Nikon D3500
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Great review! I had a chance to use this camera and kit lens (as part of a review program) and came away very pleased with the results. The camera body itself is small and light, and the kit lens is also small and light (and becomes smaller by virtue of the button) so this combination makes for a nice travel kit. Adding a lens like the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II provides even more coverage. I found images relatively sharp, even with the kit lens, and battery life is very good. The only thing I wish Nikon kept from previous iterations is the Function button, but navigating the menus is relatively easy and the various Scene settings are useful for beginnings. I always recommend this camera for someone looking to move up from a cell phone or point and shoot.
Thank you, Richard!
The removal of the function button is unfortunate, at least for pros who want the D3500 as a backup camera. I can live with adjusting ISO via the “i” button, but it’s not ideal. In fact, it would really take a minimum of two Fn buttons to make me happy (one for changing ISO, one for changing AF servo mode).
I agree with the rest of your comment as well. The D3500 makes an excellent travel camera, and it’s my top recommendation for first-time DSLR buyers on a budget (or one of the earlier D3000-series cameras, used, for an especially low price).
In terms of the kit lens, the 18-55mm AF-P is all right, but not my favorite. Its image quality is nothing to complain about – the ergonomics are what bother me. The locking button is annoying (I’d prefer the Nikon Z method where you just twist to unlock). And I really don’t like the lack of switches on the 18-55mm, requiring you to open a menu to change auto/manual focus settings as well as VR.
I loved the D3300. I remember shooting 650 pics during an all-day harvest festival on a private farm, including a contradance with lots of pics at ISO 12,800. The 3300 performed like a champ. I shot mainly with the 35/1.8 – again, a really lovely lens. The combination of camera and that lens took “eye-sweet” pictures, to borrow a phrase from the late Haanel Cassidy, principal photographer for the Conde Nast magazine publishing empire in the 1940s and 1950s.
George, that’s a pretty excellent camera/lens combo, agreed. I wish Nikon made more DX primes like the 35mm, especially wider – a 16mm f/1.8 and 24mm f/1.8 DX, for instance.
Hi Spencer,
On the dropdown for section 1, it says D3400 Overview and Specs. I think that that may be a typo. Just in case, I thought I’d point it out.
Nice catch, thank you, Elaine! I’ve fixed it and updated the article.
Hi Spencer, thanks for a really nice review and images. That camera is not doubt incredible value for the money.
You say that the image quality is on par with D500 etc. (at least at base ISO), but is that entirely true when those cameras can shoot 14 bit raw and the D3500 only 12 bit?
Another thing that may be an issue to some is the lack of the automatic sensor dust off function, which as far as I know is present in previous models like the D3400, D3300 etc.
The difference in 12 or 14 bit is barely noticeable even with terrible post processing at base ISO and utterly irrelevant at higher ISOs (about 400+ depending on the camera) when all you do is record noise anyway – photographylife.com/14-bi…12-bit-raw
I love that article.
Could be true in mosts cases, but read here too:
www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV…lang=en_GB
I believe that one of the strongest points to choose the entry level Nikon DX cameras is the lens line up, even when most people complain about it. The thing is that this camera can take profit of the other 2 AF-P lens, the 10-20 and the 70 300 and this lens are cheap and perform on par or better than anything that the other systems has to offer at this prize and size. The 70 300 AF-P DX is a lot faster to focus than any other 70 300 or equivalent tele zoom under $1000, that paired with the good tracking means that for a “soccer mom” its going to be the cheapest option to get the results that she needs. On other hand the 10 20 has only the Canon 10 18 to make competition if you are learning to use a UWA and want a lens as wide as possible (if you want an UWA in a mirrorless crop-sensor system you are going to pay a lot more for something that goes as wide as 15mm equiv.).
When you start asking Nikon for DX primes or f/2.8 zooms is when you see the deficiencies on the system, but for the people that is considering the D3500 and can get the body+kit+70 300 as a bundle for the same prize as the competion body+kit is when picking Nikon make the difference.
PS: Of course that is only talking about pictures, when you ask the camera for video the D3500 suddenly goes rigth to the end of the line among the options.
That’s a good point with regards to the AF-P lenses. They’re a nice innovation on Nikon’s part, especially for the smaller+lighter crowd (of which I’m a part)!
And you’re right – a camera is all about the system. It’s one reason why Canon has dominated even though some photographers have complained about their high ISO performance and other tech details; that’s not what convinces most people to buy a camera. Instead, pros buy into a system for its lenses, flashes, and so on. Then they recommend their favorite brand to friends who want a camera… who then recommend it to more friends down the line.
Or, they ask a salesperson who recommends Sony. (Kidding!)
I own a D850, and bought the D3500 as a gift for my daughter. For less than $400 with the kit 18-55, non-VR 70-300, a bag, and a cleaning kit, it was great value, more than 15x cheaper than my D850 setup, and incredibly light and compact. We took the camera on a week-long trip to the Caribbean, and I didn’t miss the D850 at all. The photos were sharp and colors were accurate, and there was no shake even at 300mm. I was shooting only in manual mode, with auto ISO limited to 1600 max, and found the controls easy to use. Birds in flight were decent too. Battery life was great. I will be borrowing this camera for urban photogrpaphy and landscapes, especially on budget flights with their 15-20 lb bag limits.
You got a great deal on that, Chris! Was it around the holidays, or did you find a refurbished kit/similar?
Even with the one lens at $450, the D3500 is still a pretty killer deal. Glad to hear that you and your daughter are enjoying the camera as well. It’s a great case for the diminishing returns of Nikon’s more advanced gear (and I say that as someone who owns plenty).
I bought this camera last Christmas at $399 with the 18-55 kit lens. It was purchased as a basic replacement for my Nikon1 J5 which has been misbehaving lately. It is a great small camera for walking around photography. As you say, the image quality is excellent. I agree with your comments on the controls. However, for the price and the ability to use the camera with my Nikon G lenses it has been a good purchase and a nice addition to my light-weight bag. I have yet to try it with my Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 or my Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR1 lenses but hope to do so soon.I usually shot in Manual mode, Auto ISO 1600 and handheld though will go to tripod/monopod with Gimbal mount for the 200-500.
For lower light work, I switch to my D750. I also shoot an IR converted D600 and Nikon1 J3 in a WP-N2 housing for underwater work. Well written, thorough and accurate review based on my experience.
Hi Spencer
You found that its new sensor is better than the one on my D5600 & D500, that does not surprise me, theses two are older technology compare to this entry level camera, but we all know as you wrote that a camera is not only to have the best sensor…..
Two days ago I bought at a very discounted price the Fuji X-T2 with the 18-55 F2.8-4 + an extra battery. What a surprise I had ,by adding CP1 for fuji , bringing colors that are so vivid and true (Velvia) and amazing. I feel technicolor is back.
Hi Luc, thanks for the comment! Not sure if I misstated something in the article, but the D3500 sensor is not better than the one in the D5600 or D500. My testing shows that it’s the same as the D5600’s performance, regardless of ISO. At base ISO, it is a tad better than the D500’s performance, and at high ISOs, it is a tad worse.
That said, to your other point, the X-T2 is a phenomenal camera! I’m glad you’ve had such a great experience with it.
I’m still happy with my “old” and “optically inferior” Nikon D3000. :)
Hi, just thought I’d comment about the link you shared- it actually directs to B&H’s page for a D5600!
Glad you noticed that, thank you, Donny! Just fixed it.
Hi. Thanks for the great review. I am complet beginner in DSLR photography , I never even hold in my hands any camera larger than compact. So I set up my mind on buying a DSLR camera. My choice is either D3500 with kit lens 18-55 + 70-300 or D5600 with kit lens 18-55. I’m also completely new on this site, and I found it thru research about which camera should I buy. Last 7 days I spent everyday more than 2 hours here just reading 😀. Can you please help my to make a decision? Sorry for for grammar errors 😀
Thank you, Zeljko! The D5600 has two main benefits over the D3400: a tilt/flip touchscreen (better for shooting at odd angles) and a 39-point autofocus system in the viewfinder rather than 11 points.
Both are excellent cameras. They have the identical camera sensor and will capture equally high quality photos. So, it’s all about whether you want the tilt/flip screen and additional autofocus points, and are willing to pay for it (currently $250 more than the D3500, since the D5600 sells for $700, though it often goes on sale even to $550).
Personally – I’d go the D3500 route, with two lenses rather than one for the D5600. The goal is to open up the range of possible photos you can take. And that’s higher when you have access to the 70-300mm range of focal lengths, even if your camera screen isn’t as nice in the process.
Thank you for taking the time to write your answer. If you’d do that, then that is enough for me, I have made my choice. Just one more question, is there any difference between them when it comes to astrophotography? I would like to try myself in that area. At least to try 😁
While it sounds as if the D3500 is a nice rig, and is undoubtedly much better at high ISO than the D3200 which I had for some time, I think users should know a couple of other things that have been dropped, at least relative to the D3200 and 3300. Not only the Fn button (which I found very handy for ISO) and the infrared remote sensors (which allowed a very inexpensive remote for shake free tripod shooting and true time exposures), but also metering support for older AF lenses with an aperture ring, and the sensor cleaning option. On that last one, I can’t be sure how much difference it makes, but my D3200 stayed dust free for years with the shaker in use.
If you don’t need or miss those features, though, I doubt you’ll get better image quality at the price. Even the D3200, with anti-aliasing filter and three generations older sensor, is surprisingly good except for high ISO noise.
Matthew, frankly, the D3500 is pretty much the same as the D3200 in image quality, even at higher ISO values. It’s one reason why the cost-cutting Nikon has done – removing the Fn button, IR sensor, metering support for old lenses, etc. – are irritating people.
I still consider the D3500 the best camera in the lineup, though, in part because of how much better it handles. Having used the D3100 and D3400 extensively, I just couldn’t get used to how they felt compared to Nikon’s D5000 lineup.
I forgot to mention, regarding the 200-500 Joe Sandrin has yet to try: it certainly worked a treat on the D3200, and because the camera is so light it was easy to hand hold and fast to pan and aim. Flip the tripod mount up to the top to use as a carrying handle.