D5500 Questions: I Just bought a new D5500 with 18-300mm lens. Both Nikon . Replaced my lost D7000 and 18-200mm. Excellent and light but: Hard to see settings in viewfinder. Impossible...

Carlmk Loc: Naples, FL & Boston, MA

I Just bought a new D5500 with 18-300mm lens. Both Nikon . Replaced my lost D7000 and 18-200mm.

Excellent and light but:

Hard to see settings in viewfinder. Impossible in sunlight.

Battery life is short. Died after one and a half days of about 100 shots.

The d7000 has bright settings on LCD screen but miss them in viewfinder.

Is it a matter of just getting used to it?

Any suggestions?

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Carlmk wrote:

I Just bought a new D5500 with 18-300mm lens. Both Nikon . Replaced my lost D7000 and 18-200mm.

Excellent and light but:

Hard to see settings in viewfinder. Impossible in sunlight.

Battery life is short. Died after one and a half days of about 100 shots.

The d7000 has bright settings on LCD screen but miss them in viewfinder.

Is it a matter of just getting used to it?

Any suggestions?

Built in wifi turned on and draining the battery perhaps?

I had a D5100 for awhile, do not recall too much difficulty in seeing settings in viewfinder, but I prefer to add eye cup hoods.... I put a Hoodman eye cup on my D7100 and it helped me during cataract issues to see thru the viewfinder better.

http://hoodmanusa.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=CI07

Fatford Loc: Rock Hill, South Carolina

I have the D5500 and find the battery life good. The screen seems to be bright enough, although in direct sunlight I sometimes have to shade with my hand slightly.

CO

The D3xxx and D5xxx series cameras have a pentamirror viewfinder. The D7xxx series and higher cameras have a superior pentaprism viewfinder. The glass prism inside gives a larger, slightly brighter view though the viewfinder. I'm not sure if the slightly smaller view though the viewfinder of the D5500 is making things more difficult to read.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Carlmk wrote:

I Just bought a new D5500 with 18-300mm lens. Both Nikon . Replaced my lost D7000 and 18-200mm.

Excellent and light but:

Hard to see settings in viewfinder. Impossible in sunlight.

Battery life is short. Died after one and a half days of about 100 shots.

The d7000 has bright settings on LCD screen but miss them in viewfinder.

Is it a matter of just getting used to it?

Any suggestions?

Is there still time to return it? The d7100 or d7200 would be a better replacement for the d7000, just my opinion. I had the d5500, and it was a great camera, but I upgraded to the d7200 and never looked back.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I missed out getting a brand new Nikon D5500 camera body for $500 during last year's Black Friday Sale, and it was not gray market. The D5500, not having the internal motor, has the IQ of a Nikon D7100. The D5500 has 24 megapixels too. It is the best of the 5xxx series cameras.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

Could battery life be affected by extreme temperatures? I've noticed that batteries on three cameras, not kept in air conditioning, have gone dead after minimal use, while the one kept in AC is fine.

Jim Bob

Carlmk wrote:

I Just bought a new D5500 with 18-300mm lens. Both Nikon . Replaced my lost D7000 and 18-200mm.

Excellent and light but:

Hard to see settings in viewfinder. Impossible in sunlight.

Battery life is short. Died after one and a half days of about 100 shots.

The d7000 has bright settings on LCD screen but miss them in viewfinder.

Is it a matter of just getting used to it?

Any suggestions?

Other than diopter adjustments, you're stuck with the viewfinder.
Make certain wi-fi settings are turned off.

It is an outstanding camera capable of producing stunning images. Check the DXO Mark review and ratings.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have a D5300, and I can't remember running the battery dead. I use both Nikon and generic batteries. As others have said, Wi-Fi could be drawing a lot of current.

Nisolow

If GPS is on, it too will drain the battery.

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

I have a 5500 and have noticed that the settings in the viewfinder are somewhat dimmer than what I see in my D750. Not bad, but as others have said, it can be difficult in bright sunlight. I have had no problems with battery life, even here in southern AZ in the summer, so not sure what the problem might be. I have found Nikon batteries to be more durable than aftermarket ones. The 5500 is capable of great photos, with it's 24 mpx. I love the swivel screen, even more so than the tilting one on my 750. And this is the first camera I have owned with a touch screen & though it has taken a while to get used to, I am finding it to be pretty useful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nisolow wrote:

If GPS is on, it too will drain the battery.

Surprisingly, Nikon dropped GPS after the D5300.

Carlmk Loc: Naples, FL & Boston, MA

Thanks.

Carlmk Loc: Naples, FL & Boston, MA

Thanks for your relevant comments.

I have time to go for the D7200. I see-sawed between the D5500 and the D7200.

I picked the D5500 for one big reason beyond the weight. I often was confused in picking settings on the D7000. Not intuitive. The LCD back on the D5500 seemed better and easier to figure what was what. I never looked carefully at the D7200 because I assume it was the same as my old D7000.

What are your thoughts? Also what lens to you use?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The Settings screen on the D5500 is convenient, but I seldom use it because I'm not accustomed to it. I use my D750 more, so I'm used to changing settings on that. All you have to do is use it for a day, and you'll love it.