Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera
The Nikon D3500 has a special place in my heart because it is the perfect entry-level DSLR and I use it to teach my kiddos.
The D3500, which replaced the D3400 in September of last year, didn’t change much, which frustrated a lot of fans. But, the changes Nikon did make were worthwhile, especially considering it has made a number of people I know hold off on buying mirrorless.
The D3500 is the lightest in the Nikon camera line, and its price is another reason you may think about putting that brand-new mirrorless purchase off another year.
Table of Contents
- Nikon D3500 Specs
- Nikon D3500 Body & Design
- Nikon D3500 Build & Handling
- Nikon D3500 Video Performance
- Nikon D3500 Lenses<
- Nikon D3500 Price
Nikon D3500 Specs
When you’re buying anything worth hundreds of dollars you want to know about the bang for your buck, and in this case you want to know about the D3500 specs.
While these specs don’t set the world on fire, they certainly put the D3500 in a good position in the entry-level DSLR market:
- Sensor: 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS 4
- Image Processor: EXPEED 4
- AF Points: 11-point AF
- Max Image Size: 6,000 x 4,000px
- Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- LCD: 3.0-inch with 921K dots
- Weight: 14.6 oz
The Nikon D3500 specs also include Bluetooth connectivity and an SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS I memory card slot. We will touch more on the lack of 4K video later on.
To me, the most impressive D3500 spec is its battery life, which is 1,550-shots. To put that in comparison, it’s about 5 times more than a mirrorless camera in the same price bracket.
Chris Turner, a well-respected YouTuber in the photography community, did a shoot and review of the D3500 that you may find enlightening. Check it out above.
Nikon D3500 Body & Design
The Nikon D3500 design isn’t ideal, particularly because the 3.0-inch LCD screen is a fixed rear screen. I find, though, that when I’m teaching someone how to shoot they seldom use the articulating or tilting screens on my other cameras anyway.
Another downside is that the LCD isn’t touch-sensitive. While this wouldn’t have been a big deal a few years ago, the prevalence of touchscreens today makes it a near must-have now.
If you’re thinking of picking up a Nikon D3500, keep in mind you will need to shoot it like an old school camera, buttons and all, since the screen doesn’t tilt. This means a lot of bending and stooping for those low-angle shots.
This shouldn’t be a problem, though, considering the nice button redesign. All of the buttons on this Nikon Camera are now located along the right rear of the camera (phenomenal for righties, not so great for lefties).
Nikon also got rid of the LiveView button in favor of a LiveView switch.
Finally, the info button got moved from the top of the camera to the back of the camera and the flash button got moved from the side of the camera to the back of the camera.
All told, it’s a nice refresh that retains that familiar Nikon look but improves your workflow.
Nikon D3500 Build & Handling
As I mentioned earlier, my favorite part about the Nikon D3500 build is how light it is. At just under 1 pound, the ergonomics of this camera almost rival that of most new mirrorless cameras.
Being so lightweight with a small form factor, this is a perfect everyday camera for a beginner or even an enthusiast that wants something with lots of features but doesn’t come wrapped in a big, bulky full frame body.
The Nikon D3500, as compared to the D3400, has a thicker grip, so it is easier to hold.
Though the camera is not weather-sealed, it feels well put together and can take a few lumps. This isn’t to say that you can drop it and otherwise abuse it, but under normal shooting conditions, you needn’t worry about it being too delicate to handle the job.
Nikon D3500 Video Performance
The Nikon D3500 features are impressive, until you reach the video department. This DSLR doesn’t come with 4K video capabilities.
Granted, this is an entry-level camera, but still, no 4K seems outdated in 2019.
However, you can shoot full HD video at up to 60/50fps with the D3500.
Knowell Visuals, an underrated cinematographer, is doing great work over on YouTube and testing the video capabilities of tons of the latest DSLR and mirrorless cameras. He did the same with the Nikon D3500 and you can see it above.
Nikon D3500 Lenses
When buying this camera new, it’s packaged with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens shown above.
As kit lenses go, this is a great starter lens thanks to its vibration reduction feature. However, better lenses are out there that should be considered as your skill set improves.
Here’s a few excellent D3500 lens options:
- Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Lens - an excellent kit lens upgrade option
- Nikon 35mm f/1.8 Lens - an inexpensive, sharp, and versatile prime lens
- Nikon 85mm f/1.8 Lens - a top choice for portrait photography
- Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens - a cheap telephoto lens with fantastic reach
Nikon D3500 Camera Price
Now that the Nikon D3500 review is out of the way we can get to the important stuff, the D3500 price. It’s an impressive $396.95 brand-new on Amazon.
But, as you all know, we love a good bargain here at PhotographyTalk, and why buy new when you can buy used?
MPB, one of our favorite used camera resellers, has a few Nikon D3500s listed, for as cheap as $180.
I trust MPB with my used camera purchases because they do all of the hard work for me by grading each camera, from “faulty” to “like new.” You will never need to guess what’s going to show up in the mail.
Plus, you’ll never need to guess when your new camera will arrive because they partner with quality, fast shipping companies.
Besides, you can use the money you save by buying a used camera to invest in one of the lenses mentioned above!
Once you’ve purchased your Nikon D3500, here’s a quick guide to help you set it up so you can get out shooting.
Along with getting your camera at a reasonable price, learning how to actually use it is crucial. So, check out the video above, get familiar with the D3500, and make some photography magic happen!