Looking for your first camera to take your photography to the next level? The Nikon D3500 is an ideal choice. This entry-level DSLR packs advanced features into a tight budget! Surprising features of this small DSLR camera include its remarkable 24.2Mp sensor, sturdy and lightweight design, sharper image quality, and an easy-to-use layout!
Let’s dive into a more detailed review of what makes this camera a top choice for beginners.
Table of Contents
What is it?
Nikon D3500 is an entry-level DSLR camera, which is the second most popular choice after Sony cameras. Its remarkable features make it stand out over tough competitor canon series.
Lightweight and easy one-hand operation is the feature where it shines the most!
The 24.2MP APS sensor is just unliveable in this budgeted camera!
Although it has some limiting features, you can’t go beyond the sharp image quality and especially useful guide mode for the beginner photographer.
Just keep in mind that using a prime lens will be a great deal with a D3500 camera. One of the best ways to obtain high-resolution photos is to invest in a glass lens.
Well, the Nikon D3500 has the best battery performance for long-day shooting. Go for a trip or a family vacation by packing this compact camera.
Key Features: A quick overview of the Nikon D3500 camera
| Key features | Specifications | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
Body Material |
Polycarbonate shell |
Solid and robust structure |
No weather sealing |
Size & Weight |
*124x97x69.5mm*415gm (with battery and card) |
Compact size for easy grip and handling | |
Button layout |
Well designed on the right-hand side |
Convenient one-handed operation |
Less space for deep pressing of the button |
Display |
3 Inch fixed LCD
(921k dots) |
Natural shooting experience |
No touchscreen option |
Sensor & Resolution |
*24.2 MP
*EXPEED 4 image processor |
High-quality images |
Poor results in low-light conditions |
Burst mode |
5 frames per second |
It is ideal for birthday parties, occasions, or normal days. |
*Slower speed
*Not for serious photography |
ISO performance |
100-25,600 |
Average performance with the right ISO settings |
Higher ISO is unusable with grain and noise |
Autofocus |
11 focusing point
3D tracking features |
Accurate and reliable |
Can’t focus the fast-moving objects while video shooting |
Battery life |
1550 shots per charge |
Best for traveling or long-day shooting |
Buying another cheap battery requires |
Connectivity |
Bluetooth file sharing through the SnapBridge App |
Can share images with friends or family |
*Slow-loading images
*Lacks Wifi |
Flash |
Built-in Flash |
Use as a filler flash for closeup shots |
Not a powerful flash to make things clear and vibrant in low light. |
SD card slot |
SingQuick-releasing |
Quick-releasing plates on the grip side |
Don’t have double slots like high-end cameras. |
Video quality |
1080HD, maximum frame rate at 60 |
Decent videography for short-term video clips, like reels. |
*Lacks 4K video
*Video AF system is poor. |
Image quality |
*Active D-lighting tool
*Retouch menu |
Excellent image quality |
*Can’t reduce overall noise.
*Poor image quality in dark conditions |
Nikon D3500 review: Body and design
Lightweight, solid structure
The Nikon D3500 is built in a solid structure with a lightweight feeling. You will thank yourself for buying this compact camera body for easily traveling with and shooting all day long.
The well-designed and stylish look is appreciable! But it’s not built in like a professional DSLR of magnesium alloy. It is encased with a polycarbonate shell that is still robust enough for daily use even at this cheapest price.
So, don’t expect the D3500 to be as weather-sealed as the D7500! This camera casing is not waterproof or dustproof.
Deep grip and handling
Whether it’s about one-handed handling or comfortable ergonomics this D3500 camera is best for it!
The best ergonomic design you’ve ever got! It features a deep grip for comfortable handling even with large lenses.
Easily access button
The buttons are placed on the right-hand side, which allows easy access when shooting. And, one-handed operation is much more convenient for a simple button layout.
Well, the buttons are a little flat on the back. So, you may feel less space for deep pressing of the button.
Non-touchscreen display
The Nikon D3500 features a fixed 3-inch LCD rear screen display.
The downside of this beginner’s DSLR camera is you won’t get a touchscreen display.
That means you have very limited control over the autofocus point or zoom-out screen like a smartphone or professional DSLR.
Overall, the LCD screen is not ideal for microphotography at all.
Nikon D3500 review: Performance
Image sensor and resolution
The Nikon D3500 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C camera sensor. Oh! It has no optical low-pass filter. Ultimately, sharp and high-quality pictures you’ll get for sure!
Compared to another entry-level camera, the Canon EOS t-7, you’ll get this same sensor at half price in the D3500.
EXPEED 4 image processor with 24.2 MP sensor makes images more detailed and sharp even in low light conditions.
5fps burst mode
Considering the price point, the burst mode speed is fine but not so impressive.
This d3500 enables photo shooting at 5 frames per second. That’s okay for shooting at birthday parties, occasions, or normal days.
As it’s an entry-level camera, you can’t expect it for serious photography like sports photography. No option to click and shoot every motion and action continuously with D3500.
ISO performance
You can expect a good iso range performance up to 6000 with noise reduction. Also, ISO 3200 produces sharp and clean results.
It’s quite difficult to get good results indoors or in a low-light situation. Depressed!
ISO performance and noise test
Setting manually ISO to photograph a gymnastics event!
Settings:
- 195mm, 1/800
- F/5.3
- ISO-25600
And the result is not satisfying. More noise and grainy results in the picture and even in the face, as you can see!
Lower ISO setting:
Lens kits: Nikon 70-200 2.8
Settings:
- 82mm, 1/800
- F/4.8
- ISO-3200
Let’s have a look at the result when using a lower ISO setting! It’s pretty good and has better results than a higher ISO range setting.
However, the ultimate game is a good-quality lens. You can get the best quality images with a premium lens even with a Nikon D3500 camera. And don’t forget to master fundamental settings to get a pro click.
Pro tips: The kit lens isn’t good for low-light conditions. However, you can expect better aperture results with Sigma 18-35 mm.
Reliable autofocus system
The most satisfying feature you’ll get in this entry-level camera is autofocus.
In this camera, with 11 focusing points, you’ll get to shoot action. The most accurate focus system is even better than direct competitor Canon.
But wait! Here’s also a 3D tracking feature with higher-end cameras. Where the camera is going to bounce around the auto-focusing point from subject to subject.
If you are confident enough to use this autofocus, go on!
Well, keep in mind that the video AF system isn’t the same as the photo AF system. And you can’t get satisfactory shots for fast-moving scenarios.
So, yeah! Try manual focusing in this case. Probably, it’s a good choice for getting better results.
Average battery life
You’ll expect a decent battery life, but not as incredible battery life as the competitor Canon series camera.
Well, it advertises exceptional battery life—1550 shots per charge. You can rely on this battery life for 2-3 days with long-day shooting or traveling.
But, my opinion will be to buy a second battery from Amazon at a cheap price to tackle unwanted, terrible conditions.
Only Bluetooth Connectivity
The Nikon D3500 has built-in Bluetooth features but lacks wifi. These are quite outdated features, I think!
Through Nikon’s SnapBridge app, you can share pictures with family and friends. But you’ll be a little bit frustrated because of slower Bluetooth loading while sharing photos on a smartphone.
Built-in flash
You don’t have to buy an extra flash. The Nikon D3500 comes with a flash, which can give you an ordinary result.
This flash could be helpful for closeup shots like a person in a little corner. It’s also a little bit brighter to get a clear shot while traveling.
Single memory card slot
It is a pleasure to have a memory card slot on the side near the grip.
It features a single memory card slot! It’s quite normal when considering its budgeted price.
Well, you won’t have any issues with quick-release plates, which is a nice thing you’ll love.
It’ll suggest buying a professional SD card to make your moment safe and secure!
Useful guide mood
The most beneficial features a beginner photographer gets! Guide mode for learning technical aspects of a camera.
It’s easy to figure out how to use a camera as a newbie. You don’t have to struggle with technical language like aperture or bokeh!
When you want to change the background, it’ll show options like a blurry background or a sharp background.
Whether you are supposed to gift a camera to your aged parents or a friend who is very beginning to learn photography, it’s a treasured item you can go with!
Nikon D3500 review—Controls
Quick menu
Pressing the ‘i’ button, you’ll get frequently used settings such as:
- ISO Sensitivity
- White balance
- Focus mode
- Metering
Here, you can adjust the settings quickly with direct access to key settings.
Mode dial
Only one adjustment dial you’ll get in the back of the camera. So, it’s difficult to get certain settings when you’re in manual mode.
The mode dial offers various shooting modes like portrait, landscape, sports, and night.
You can also jump to manual control over shutter speed, aperture, and other parameters using PSAM mode.
Viewfinder
A pentamirror, which offers a clear and natural shooting experience, is the best viewfinder.
It only covers 95%, which is another limiting feature of this camera.
Image stabilization
There’s no image stabilization on this Nikon D3500 camera. It doesn’t have a motor for driving lenses.
Luckily, you’ll get the motor-built-in lenses that have optical image stabilization.
Nikon D3500 review—Video
Multiple times, this camera shouted like an entry-level camera! So, never expect too much to get a crispy video at all.
First of all, the video AF system isn’t for fast-moving objects or filmmaking.
Secondly, it doesn’t have any external microphone port! So, the sound quality of the video is horrible!
Well, you can expect decent videography with a maximum frame rate of 60. It features only HD (1080P) videos but lacks 4K videos.
So, it’s quite tough to use this as a video camera!
Nikon D3500 review—Image Quality
Honestly to say, image quality depends more on lenses than a camera.
With this Nikon D3500, you’ll get high-quality images for a 24.2MP sensor.
But burst mode can be a little bit slower. It may take roughly 18-20 seconds of buffer time after 5FPS. So, you may not get sharper images with faster clicks.
You’d also like the useful tool ‘Active D-lighting’ option, which is similar to HDR.
It works when you’re shooting in JPEG format. Well, it helps to improve shadows and highlight detail.
The Nikon D3500 doesn’t have more film simulations than 7 options. It features seven different picture controls that adjust sharpness, contrast, and saturation.
- Standard
- Neutral
- Vivid
- Monochrome
- Portrait
- Landscape
- flat
Look at the image samples of the Nikon D3500 using the image control option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nikon D3500 a good camera for beginners?
Yes, the Nikon D3500 is the best camera for beginners. Its easy menu settings layout, right-hand button design, and lightweight handling—all features are designed for beginners. Additional ‘Guide mood’ is the feature where a beginner can easily understand how to operate the camera for the best shot even without knowing the technical aspects.
Does Nikon D3500 support 4K?
The Nikon D3500 doesn’t support 4k, only records 1800 HD videos. This video AF system performs decent but not so well. So, you’ll get satisfying results in short clipping videos like reels.
Is the Nikon D3500 good for low-light photography?
The Nikon D3500 can perform well for close-up shots in low-light photography. However, higher ISO settings aren’t usable for low-light conditions. The result is more grainy and noisy in images.
Conclusion on Nikon D3500 Camera Review
Having a few limitations in the Nikon D3500 camera, you may be confused about what to do!
On a tight budget, the d3500 is the golden treasure for beginners as well as experienced shooters.
If you want a photography camera, its stand-in features are even far better than the tough competitor Canon EOS Rebel T100/EOS 4000D.
Solid build structure, lightweight handling design, beginners guide mood, easy menu settings, and reliable battery performance—packed full of high-end features.
But want to shoot a filming video or serious photography? The Nikon D3500 isn’t for you! Switching to Z5 will be worth it in that case.
