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Nikon D3500

 
Nikon D3500 front
 
Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69

Nikon D3500 overview

Nikon D3500 is Nikon's Entry-Level DSLR camera initially announced on August of 2018. It has got a 24 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Nikon launched this camera in order to improve the previous Nikon D3400 (Read Full Comparison)

The D3500 is ranked #17 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras & all-around #175 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to try our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your customized criteria.

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Here is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon D3500 family

The Nikon D3500 has a history of related cameras. Below, you can identify all past and newer models alongside key features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-D3500 front thumbnailNikon D350024MPAPS-C5.0 fps2018
Nikon-D5600 front thumbnailNikon D5600
D3500 vs D5600
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
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Nikon-D3400 front thumbnailNikon D3400
D3500 vs D3400
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
Nikon-D5500 front thumbnailNikon D5500
D3500 vs D5500
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2015
Nikon-D3300 front thumbnailNikon D3300
D3500 vs D3300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
Nikon-D5300 front thumbnailNikon D5300
D3500 vs D5300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
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Nikon-D5200 front thumbnailNikon D5200
D3500 vs D5200
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2013
Nikon-D3200 front thumbnailNikon D3200
D3500 vs D3200
24MPAPS-C4.0 fps2012
Nikon-D5100 front thumbnailNikon D5100
D3500 vs D5100
16MPAPS-C4.0 fps2011
Nikon-D3100 front thumbnailNikon D3100
D3500 vs D3100
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Nikon-D3000 front thumbnailNikon D3000
D3500 vs D3000
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Nikon-D5000 front thumbnailNikon D5000
D3500 vs D5000
12MPAPS-C4.0 fps2009
Nikon-D60 front thumbnailNikon D60
D3500 vs D60
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Nikon-D40X front thumbnailNikon D40X
D3500 vs D40X
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2007
Nikon-D40 front thumbnailNikon D40
D3500 vs D40
6MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Nikon D3500 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of positives and negatives of the Nikon D3500 based on factors which are oftentimes viewed as necessary in a camera.

better than average battery (1,550 CIPA)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does have HDMI out
does not have anti aliasing filter
good MP (24 megapixels)
great high ISO (25,600)
great min ISO (100)
has bluetooth
has built in flash
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
lighter than average in class (365g)
manual focus
nice screen size (3")
offers face detect focus
offers tracking focus
saves RAW files
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good screen resolution (921 thousand dots)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing headphone support
missing microphone support
missing Timelapse function
screen does not articulate
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Nikon D3500 Sensor details

The Nikon D3500 houses the Expeed 4 processor chip. The sensor size in the Nikon D3500 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor is able to resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels at aspect ratios of 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor has 24 megapixels and provides a native ISO range of 100 - 25600. RAW files are saved so you have wider margin for error.

Nikon decided to skip the anti aliasing filter with the Nikon D3500. This can result in more detailed pictures but might cause moire in certain circumstances.

The image underneath displays the D3500's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The D3500 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.

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To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon D3500 dimensions

Nikon D3500 is 0.80 lb (365 gr / 12.88 oz) & the sizing of the camera is 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8"). The weight of normal Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 gr so the Nikon D3500 is lighter when compared with other rivals.

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Here is a image of the Nikon D3500 with a soft drink so you can get a feel for its scale.

Nikon D3500 dimensions scale

The top view under will provide the button layout on the D3500.

Nikon D3500 topview buttons dials

Nikon D3500 Lens specs

The D3500 works with the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses to select from. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the D3500.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Tokina-AT-X-Pro-12-24mm-f4-IF-DX-Nikon-F-DX lensTokina AT-X Pro 12-24mm f4 IF DX12-24mmf/4.0 570g
Tamron-SP-AF-17-50mm-F2.8-XR-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Nikon-F-DX lensTamron SP AF 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF17-50mmf/2.8 430g
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Nikon-AF-S-Nikkor-200-400mm-f4G-ED-IF-VR lensNikon AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f4G ED-IF VR200-400mmf/4.0 3275g
Tamron-SP-AF-90mm-F2.8-Di-Macro-Nikon-F-FX lensTamron SP AF 90mm F2.8 Di Macro90mmf/2.8 405g
Tamron-AF-18-250mm-F3.5-6.3-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Macro-Nikon-F-DX lensTamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro18-250mmf/3.5-6.3 430g
Nikon-AF-Nikkor-180mm-f2.8D-ED-IF lensNikon AF Nikkor 180mm f2.8D ED-IF180mmf/2.8 760g
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Nikon-AF-S-DX-Nikkor-18-55mm-f3.5-5.6G-II lensNikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G II18-55mmf/3.5-5.6 205g
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Nikon D3500 Connectivity

The D3500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that have NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can copy pictures and oftentimes alter camera settings without connecting straight to the camera.

A few applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external monitor. Almost all cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB socket.

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Nikon D3500 Video specs

The maximum video resolution in the Nikon D3500 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance for quality vs file sizes but FULL HD won't leave you with any room to downsample. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and / or headphone socket so you have no control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to purchase another model in case you need better audio for your video clips.

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Nikon D3500 Weather Sealing

Nikon D3500 doesn't include weather proofing so wet conditions might damage the camera.

Nikon D3500 Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon D3500 has got a 3 inch fixed screen boasting a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Sadly the screen is not a touch screen.

Nikon D3500 screen and viewfinder TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The View Finder details for Nikon D3500 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 95%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.56x

For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be pretty useful.

Nikon D3500 Shutter specs

Nikon D3500 is able to shoot continuously at 5.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Nikon D3500 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Nikon D3500 has both in-built flash along with external flash ability.

Nikon D3500 Autofocus specs

Nikon D3500 has both Phase Detect AF plus Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & precise when compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has got Face detect which can be useful for portraits.

The Sensor has got 11 focus points to select from. It also has Tracking AF for subjects that move. Nikon D3500 comes with manual focus when required for low light conditions or you require more precise control on focus.

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Nikon D3500 Battery life

The battery (EN-EL14a) on the Nikon D3500 is fashioned to last for 1550 photographs with respect to the CIPA measurements which is higher than average when compared to its class. The general Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x has the highest possible (1900) battery life for this class of cameras.

Below is a number of Entry-Level DSLR cameras which have the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D3500 front thumbnailNikon D35001550 yesnoyes
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Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
D3500 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Nikon D3500 for different kinds of photography

The following bar chart displays a analysis of the Nikon D3500 for different kinds of photography. To check out more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Nikon D3500 Portrait photography info

The Nikon D3500 gets a rating of 81 which is superb, and means the camera is a brilliant fit to use for portraits. Taking portraits leans greatly towards sensor size, RAW support plus the potential to utilize off-camera lighting.

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has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats

Nikon D3500 as a Street photography camera

With a above average rating of 69, the Nikon D3500 is a very decent pick for street photography. A decent street photography camera has a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (365 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization

Nikon D3500 Sports photography features

A very good sports photography rating of 70 means the Nikon D3500 is a respectable fit for photographing sports. A camera needs great focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery (1,550 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization

Nikon D3500 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is pretty important when choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the Nikon D3500 gets a nice 71 as a travel camera which is a fine fit to buy for your holidays.

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great battery power (1,550 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (365 grams)
supports bluetooth
good resolution (24MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display

Landscape photography with Nikon D3500

For anyone who is planning to choose a camera for landscape pictures, the most significant aspect is going to be image quality. The Nikon D3500 and it's very good rating of 75 as a landscape camera is a good option among it's competitors.

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manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (1,550 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording

Vlogging with Nikon D3500

A camera for vlogging really should have a moving screen, microphone port and ideally image stabilization. Considering all things, the Nikon D3500 is simply not good as a vlog camera as it receives a awful rating of 31.

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features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (365 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic port

Nikon D3500 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the D3500, here is a selection of the top rated cameras which fall into the family of Entry-Level DSLR.

The chart listed below gives you a summary of the D3500 versus it's top scoring rivals listed above.

There are a bunch of cameras you might look into as alternative options. To browse through a detailed comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Nikon
Model
Nikon D3500
Type
Entry-Level DSLR
Announced
2018-08-29
Physical type
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Expeed 4
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Maximum resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW support
Maximum native ISO
25600
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points
11
Lens
Lens mount
Nikon F
Available lenses
309
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display size
3"
Display resolution
921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95%
Viewfinder magnification
0.56x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate
5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes
Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
365 grams (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions
124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
Other
Battery life
1550 photographs
Style of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL14a
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
1
Pricing at launch
$397