Nikon D5500 DX-format Digital SLR w/ 18-55mm VR II Kit (Black)

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First off, the camera itself is a fantastic camera. If you are looking for an entry level DSLR, you cant go wrong with this one, especially since it has the same "important" features as its newer version for less money. The D5600 seems to be about the same, but adds things like bluetooth, snapbridge, and I believe a slightly improved battery. I ended up going with the D5500/D5600 over the less expensive D3300/D3400 because of the additional focusing points, which I felt might be more forgiving to a new user. All in all, this is a 5-star camera. But why the 3-stars? There are other versions of this camera on Amazon that are certified refurbished ( Nikon D5500 24.2 MP DSLR Camera With 3.2-Inch LCD 18-55 mm VR DX Lens (Black)(Certified Refurbished) ) for a little bit less money. The higher price and description of this one gave off the impression that it was new, and since my wife felt a little bit better about getting new over refurbished, we went with it. HOWEVER, the camera that I received was NOT new, but was in fact a refurbished unit, and was not certified (I.E. no warranty). You can tell a refurbished model by the serial number. Refurbished units have two little imprints on either side of the number, and new ones do not. See the attached photo (I blurred out the serial number, but you can see the imprints I mention). The same goes for lenses BTW. The camera itself was in impeccable condition. There was really no way of telling it wasnt new, apart from the serial number marks and the box looked to be repackaged. Also there was no user manual, just a bad quality scan of the Nikon website to obtain an electronic copy of one. However, I was irked considering I had paid a premium for a new camera and received one that was refurbished and not certified. Had the seller been able to provide proof of certification AND a refund on the difference between it and the certified version, I would have had no issue with keeping it, but the certification was not available, and I returned it. SO, MY SUGGESTION IS: Since this a discontinued model, contact whatever seller you would be getting the camera from and ask them to verify if it is new or refurbished. That way you can make an informed decision about what route to take here. PLEASE NOTE: I know these reviews are not supposed to be about the seller and it drives me nuts when people use them for that. I just felt in this circumstance it was important to note, since I thought it could help someone avoid some hassle in the future. Hence not mentioning the specific seller here, as they were very reasonable and understanding during the returns process (I.E. they didnt charge a restocking fee as they normally would).

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My situation may be a little different than some others on this forum. My first DSLR was a Nikon D90 and then I moved to a D7000. I had assorted Nikon lenses and equipment and having reached age 70, I decided to gear down and sell all of my Nikon equipment and buy a good point and shoot. After looking into everything that was available in the point n shoot world, I realized that nothing would take the place of of my D7000; that is until the D5500 was introduced. Between its amazingly light weight, articulating touch screen LCD, WiFi, uniformly positive reviews, light weight collapsing 18-55 vr2 and 55-200vr lenses, as well as an under $1000 price point, I decided that this could be the answer for my purposes as a perfect all around consumer camera. Bottom line, I love this camera and as it has turned out being everything that I had hoped for and more. Beautiful pictures, simple to use, and easy to haul around; there just isnt any downside to owning this camera. Hope this has helped make someones decision a little easier - you just cant go wrong with the D5500.

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Initial review. Only had it a week and will update over time. First, you cant beat the price. $595 with 2 adequate zoom lenses. The lenses are average but do the job. You can spend a lot more for faster lenses but these will work in most cases. I wish lenses would come with UV filters for protection. Bought a B+W XS-Pro 55mm and a Hoya PRO1 58mm right away. Tried one of each brand as I saw issues in reviews of both. My other pet peeve is lens covers that dont have a lanyard to keep it attached to the body. Nice feature is touch screen that folds out and turns to face front if needed for real expensive selfies ;). Rotates so screen faces into camera back for protection when not in use. There are a LOT of options. Even had to read the manual! Bought a copy of D5500 for Dummies to get a quick review of the functions and keep it on my Kindle app on my phone. Also bought 2 more batteries and charger with car option although battery life seems quite good. Dont scrimp on the SD card! Attached photos all shot with filters in place. Pics: Fire pit 22mm 1.5s F3.8; Plumeria 195mm 1/60 F5.3 with fill flash; Full Moon 300mm 1/250 F11(-3 exp comp); Rising Moon 300mm 1/60 F6.3; Sunrise 70mm 1/125 F4.5; Sunset 300mm 1/750 F6.3

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This is the camera Ive been looking for. My interest in photography goes way back, but it wasnt until I got my first iPhone (the 4S) that I was able to start exploring. From there, I bought a Fuji HS30EXR, which was very highly recommended, and had awful image quality; next, I purchased a Sony NEX-6, which was light-years ahead of the Fuji, but I always felt like something was missing. So I bought the Sony a6000 and suffered immediate buyers remorse (though I eventually bought its little brother, the RX100 m2, which is my much-loved coat-pocket camera). I was always looking for that missing something. And not being trained at all in photography, never having taken any classes, and having to learn everything on my own from books and websites, I could never put my finger on what that something was. Until I discovered the D5500. The D5500 takes great pictures. Its also harder to use than the a6000. But it feels like a real camera. Its comfortable in my (somewhat large) hands. Compared to the CSC Sony cameras Ive owned, it feels more like a tool than a toy. As I say, its more challenging to use (no Focus Peaking!), and as a result, Im more satisfied when I take a decent exposure. And it is sharp, in part because modern Nikons lack anti-aliasing filters. An Anti-Aliasing Filter serves to soften your images to prevent moiré- a sort of banding that occurs in high-contrast patterns (think a striped dress) when recorded by a digital sensor. (You may have seen these patterns on an old tube t.v. screen when you were a kid, too.) In my opinion, the benefit of having 24mp is not that you necessarily get a "better" image- you get more room to crop. I like to take pictures of the moon, and its nice to be able to zoom in and inspect the surface. The Sonys were way too soft when zoomed in at 50%, let alone 100%. This may not be the case for the full-frame Sony cameras, but the APS-C models leave a lot to be desired. As far as those cameras are concerned, 24mp is about 16mp wasted. The D5500 feels great in hand, nice and light, but still substantial, with a good amount of grip, and it truly is optimized to help amatuers like me get the shot they want. Its fast (though not as quick in burst mode as the a6000), and the touchscreen is a treat coming from Sony (menus within menus within menus within menus...), making it super easy to change aperture, ISO, shutter speed, etc. The lens selection is fantastic, whether you go Nikon or third-party (Ive already added the AF-S 35mm and the 55-200mm VRII to my bag), although there is an obvious emphasis on pro gear. The D5500 is the camera for me. Every single box (image quality, feel, looks) is neatly checked. I find myself spending less time in Lightroom and more time with a camera in my hands, and I find that leaving things like ISO up to the camera (unthinkable on Sonys APS-C cameras, which render unusable images after ISO 6400 or so) not only renders great images, but makes it that much easier (and enjoyable) for me to bungle my way through this silly, expensive hobby of mine. I would recommend this camera to everyone who wants to go beyond smartphones and point-and-shoots. Side note- I chose the D5500 over the D7200 for several reasons that you may or may not agree with, but here they are: 1. The D5500 and the D7200 have the same sensor. IQ should be the same. 2. The D7200 is $400 more. Although I love my D5500, I will probably not be as fond of it in three or four years. But the lenses could conceivably last for decades with proper care. As better photographers than me have said, buy only as much camera as you need, and spend the rest on lenses. 3. Simpler exterior. Im not ready for all the buttons and dials yet. Stepping up to the D7000 series will be next, but thats several years from now. I felt it was better to become accustomed to the DSLR form factor before dropping $1100 on the camera body alone. As far as the Nikon vs. Canon debate is concerned, Im uninterested. I chose the D5500 over the comparable Canons for a couple of reasons. 1. Nikon bodies seem to cost less than their Canon counterparts, but are rated more highly; the Canon t6s is more expensive and does not perform as well. Ditto the 70d. 2. Nikon has legacy lens support unmatched by Canon. Will I ever take advantage of it? Who knows, but I like the idea. 3. Canon DSLRs dont render color as well, in my opinion, Easy fix, I know- but still. That being said, Im certain that a skilled photographer could get great pictures from just about anything, so dont get yourself bogged down in fruitless Nikon vs. Canon, DSLR vs. Mirrorless/M43, Android vs. Apple type debates. Just take pictures!

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This is a great beginner camera! for the price i think you get a great image quality and many features that will help you grow as a photographer. I love the functionality of the flip out screen which is larger and more sleek than the canon models. when I was searching for a camera, I was debating between the canon and nikon and ended up with the nikon d5500. in my price range, this camera had so many more options and I love the build. this camera is a great deal as it even comes with built in wifi (which would cost $40+ extra to get on any other camera that lacked this feature). with in camera wifi, you can download the nikon wireless mobile utility app and use your phone as a shutter remote! you can get great quality photos with this camera without breaking the bank. it is a great body and you can invest in good glass to enhance your photos. perhaps the only downside I can think of is that it is a crop sensor, but at the time when I was a beginner and I was looking at cameras I had no idea what that meant. if youre looking for a full frame sensor then skip on this camera, but if you are not sure what those terms mean this camera will get the job done. I do recommend to upgrade your lenses as soon as possible, do not stick with the kit lens forever. personally, I love the 50mm f1.8. dont be afraid to get our of your comfort zone and get our there and start shooting! :)

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This is a terrific little camera. Noticeably lighter than the D40 it replaced. I bought this when it seemed Nikon was clearing out these kits for the D5600. The price difference was significant. The D5500 also is lighter than the D5600, and has higher ISO performance. The D5600 has a new Bluetooth feature for on-the-fly file transfers, but that doesnt mean much to me. Know that the 70-300 lens is not the VR model, but people have been shooting with long lenses for a long time with VR. Its a good lens, and is the new 18-55 VR that collapses to save space. The touch screen allows for quick adjustments to settings as well as scrolling and zooming in review mode. This is a great camera for beginning photographer as well as more advanced amateur photographers. You can take great pictures right out of the box and learn your way through the various modes and settings. It is a sturdy piece of equipment yet small and light enough to carry with you all day. I loved my D40 for nearly 10 years and look forward to many years with the D5500.

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This is an update from my D5100. Easily identifiable as the D range. However the main difference is the larger touch screen, this is just fantastic. All the menu changes are easily available, at a a touch. The wifi was not easy to set up and I opted for a different app to get it to work. My GPS (opteka) works with the D5500 as does the additional battery pack holder (Model DSTE, not recommended). I bought this as a refurbished model and saved a large amount of money. It came in a plain white box with no manual and no post processing discs. These were downloaded on line, but I still like having a book. A highly recommended camera.

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I ordered the Dual Lens Kit product; however, the information on this page is misleading. You will think that youre getting a NEW and legitimate Nikon camera. This listing is actually for an international version that may even be refurbished. The camera does not come with warranty, or a physical owners manual. The reason I marked this product with 1 star is because you will not get what youre paying for. Youre paying the price of a brand new D5500 US version, but youre getting a repackaged international version.

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Awesome! The wife is a picture but and she loves this camera! Clearing is amazing! Touch screen is great and there are so many setting a guy like me can break it in 5 min! She on the other hand is doing unbelievable things with this!! I purchaed the "big" Lens for her also and she can reach out 200 yards and take crystal clear action pictures of the kids playing sports.

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Review of Seller: This seller has bad practices. I was shipped model D5600 in the wimpiest package, not even a padded box. When I emailed the seller to advise on what I thought was a mistake, I was told it was not. I was given an "upgrade" and that I was welcome to return it. I specially wanted the D5500 because I had read issues with the sync app Snapbridge. I sent a second email, just to confirm that they were out of of the D5500, and I never heard from Jason again. Meanwhile, I had ordered other accessories around this camera body. The hassle to return everything did not appeal to me and I wanted a camera badly, so I kept the model that was shipped to me. Just to show that this seller does not care, I have received courtesy follow up emails for items purchased for less than $50 asking me if everything is okay., any issues let us know. Nothing from this seller. Nothing. Review of D5600 model: So far I like the camera, easy to operate once you read the manual. There is an app that you can download which goes into more details about the camera features and enough videos online showing you the features. I purchased the body only because I wanted an 18-300 mm all purpose lens so there would be no need to swap lenses out. Even though I did a lot of research on which DSLR to get, I thought an upper level camera would suffice. I clearly missed something...lol, and was definitely swayed by a price tag of under $1000, since I would not have gone with a crop sensor camera body. For my needs, and Id like to think Im an enthusiastic who has big ideas, such that a full frame camera would have been worth the expense since depth of field would be better and for astro-photography, my goal, the camera would take in more of the landscape/sky. Crop sensors only take in part of a landscape such that using a full frame 35 mm lens the equivalent in a crop body camera would be 52 mm. Not the end of the world and I will work with this camera since I now own it, and Im sure theres a work around this issue with lenses. And yes, Snapbridge is slow, but if you set it and forget it, the pictures will shortly download to your smartphone. One thing that Ive had lots of fun with is taking pictures of flowers, the camera setup is excellent at this.

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