Reasons to choose D5500
Released in 2015, D5500 has about 367 mm² of sensor area, 24.2 MP effective resolution, and a 420 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D5500
vs Sony Alpha SLT-A58
VS
Sensor area
367 mm²
D5500357 mm²
Alpha SLT-A58- Area ratio
- 1.03:1
- Absolute difference
- 9 mm²
- Relative difference
- 2.6%
The D5500 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D5500MetricAlpha SLT-A58
24.2 MPEffective pixels20.1 MP
23.5 × 15.6Sensor23.2 × 15.4
3.89 µmPixel pitch4.22 µm
15.15 µm²Pixel area17.78 µm²
6.6 MP/cm²Pixel density5.63 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.55
1,920 × 1,080Maximum video1,920 × 1,080
420 gWeight573 g
SD/SDHC/SDXCStorageSD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo/XC-HG Duo
EN-EL14a / EN-EL14BatteryRechargeable NP-FM500H battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D5500 has the larger sensor area. The D5500 has the lighter body. The D5500 has the higher effective resolution. The D5500 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha SLT-A58
Released in 2013, Alpha SLT-A58 has about 357 mm² of sensor area, 20.1 MP effective resolution, and a 573 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.