Nikon D5500 launched with few improvements over the D5300

Nikon has taken the CES 2015 stage in order to announce the successor to the D5300 DX-format DSLR in the lighter and tinier body of the D5500 along with the new AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II lens.

Its competitors focused on compact cameras, but Nikon chose a different path for the Consumer Electronics Show 2015. As expected, the Japanese manufacturer has revealed a replacement for the D5300, a DSLR with an APS-C sensor. The new model is called D5500, skipping past the D5400 iteration, just like the rumor mill predicted a while ago.

Nikon D5500 is lighter and smaller than the D5300, offers higher native ISO, and comes with a touchscreen.

Nikon introduces D5500 with several design and feature improvements over the D5300

Several improvements have been made over the previous generation. The Nikon D5500 is a tad tinier and lighter than the D5300, it comes with a touchscreen, it consumes less power and the maximum native ISO now stands at 25600.

The D5500 measures 124 x 97 x 70mm (vs D5300’s measurements of 125 x 98 x 76mm), weighs 420 grams (vs D5300’s 480 grams), and offers a 3.2-inch 1,037K-dot tilting LCD touchscreen that is tiltable. Its native ISO ranges between 100 and 25600, says Nikon, albeit it is unclear whether it can be extended through built-in settings or not.

The company has confirmed that the D5500 consumes less power than its predecessor, as the EN-EL14 battery allows the DSLR to capture up to 820 shots on a single charge, up from the 600 shots provided in the D5300.

D5300 has an advantage over the D5500, as the new model does not have built-in GPS. However, both cameras come packed with WiFi, so that users can upload their photos on the web using a smartphone or a tablet.

In the Picture Controls menu users will be welcomed by a new option called “Flat”. This tool is aimed at users who want to take full control over the look of their photos and videos, as it comes with 0.25-step adaptations and an extended brightness range.

Nikon D5500 comes with a more extended battery life of up to 850 shots on a single charge.

Nikon D5500 release date scheduled for early February

The remainder of the Nikon D5500 specs list remains identical to the one of the D5300, as the new unit features the same 24.2-megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor without an anti-aliasing filter to preserve image sharpness, though making it more susceptible to moiré patterns.

An optical viewfinder with a 95% coverage allows users to frame their shots. The DSLR captures 14-bit RAW photos and full HD videos, which can be stored on a SD/SDXC/SDHC card.

The D5500 comes with a 39-point autofocus system, a 1/4000th of a second maximum shutter speed, Bulb mode, multiple auto scene modes and effects, manual controls, and a continuous shooting mode of up to 5fps.

Nikon will release the D5500 in February in black and red colors for a price of $899.95 for the body-only version, $999.95 for the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II lens kit, and $1,199.95 for the 16-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens kit, respectively.

Those who like its improvements can pre-order the Nikon D5500 at Amazon for the aforementioned price.

Nikon has revealed the new AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II lens with a collapsible design.

AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II lens revealed with retractable design

In addition to the DX-format D5500, Nikon has revealed the AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II lens. The new model comes with a collapsible design, which is similar to the one found in the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II lens, which was introduced alongside the D3300 at CES 2014.

This telephoto zoom lens comes with built-in image stabilization technology, offering up to 3 f-stops of light. It is aimed at photographers who want to get closer to the action on the cheap.

The lens will be released at the beginning of February for $349.95 and it is available for pre-order right now at Amazon.