Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D vs Nikon D5500 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D and the Nikon D5500 are both APS-C DSLRs with optical pentamirror viewfinders for through-the-lens framing. The T7i was released in 2017, two years after the 2015 D5500, so it is the newer design of the pair.

The D5500 is the smaller and lighter body, 124 x 97 x 70 mm and 420 g against the T7i's 131 x 100 x 76 mm and 532 g. The 112 g gap matters for all-day carry.

The T7i is the stronger pick for moving subjects, with 45 autofocus points against 39 and 6 fps against 5 fps. For a runner at a finish line or a dog mid-jump, that means more focus positions and more frames at the peak moment.

The core capture settings match, with APS-C CMOS sensors of roughly 24 megapixels and a native ISO range of 100 to 25600. Neither has in-body stabilisation, so steady handheld shots rely on lens or technique. The T7i adds an expanded ISO ceiling of 51200, where the D5500 stops at 25600. Their mounts differ, Canon EF/EF-S against Nikon F DX, so each draws on its own native lens system.

For holiday clips and interval timelapses, the two cameras serve equally. The maximum recording resolution on each is Full HD, and the top frame rate is 60 fps. Each includes a built-in timelapse mode for interval work.

Their file formats differ. The T7i records MPEG-4 as well as MOV, while the D5500 records MOV, giving the Canon a second container choice when importing clips.

The T7i has the advantage for connected shooting, offering GPS and Bluetooth, which the D5500 lacks. GPS geotags travel and landscape photos automatically, and Bluetooth keeps a low-power link to a phone alongside the Wi-Fi both cameras share.

Everyday shooting features are shared. Both offer an articulating touch screen with live view, plus a built-in flash and external flash support. Neither body is weather sealed, so keep both out of rain and dust. The D5500's screen is slightly larger, 3.2 inches against the T7i's 3 inches.

The D5500 holds the edge for long days away from a charger, rated at 820 shots against the T7i's 600. That higher rating favours the Nikon for a full sightseeing day or an all-afternoon school event.

Storage is otherwise similar. Both use a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card with no second slot, and neither charges over USB. The T7i's slot is UHS-I compatible, which supports faster card offload with a UHS-I card.