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All photography enthusiasts have gone through the struggle of getting their first camera. With so much to choose from, anyone would get confused and overwhelmed by the information on the market. Well, no longer! This article gives you an insight into two of the best cameras on the market: Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6.
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Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6 Overview
The Nikon D5500 and the Canon T6 are entry-level DSLRs manufactured by two of the best companies in the world. An introduction about both would allow you to get an overall view before getting into the specifics.
Nikon D5500 Overview
The Nikon D5500 is an entry-level DSLR released in January 2015. Sporting a 24 Megapixels resolution, and a touch-based articulating screen this camera leaves no stone unturned. Its Viewfinder with 95% coverage and a 0.55x magnification gives you everything you need to capture the best photos.
When it comes to videos, the Nikon D5500 is up to the task. Offering a 1080x60p resolution and a cinema 24p feature, it allows you to fulfill all your videography needs!
Canon T6 Overview
A part of Canon’s revered Rebel series, the Canon T6 came out in March 2016. It is one of the best beginner level cameras in its price tag, and you would surely not regret getting this.
It has an 18 Megapixels resolution and an APS-C sensor which brings out the best in your pictures. The built-in flash and tracking focus features give you a great photography experience. Also, its NFC and WIFI connectivity ensure that your camera is always connected.
The Canon T6 has a dedicated Cinema feature and a high video resolution of 1080 x 30p which you can use to capture as many videos as you want. Plus, a hot shoe makes sure that you can attach anything ranging from an external flash to a viewfinder to your camera.
Nikon D5500 vs Canon T6 Comparison
To give you a better idea of their features, you might want to see a comparison to see how the cameras stack up against each other. This will allow you to see which camera is better in the feature you were looking forward to using.
Similarities
Although they come from competing brands, they were released at a difference of just 14 months. Hence, these cameras have some similarities which include:
- Starting off, both these cameras have an optical viewfinder (OVF). This allows a photographer to take a shot while looking at what the lens will capture exactly. OVFs require no power and have no time lag and work great in low light situations.
- Also, their viewfinder coverage is 95%.
- Most importantly, they have a similar sensor type. They have an APS-C CMOS sensor. This is due to them being released close to each other.
- The cameras have a hot shoe. This hot shoe would allow you to attach viewfinders, light meters, external flash, etc.
- Both the cameras host an AF tracking system. With this, you can select the object, press the shutter partly, and if the object moves, the autofocus will follow it.
- These cameras have two-stage shutters too. This allows you to take pictures like a professional. Here, you have to marginally press the button to focus, then press it fully to capture the image.
- Moreover, they have similar maximum shutter speeds of 1/4000 seconds
- Both cameras have a 24p cinema mode. This is a kind of a video format that is usually used in cinemas and can be used to create film-like motion. It captures 24 frames per second (hence 24p).
Differences
Coming from different brands, and having a big difference in price tags, these cameras were sure to have differences. These differences vary from differences in sensors to screens.
Resolution
The cameras’ resolutions differ a lot. The Nikon D5500 comes with a resolution of 24.2 Megapixels as opposed to Canon T6’s 18 Megapixels. This impacts the details of pictures, the higher the resolution, the more detailed the pictures.
Also, if you have high resolution, you can later crop or zoom into the pictures without breaking the pixels. However, for some people, a higher resolution is a concern because it increases the picture size.
ISO Range
These cameras have different ISO levels. The Canon T6 has a maximum ISO level of 12800 compared to the Nikon D5500’s 25600 settings. A higher ISO level signifies that a sensor can absorb more light.
Video
The Nikon D5500 has a lot more advanced video capturing features. It has a higher Maximum video resolution of 1080 x 60fps compared to Canon T6’s 1080 x 30fps. This allows you to make detailed videos with your DSLR.
Also, the Nikon D5500 comes with a time-lapse function which the Canon T6 lacks. A time-lapse speeds up a long passage of time. It is a great feature if you want to show the changing sky color or some process for example a food drive.
Battery Life
The Nikon D5500 has an exceptional battery life of 820 shots which are a lot higher than Canon T6’s 500 shots. This is extremely important if you plan to take pictures for an extended time period throughout the day.
Focus Points and Weight
The focus points differ greatly too. The Nikon D5500 ranges in at 39 Focus points compared to the Canon T6’s 9 focus points. These focus points affect the flexibility with which you can pick which part of the screen to focus on. Also, these focus points allow the image sensor a higher probability to detect the right part of the screen to focus on.
Coming to the weights, there is a slight difference of 15 grams with the Nikon being the lighter one at 470g.
Major Distinguishing Feature
The make-or-break feature here is the screen and the prize goes to the Nikon D5500. It comes with an articulating screen which you can rotate in any direction. Hence, it makes it easy for you to capture pictures or videos from difficult and complicated angles.
Its screen also has a touch feature. Thanks to this feature you can interact with your camera just like you do with your smartphone and navigate around it with great ease. The screen resolution is different too. Nikon has one of 1037k dots whereas the Canon has one of the 920k dots.
On the contrary, the Canon T6 does not come with any of these features. It has a fixed touch screen with manual navigation. A good screen makes all the difference in DSLRs because it directly relates to your photography experience. Hence it is the most distinguishing feature here.
When to Use the Nikon D5500
After going through the features, you might have gotten the idea that the Nikon D5500 is a powerhouse when it comes to photography. It will perform the best in the following situations.
Videography
If you plan on taking videos with your camera, then the Nikon D5500 is the perfect one for you. Sporting an exclusive cinema mode, along with higher video resolutions and modes such as the time-lapse mode, it has everything to fulfill your videography needs. An articulating screen is just a cherry on top of all that!
Travel Photography
If you are a travel enthusiast and love capturing the world on your camera then the Nikon D5500 should be your travel companion. Its 24 Megapixels camera along with a compact size and light weight which will help you in your purpose. Plus, the long battery life would ensure you can take photos all day long!
When to Use Canon T6
An excellent entry-level camera, the Canon T6 can be perfect in the following events.
Budget
If you are just getting into photography and cannot spare a lot for your camera, then the Canon T6 has got you covered. It is not only low priced but also full of features which make photography accessible to everyone!
Portrait Photography
The Canon T6 is excellent for portrait photography. Its good sensor size, 18 Megapixels camera, and face detection focusing are all the right ingredients for this purpose. Also, with the T6, you can always save RAW photos!
Which Is the Better Camera?
While the Nikon D5500 is better in almost all aspects of photography, it comes with a much heavier price tag. If you can handle that price, then go for it!
Otherwise, there is always the Canon T6. It comes packed with features that are slightly less than the Nikon D5500’s but are enough if you are new to photography.
Hence, depending on your budget, either camera can be the perfect one for you.
Conclusion
Getting a camera in today’s world can be a tough decision because of both prices and the complexity of cameras. Hopefully, this article eased your worries and got you closer to making your decision. Happy shooting!
