Nikon
D5500
Lightweight APS-C DSLR with a tilting touchscreen and excellent image quality per dollar.
$649
Launch priceReleased Jan 2015
Sony
Alpha 7 V
33MP partially stacked Exmor RS hybrid with BIONZ XR2 AI, 30fps blackout-free burst, 7.5-stop IBIS, and 4K 60p oversampled from 7K.
$2,899
Launch priceReleased Dec 2025
Alpha 7 V is 10.9 years newer.
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Wins
D5500
Wins
Alpha 7 V
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 V has higher IBIS effectiveness (7.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 11 fps)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 7 V has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareD5500
124 × 97 × 70 mm
470 g (1.04 lb / 16.58 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 × 82 mm
695 g (1.53 lb / 24.52 oz)
D5500 is 6mm narrower and 12mm thinner than Alpha 7 V but it is also 1mm taller.
D5500 is 225 g lighter than Alpha 7 V.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm D5500 · 82mm Alpha 7 V
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
D5500
124 × 97 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
D5500
124 × 70 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 V
130 × 82 mm
Sensor size, to scale
D5500
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
Alpha 7 V
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
D5500
Nikon F
270+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 V
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
D5500
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 124, 97, 70
Weight
470 g vs 695 g — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 630 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 V
IBIS effectiveness
7.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130.3, 96.4, 82.4
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 11 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car, Train…
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Animal / bird AF
Only Alpha 7 V supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓EVF magnification — Both 0.78 ×
- ✓EVF refresh rate — Both 120 Hz
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
D5500
Pros
- ✓Very lightweight DSLR
- ✓Tilting touchscreen
- ✓24MP sensor
- ✓Affordable used
Cons
- –Discontinued
- –No 4K
- –Basic AF for action
Alpha 7 V
Pros
- ✓33MP partially stacked sensor — ~4.5× faster readout than α7 IV
- ✓Blackout-free 30 fps with full AF/AE (electronic shutter)
- ✓7.5-stop central / 6.5-stop peripheral IBIS (CIPA 2024)
- ✓759-point phase-detect AF down to EV -4 with AI subject recognition
- ✓7K oversampled 4K 60p (full-frame, no pixel binning) + 4K 120p
- ✓Pre-Capture and dual USB-C (10 Gbps + USB 2.0)
- ✓Up to 16 stops dynamic range
Cons
- –Premium price vs α7 IV
- –4K 120p typically requires APS-C / Super 35 crop
- –Heavier than α7 IV (695 g vs 659 g with battery)
- –Complex menu and feature set
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the D5500 and Alpha 7 V at major authorized retailers.
Nikon D5500
Sony Alpha 7 V
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, D5500 or Alpha 7 V?
Alpha 7 V scores 7.5/10 versus 1.5/10 for D5500 — 33MP — ample resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the D5500 and Alpha 7 V?
D5500 is 24.2 MP and Alpha 7 V is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 V captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the D5500 and Alpha 7 V have in-body image stabilization?
D5500 does not have IBIS, while Alpha 7 V has 7.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the D5500 or the Alpha 7 V?
D5500 reaches 11 fps electronic. Alpha 7 V reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the D5500 and Alpha 7 V?
D5500 weighs 470 g and Alpha 7 V weighs 695 g, so the D5500 is 225 g lighter.
Do the D5500 and Alpha 7 V record 4K video?
D5500: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 V: 4K up to 120p.
Are the D5500 and Alpha 7 V weather sealed?
D5500: No. Alpha 7 V: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the D5500 and 630 shots for the Alpha 7 V, giving the D5500 the edge.
How much does each cost?
D5500 launched at $649 and Alpha 7 V at $2,899. The D5500 is $2,250 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way D5500 vs Alpha 7 V vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sony press materials.