Nikon D5300 vs D3300 – Entry Level Comparison

	Nikon D5500	Nikon D3300
Megapixels	24.2	24.2
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Size	23.5 x 15.6mm	23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor Type	APS-C/DX	APS-C/DX
Image Resolution	6000 x 4000	6000 x 4000
ISO Range	100 - 25,600	100 - 25,600
Processor	Expeed 4	Expeed 4
AF Points	39	11
Burst Mode	5fps	5fps
LCD Size	3.2" Articulating LCD Touch-Screen	3.0" Fixed LCD
LCD Resolution	1,037,000 dots	921,000 dots
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.82x	0.85x
Viewfinder Type	Pentamirror	Pentamirror
Shutter Speed Range	1/4000 to 30 sec.	1/4000 to 30 sec.
Exposure Compensation	±5 EV	±5 EV
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Full HD Video	1,920 x 1,080 (60fps) 1,920 x 1,080 (50fps) 1,920 x 1,080 (30fps) 1,920 x 1080 (25fps) 1,920 x 1,080 (24fps)	1,920 x 1,080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50fps)
Weight (inc. batteries)	420g (0.93lb)	430g (0.95lbs)
Battery Life	820 Shots (CIPA)	700 Shots (CIPA)
Dimensions	124 x 97 x 70 mm	124 x 98 x 76 mm
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2015	2014

Advantages of Nikon D5500:

• Faster AF system, with 18 more points. Having more points in your viewfinder is never a bad thing, because it’s easier to focus the camera right where you want it to
• The LCD is slightly bigger and can be moved around. It’s also the first time Nikon made their LCD touch-screen, but it’s up to the user whether they like it
• Slightly lighter and smaller, which is a nice surprise seeing as the camera is positioned higher than the D3300, but the differences are really minimal

These two cameras are quite similar, but the better AF system and an articulating screen obviously result in a much higher price.

You can get the Nikon D5500 at Amazon here for a little under $900 with the kit lens, whereas Nikon D3300 + 18-55mm is available for $496. Personally, I see no reason to spend $400 on a body with such small improvements, and recommend you to spend that money on a good lens! You’ll get the same image quality, same colors and same noise performance, so the final results really depend more on your skills and the glass you are using!