Ice article. I have been hammered by two photography instructors now that I need an upgrade from my D3500 but when I look at the sensor size vs all other Nikon dx cameras, I do not see the gain in picture quality from upgrading.
Mike
August 25, 2021 6:00 am
As with your D3400 review, your comparison table and text fail to highlight the most basic and important differences between the different generations of D33xx.
DrCv
February 23, 2021 3:23 am
Am I the only one to be tense about the sharpness with this camera all time?
In the beginning I taught it was my fault, but over time, and while using other cameras at the same time, I am finding too many soft images. Focus where I want, had it confirmed by click, but on review, so often, it’s not sharp enough, no matter the lenses (I have 5).
I recently bought a D3300, and find it misfocuses less frequently than my pro and semi-pro level Canons. Focus acquisition is not so fast, but it is definitely looking more reliable. Particularly at this end of the market, there are going to be irregularities, and some equipment is going to get through QC which is at the edge of spec. Perhaps your camera or lens is one of these, and I was lucky to get equipment which seems bang on, even at macro distances.
I bought a D3500 days ago, and my only issue so far has been the interface in the screen. It’s meant for quickly changing settings but I couldn’t figure out how until I read this article. Else, I’m very happy with the camera. For the sake of context, I previously owned an analogic Zenith and a digital Olympus that I *cough* lost *cough*, and extensively used my flatmate’s DSLR Nikons, one being a D3200 and the other was a D5500. Thanks for the article, very interesting and informative.
Prem Kumar
November 19, 2019 10:20 am
Hi, I am Prem , recently I bought Nikon d,3500 and I am looking for a external flash model and company, can any one help me ?
Tony McNamee
October 13, 2019 2:06 pm
Great review, as was the one for the D5600 – strikingly honest. I read both with great interest as I intend to update my D50. Could you perhaps help me with my decision? Cost is one of the contributory factors. I have two lenses with my D50 and I would like to keep these and buy a body only. The lenses are; Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-70 1:3.5-4.5G EG, and Sigma 70-300 D 1:4-5.6APO DG. I see that the D50 has an auto focus motor while the two newer cameras do not, meaning that lenses will need to have an auto focus motor (as I believe mine do) to benefit from autofocus. Could you please tell me before I make my decision, if I am correct and will be able to use the lenses as I have been accustomed on either of the two cameras in question? Thank you. Tony.
Matthew Currie
August 2, 2019 7:42 pm
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.
Matthew Currie
August 2, 2019 7:37 pm
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.
Zeljko Delibasic
August 1, 2019 2:52 am
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 😁
Ice article. I have been hammered by two photography instructors now that I need an upgrade from my D3500 but when I look at the sensor size vs all other Nikon dx cameras, I do not see the gain in picture quality from upgrading.
As with your D3400 review, your comparison table and text fail to highlight the most basic and important differences between the different generations of D33xx.
Am I the only one to be tense about the sharpness with this camera all time?
In the beginning I taught it was my fault, but over time, and while using other cameras at the same time, I am finding too many soft images. Focus where I want, had it confirmed by click, but on review, so often, it’s not sharp enough, no matter the lenses (I have 5).
I recently bought a D3300, and find it misfocuses less frequently than my pro and semi-pro level Canons. Focus acquisition is not so fast, but it is definitely looking more reliable. Particularly at this end of the market, there are going to be irregularities, and some equipment is going to get through QC which is at the edge of spec. Perhaps your camera or lens is one of these, and I was lucky to get equipment which seems bang on, even at macro distances.
Hello Spencer!
One correction: the D3500 does have a Time mode, just turn the dial past Bulb:
onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/d3500…-exposures
I bought a D3500 days ago, and my only issue so far has been the interface in the screen. It’s meant for quickly changing settings but I couldn’t figure out how until I read this article. Else, I’m very happy with the camera.
For the sake of context, I previously owned an analogic Zenith and a digital Olympus that I *cough* lost *cough*, and extensively used my flatmate’s DSLR Nikons, one being a D3200 and the other was a D5500.
Thanks for the article, very interesting and informative.
Hi, I am Prem , recently I bought Nikon d,3500 and I am looking for a external flash model and company, can any one help me ?
Great review, as was the one for the D5600 – strikingly honest. I read both with great interest as I intend to update my D50. Could you perhaps help me with my decision? Cost is one of the contributory
factors. I have two lenses with my D50 and I would like to keep these and buy a body only.
The lenses are; Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 18-70 1:3.5-4.5G EG, and Sigma 70-300 D 1:4-5.6APO DG.
I see that the D50 has an auto focus motor while the two newer cameras do not, meaning that lenses will need to have an auto focus motor (as I believe mine do) to benefit from autofocus.
Could you please tell me before I make my decision, if I am correct and will be able to use the lenses as I have been accustomed on either of the two cameras in question?
Thank you.
Tony.
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.
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.
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 😁