional features. Below, we will see the comparisons between Nikon D5500 vs D7100 to help you decide. Continue reading!
Design and Build Quality
You can easily see that Nikon D5500 is quite smaller and lighter than Nikon D7100. This is made possible by both the housing material and the display technology. Nikon D5500, which we previously discussed in Nikon Coolpix P900 vs Nikon D5500, is equipped with a plastic housing that is reinforced with carbon fiber. It is quite durable, yet very lightweight. Note that it is not weatherproof. On the rear panel, it does not have many buttons because it has a touchscreen display for control.
On the other hand, Nikon D7100’s frame is magnesium alloy, although there are still some parts that are made of plastic. It is quite larger and heavier, so it will be more comfortable to hold if you have large hands. It is weather-sealed. The dial knob is on the left side. You can find a top deck display on the right side, which allows you to check the camera’s settings without lowering your aim. There are a handful of buttons on the rear panel since the 3.2” display is not touchscreen.
Features
As the more affordable model, it is totally understandable that Nikon D5500 is equipped with a pentamirror viewfinder. The quality is pretty good, and the magnification is 0.55X. However, Nikon D7100 comes with a much better pentaprism viewfinder with 0.63X magnification, which promises enhanced image fidelity.
Furthermore, you can also see that the AF system is improved on the pricier model. It comes with 51 AF points to improve the autofocus performance. The AF system is noticeably faster and more reliable when tracking an object. Additionally, Nikon D7100 comes with a headphone jack and dual memory card slots. The headphone jack is probably only useful if you plan to use the camera for video projects, but the dual memory card slots are useful for all people.
The only advantage of Nikon D5500 in terms of features is perhaps the built-in Wi-Fi. Nikon D7100 does not have any wireless connectivity.
Performance
In terms of image quality, these two cameras are more-or-less similar. They are each armed with the same sensor, which is the 24MP DX-format CMOS sensor. They also have similar ISO ranges. However, the differences between Nikon D5500 vs D7100 come down to the speed and buffer capacity.
Nikon D5500 has a bigger buffer capacity. It can shoot up to 100 JPEG shots (or 7 RAW shots) in the burst mode before taking a break. If you need a burst mode with great buffer capacity, this is a suitable choice.
Nikon D7100 can only shoot up to 12 JPEG shots or 5 RAW shots in the burst mode before taking a break. However, it has a faster shutter, which will allow you more flexibility. The continuous shooting speeds in the JPEG and RAW modes are higher.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, Nikon D7100 is indeed worth the money. It has a more durable weatherproof housing, better viewfinder, more powerful AF system, and overall better shooting speeds. However, you can choose Nikon D5500 if you really need the built-in Wi-Fi or greater buffer capacity.
