Nikon has announced its very first touchscreen DSLR, the new D5500, which comes as the successor of the D5300 model.
While Canon ventured into touchscreen DSLR territory back in 2012 with its 650D camera, Nikon has so far stayed away from this area. Nevertheless, the new Nikon D5500 now comes with a 1032k-dot 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen that will allow users to navigate the menu, change the focus points, activate the shutter after touch focusing, and others such. The new Nikon D5500 also comes with a standard Nikon DX 18-55mm kit lens, and will cost roughly $999.
In addition to the new D5500, Nikon has also unveiled two new lenses: the fixed focal length AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4 lens, and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. According to the company, the NIKKOR 300mm lens is the world's lightest 300mm full-frame lens, weighing 1.5 pounds less than its predecessor. The DX 55-200mm model, meanwhile, is more suitable for beginners looking to extend their DSLR's optical zoom range.
"Whether capturing and unforgettable sunset or the game winning goal, the Nikon D5500 was designed to foster creativity and provide the tools any budding photographer needs to easily capture and share amazing images and HD video," Masahiro Horie, Nikon's Director of Marketing and Planning, said in the press release. "Additionally, the new DX-format 55-200mm and FX-format 300mm f/4 lenses reaffirm Nikon's steadfast commitment to expanding the NIKKOR lens lineup with versatile additions for both DX and FX-format DSLR shooters."
In addition to the touchscreen that allows for easy menu navigation, the new Nikon D5500 also features a Function (Fn) button that will allow users to quickly access AF point selection, aperture, ISO, and others.
When it comes to specifications, meanwhile, the D5500 doesn't really sport any groundbreaking changes compared to the D5300 model. More specifically, the new D5500 comes with the same 24.2MP CMOS sensor paired with the EXPEED 4 image processor, using a 39-point AF system. Just like its predecessor, the new model also obtains sharper images by bypassing the optical low pass filter. The new D55000 is also able to shoot 5 frames per second in burst mode, and it also supports Wi-Fi image transfer or remote shooting via an application.
"The Nikon D5500 makes no sacrifices when it comes to image quality, featuring a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor capable of rendering amazingly sharp and tonally-rich images and HD video. The removal of the sensor's OLPF allows for an impressive level of detail and sharpness from an affordable DSLR, while the addition of the EXPEED 4 image processing engine works to improve overall speed and performance in a variety of shooting situations," Nikon further boasts.
The Nikon D5500 supports full HD video shooting with full-time AF and stereo sound, and it also brings an array of neat creative options to the table, such as 16 unique Scene Modes that choose the proper settings for various shooting scenarios. New Effect modes, meanwhile, now include Super Vivid, POP, and Photo Illustrations, while Picture Controls has received a new "Flat" option. Such settings now have a 0.25-step adjustment, as well as a wider brightness range to ±1.5.
When it comes to pricing and availability, the new Nikon D5500 will make its commercial debut in February and will cost roughly $899 for the body, or $999 complete with the 18-55mm kit lens. Meanwhile, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/2.5-5.6G ED VR II lens will cost roughly $349, while the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens will retail for roughly $1,999.
