Help me Decide D5300 vs D5500

wcharon

Senior Member
I am new in photography and have been struggling which route I should go.

Undecided between the D5300 vs D5500. Can somebody that have used both give me some insight I will really appreciate it. At the moment Best Buy have a deal with the D5300 with 2 lenses for $599.

Thanks in advance...
 

pk63015

Senior Member
I have never used the 5xxx series (I use a D3200), but from what I have read and what others have said the 5300 is a great route to go. The 5500 is only incrementally better. The cost savings would allow you to purchase other gear. JMO
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
Unless you plan to upgrade very soon, buy the best camera that you can afford. In this case, this is likely the D5500.

If you you are going to upgrade soon, save a bit and buy the camera you are planning to upgrade to when you can.

WM
 

Zeke_M

Senior Member
Without knowing your budget, there are other options.
As a rule I never buy new camera bodies. Refurbished or used only. Same with lenses.
Let someone else take the depreciation hit.

I suggest you consider these options.

Refurbished D5300
https://www.adorama.com/inkd5300br.html

Refurbished D5500
https://www.adorama.com/inkd5500br.html

I'm not a fan of bundles or the 18-55 kit lens. I suggest a refurbished Nikon 18-140 DX lens. The kool kids really like this lens.
Refurbished AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | DX Format Zoom Lens from Nikon
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
That Best Buy deal looks pretty good. The camera, 18-55mm and 70-300mm is a decent starting package. Plus $599 is about the body only price elsewhere.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Without knowing your budget, there are other options.

Refurbished D5500
https://www.adorama.com/inkd5500br.html

Excellent advice.

I also couldn't help but notice the D7100 is only $50 more than the D5500 from that same retailer ($549 vs $599). If you can live without a touch screen there's about a world of difference between a D5XXX series body and a D7XXX body in my opinion. I don't know your budget either but I thought I should point that out.
 

wcharon

Senior Member
Thanks to all...To be honest I have been reading for a while and I can see that the changes are minimal between them. I also considered the D7100 which I liked but the bulky size didn't attract me for a all day carrying. Regarding the refurbished it is a good deal but the problem I have is that I live in PR and if something happens I have to deal with shipping cost and all that stuff so I prefer an local store. I was also checking and I am not sure if I will be using the long lenses but the difference in price with the kit is only $100.00 per lenses so must grab it in case I will need it in the future. Obviously, I like the modern touch screen but as a newbie I don't know if I will get advantage of that.
 

wcharon

Senior Member
Thanks and I appreciate that. The budget I can work with that but don't want neither to buy twice but don't want to buy an equipment that probably will not take all out of it. I liked the D7100 but didn't like the bulky size. Actually they have it in a plate and I couldn't carry it like I wanted so maybe I am missing something.
Excellent advice.

I also couldn't help but notice the D7100 is only $50 more than the D5500 from that same retailer ($549 vs $599). If you can live without a touch screen there's about a world of difference between a D5XXX series body and a D7XXX body in my opinion. I don't know your budget either but I thought I should point that out.
 

Roy1961

Senior Member
Contributor
I went from a D60 to a D7000, never noticed the size difference and carry it all day (sometimes 4 hrs on a tripod with 500mm lens) so I wouldn't let that bother you about the d7100. Good luck and enjoy your choice.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
I really don't have any preferences. I prefer what is more friendly and what includes to most features.

Yes, the D5300 and D5500 are very capable cameras. Yes the Best Buy deal is a good one. But, if you really want the most features nad the most user friendly, I would strongly suggest, if the budget will bear it, a refurbished D7100 and 18-140mm lens. The dual command wheels on the D7100 is a game changer and the larger size can actually be a plus if you have larger hands or use larger lenses.
 

wcharon

Senior Member
Thanks for the suggestion and yes I have big hands. When I go to the store that should be today I will keep a good eye on the 3 and make my decision. Hope they can take them out of the plates to visualize better the weight of the D7100.
Yes, the D5300 and D5500 are very capable cameras. Yes the Best Buy deal is a good one. But, if you really want the most features nad the most user friendly, I would strongly suggest, if the budget will bear it, a refurbished D7100 and 18-140mm lens. The dual command wheels on the D7100 is a game changer and the larger size can actually be a plus if you have larger hands or use larger lenses.
 

Zeke_M

Senior Member
Thanks for the suggestion and yes I have big hands. When I go to the store that should be today I will keep a good eye on the 3 and make my decision. Hope they can take them out of the plates to visualize better the weight of the D7100.

I found a detailed compare/contrast review of the D5300/D5500 vs the D7100.
Nikon D5500 vs D7100 : Which Should You Buy? – Light And Matter

Before you buy a D5xxx, give the D7100 a good look. It's a very good camera.
 
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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
As someone who started with the D5300 and went to the D7100, there is something to be said there for the size difference. The real question is how much control do you want over the camera. The D5xxx is missing the second command wheel, so secondary settings need to be adjusted via menus rather than quickly through a dial. If you mainly shoot in A/S/P modes, that's probably not as big of a concern. Battery life was not as good on the D5300 as the D7100, and I would suspect the D5500 to share that battery life with the D5300.

But as said above, the D5xxx are very capable cameras, so if it does what you need it to do should not be overlooked! IMO
 

wcharon

Senior Member
Thanks RocketCowboy. That is a good point because if you ask me know as a starter I will not know the difference and can't tell you if I need it or not. Now I don't want to buy twice neither so I will have that in mind when I make my choice.
As someone who started with the D5300 and went to the D7100, there is something to be said there for the size difference. The real question is how much control do you want over the camera. The D5xxx is missing the second command wheel, so secondary settings need to be adjusted via menus rather than quickly through a dial. If you mainly shoot in A/S/P modes, that's probably not as big of a concern. Battery life was not as good on the D5300 as the D7100, and I would suspect the D5500 to share that battery life with the D5300.

But as said above, the D5xxx are very capable cameras, so if it does what you need it to do should not be overlooked! IMO
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Thanks RocketCowboy. That is a good point because if you ask me know as a starter I will not know the difference and can't tell you if I need it or not. Now I don't want to buy twice neither so I will have that in mind when I make my choice.

So, the other data point so that you have my whole experience.

I initially bought the D5300 over the D7100 because of two features that I thought were deal killers: wifi and GPS. In practical use, however, neither performed as I anticipated and became non-features. The GPS typically did not lock location often enough to effectively geo-tag images, and the wifi functionality was less than ideal. I believe they've done away with the GPS functionality in the D5500, and for that matter, the wifi functionality has been changed/improved as well.

I started building a list of features that I needed that the D5300 could not provide, and made the change to the D7100 about a year later. Now, I was getting more serious with my photography, and that's why those features became important, but the D5300 is no slouch either.

Hope that helps.
 
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