Shooting the Nikon D5500 Campaign with (Gasp!) a Nikon D5500

Shooting the Nikon D5500 Campaign with (Gasp!) a Nikon D5500

Last summer, photographer and director Dixie Dixon was called upon by Nikon to shoot a campaign for their new touch screen DSLR, the D5500. This incredible opportunity had one interesting challenge in store for Dixon, however; All of the material would be photographed and filmed — kit lens, auto settings, and Photoshop-free — using the consumer-level D5500 itself.

Dixon’s familiarity with her trusty Nikon D810 and D4S would have to translate quickly to using the D5500. She was given access to the camera only a day before undertaking the shoot, of which required nearly 70 images all with different setups and locations. With even more added spice to the challenge, Dixon lists out some of her limitations in a blog post, “I was required to use mostly kit lenses and shoot in auto settings … and there was no Photoshop allowed so everything had to be perfect in camera.” At this point, I think some of us would start to feel queasy. To me this just shows Nikon’s confidence in their product, as well as in the creative skills of Dixon. She went for it head-on, and the images she came back with proved both her own worth and the camera’s capability.

To read Dixon’s writeup of her experience, check out her blog. You can find more of her images from the campaign on her website and on Nikon’s D5500 product page.

Ryan Mense's picture

Ryan Mense is a wildlife cameraperson specializing in birds. Alongside gear reviews and news, Ryan heads selection for the Fstoppers Photo of the Day.

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5 Comments

Doubles as an ad for Colorado:)

I think this goes to show that photographer's skills trump the camera. If I really had to, I could shoot with any camera in the Nikon family and pull off something decent. The better cameras just have more bells and whistles to make that and some of the more advanced stuff easier.

But for studio stuff where strobes are being used? I don't quite need the best camera out there for that.

Being a studio shooter myself, I totally agree. I've shot with a D810 and the detail is amazing, but my images that I've taken with my D3100 hold up well against it.

It's always the skill level that counts. For some sports things this camera would be challenging (I know I wouldn't use it, not that I shoot sports tho), but I regularly bounce back and forth in studio and portrait work between my D600 and this camera's predecessor, the D5100.

Dixie is drop dead gorgeous, and stellar with probably ANY camera you put in her hands. I'm a huge fan of hers, and she made that camera look like it was top of the line.