Nikon has released its smallest, lightest, and slimmest digital SLR featuring a vari-angle monitor.
Nikon has released what it claims is the world’s smallest, lightest, and slimmest digital SLR featuring a vari-angle monitor, its D5500. The 24.2 megapixel DX format camera is aimed at enthusiasts and it offers wireless connectivity and intuitive operations. Its vari-angle LCD monitor with touch-screen control, intelligent eye-sensor and optimised image review, are built into a monocoque carbon-fibre reinforced body (one piece which develops its strength via its rigid skin) for extra strength and rigidity.
The image sensor has an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) and includes Nikon’s EXPEED 4 image-processing engine. It also features an enhanced Picture Control System, a 39 point autofocus, and support for full HD video recording in 60p format. The eye-sensor automatically turns off the monitor screen display when using the viewfinder and a ‘Touch Fn’ function allows for easy adjustments or settings. The D5500 is the first Nikon SLR to use a vari-angle touch-screen LCD monitor.
Touch operation permission mode, a first in the Nikon DSLR range, has a setting that disables touch operation during shooting, allowing the use of touch screen controls only during playback. With the ‘Touch Fn’, functions assigned to the second Fn button can also be easily executed via touch operation with the right thumb whilst holding the grip, allowing settings such as ISO, AF-area and focus point selection to be enabled or disabled while confirming viewfinder information.
Nikon has also improved the playback time for images on the rear screen by ensuring the new eye-sensor technology lets the user review the image as soon as the eye leaves the viewfinder. The manufacturer says that the EXPEED4 image-processing image combines with the Optical Low-Pass Filter to make sharper and clearer images. The camera has a high-speed continuous shooting frame rate of 5 frames per second. It also has a highly accurate 2016-pixel RGB sensor. Nikon says its Scene Recognition System analyses and measures available light exposure, flash exposure, autofocus and white balance. The D5500 also includes Vignette Control for the first time in the DX format and a built-in flash supporting i-TTL flash.
Nikon says its new D5500 SLR is its smallest and lightest SLR.
