Nikon D3500 Review

Overview

Updates:
10/18/2018: First Shots posted
10/22/2018: Performance posted
01/04/2019: Field Test posted
03/18/2019: Image Quality Comparison, Print Quality and Conclusion posted

While higher-end cameras get a lot of attention, such as Nikon's Z7 and Z6 full-frame mirrorless cameras, it remains the case that many people purchase entry-level cameras and entry-level DSLR cameras in particular. People enjoy -- and purchase in large numbers -- compact DSLR cameras with affordable price points. They offer a jumping-in point for a potential photographic passion or in some cases, even a profession, without needing to make a large initial investment.

The Nikon D3400 has filled the entry-level DSLR role for the company since September 2016 and has done so very successfully. Nikon has decided to double down on what has made that camera popular with beginners with the new D3500 by making it even more compact and enhancing its ease of use. Let's look closer at the new D3500 and see precisely what has changed.

Key Features

• Redesigned camera body makes the D3500 Nikon's "most portable entry-level DSLR ever"
• 12.9-ounce (365-gram) camera body weight
• "Updated" 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• Native ISO range of 100-25,600
• 5 frames per second continuous shooting
• 11-point autofocus
• Live View shooting with face-detect and subject-tracking autofocus
• Full HD video recording at up to 60 frames per second
• Guide Mode helps new photographers learn the ropes
• Built-in Bluetooth and Nikon SnapBridge compatibility
• 1,550-shot battery life

Camera body & design: Most portable entry-level Nikon DSLR ever

There are a lot of similarities between the D3500 and its predecessor, the D3400, but there are some important differences when you look closer. The front grip has been redesigned, for example, following a similar design and shape to that of the D5500/D5600, and the top of the camera has been reorganized. Specifically, the D3500 has moved the top "info" button to the back, and added a Live View lever around the mode dial instead of the button on the back of the D3400.

When we turn our attention to the back of the camera, the differences are much more noticeable. Whereas the D3400 had five buttons vertically aligned to the left of the rear display, the D3500 has moved all but the flash button to the right of the viewfinder and LCD. We find the relocated "info" button just to the right of the viewfinder, along with AE-L/AF-L, playback, menu, "i," playback zoom in, playback zoom out, drive mode and delete buttons. There's an eight-way directional pad surrounding an OK button as well. The camera has a larger thumb grip area than the D3400 and the command dial has moved up higher on the back of the camera.

Regarding the viewfinder and rear display, the viewfinder offers approximately 95 percent horizontal and vertical frame coverage, like the D3400, so you will want to check the edges of your frame using Live View in certain situations. The viewfinder magnification is approximately 0.85x, which is about 0.57x in 35mm terms. The rear display is a 3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots. Like the D3400, the display is fixed and is not a touchscreen.

Looking specifically at the dimensions of the D3500, it is 4.9 inches (124 millimeters) wide, 3.8 in. (97mm) tall and has a maximum depth of 2.7 in. (69.5mm). As mentioned earlier, the camera body itself, without a battery or memory card, weighs 12.9 ounces (365 grams). For reference, the D3500 is a millimeter shorter than the D3400 and six millimeters (0.2 inches) thinner at its maximum depth. The D3400 weighs 395 grams, so the D3500 is 30 grams (~1.1 ounces) lighter as well. It may not be significantly smaller, but the D3400 was already a very compact DSLR, so the D3500 has taken that a step further.

Image sensor, shooting modes and performance

The D3500 has a DX-format (APS-C) CMOS image sensor with 24.2 million effective pixels, the same resolution as the Nikon D3400. Nikon says that the D3500 sensor is updated compared to its predecessor, but it offers the same megapixel count and ISO range -- 100 to 25,600, and produces very similar image quality, which is excellent for its class.

Regarding shooting features, the camera can record full-resolution files at up to five frames per second, which is reasonably good for an entry-level camera and the same speed as the D3400, with very similar buffer depths. See our Performance page for details.

Metering is provided by a 420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II system, and you can use matrix, center-weighted and spot metering modes, with the lattermost mode working with the selected autofocus point. The metering range is 0 to 20 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20°C/68°F) when using matrix and center-weighted modes and 2 to 20 EV when using spot metering. The D3500 offers up to +/-5 stops of exposure compensation in 1/3 EV increments.

Regarding autofocus, the D3500 uses the same 11-point (1 cross-type) phase-detect autofocus system as the D3400 which supports auto area AF and spot AF modes while offering AF-S, AF-C and AF-A drive modes. The autofocus detection range is -1 to 19 EV. In Live View mode the D3500 uses contrast detection, you can select an autofocus point from across the frame, and the camera offers face-detect and subject-tracking functionality.

A large aspect of the D3500 is its ease of use. If you'd like to learn about shooting modes such as aperture priority, shutter speed priority and manual mode, or how to shoot certain subjects, you can do so via the D3500's User Guide feature. When you would prefer the camera to choose your settings for you, there are numerous scene modes available. The scene modes include: Auto, Auto (flash off), Child, Close-up, Landscape, Night Portrait, Portrait, Sports and a Special Effects mode (Night Vision; Super Vivid; Pop; Photo Illustration; Toy Camera Effect; Miniature Effect; Selective Color; Silhouette; High Key; Low Key). The camera also offers in-camera raw processing as well as Active D-Lighting control (but simply gives you "on" and "off" options, rather than different "strength" setting like there are on certain more expensive Nikon cameras).

As expected, the D3500 has a built-in flash in addition to its hot shoe, and Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) is supported. Like its predecessor, the camera has a maximum flash sync speed of 1/200s, and flash modes include Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync and Off. Flash compensation can be adjusted from -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV. The pop-up flash has a Guide Number of 7 meters or 22 feet at ISO 100 in TTL auto mode, or 8m/26 ft. manual flash mode at full power.

Video: No changes with respect to video features

While there may not be many cameras at this price point offering 4K UHD video recording, it is nonetheless disappointing that the D3500 tops out at just Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution when it comes to video. The camera can record 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second and has different maximum recording times per clip depending on video quality. When shooting at normal quality, you can record for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. At the highest quality, the maximum clip length is 20 minutes. The D3500 records in .MOV format using H.264/MPEG-4 video compression. The camera features a built-in monaural microphone and speaker but does not have audio inputs or outputs.

On the plus side, the D3500 ships with Nikon's newest AF-P zoom kit lenses, which offer improved autofocus performance during video recording, including good speeds as well as smoother and quieter autofocus. We lamented the D3400's mediocre video features in our review of that camera, and nothing has really changed in that regard.

Power, storage, ports and wireless

The D3500 uses an EN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, the same as the D3400. However, the D3500 is now CIPA-rated for an even more generous 1,550 shots whereas the D3400 was rated for 1,200 shots. A dedicated battery charger is included in the bundle as in-camera charging is not supported. Storage is provided via an SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with support for UHS-I and Eye-Fi types.

The D3500 has built-in Bluetooth 4.1, which works with Nikon SnapBridge, Nikon's smartphone connectivity system. The app allows for immediate 2-megapixel image transfer for sharing via always-on Bluetooth, as well as remote control and geotagging. (Although the D3400 also had Bluetooth 4.1, it oddly didn't support remote control via SnapBridge.) Note that like the D3400, the D3500 does not have built-in Wi-Fi, so no live preview is available on your remote device, nor is video recording supported. And now that remote triggering via Bluetooth is possible, the D3500 has ditched the infrared remote support of its predecessor. The camera continues to include a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Micro-B port and a Mini HDMI Type-C terminal.

Nikon D3400 versus D3500

The primary differences between the D3400 and new D3500 come in the form of design and usability. The D3500's revised control layout is more user-friendly, and the camera has the same slimmed-down monocoque body and grip design as the D5600, which means it fits nicely into the hand while still managing to be slightly smaller than its predecessor.

The D3500 is also rated for longer battery life and it lacks infrared remote support in lieu of Nikon SnapBridge remote triggering functionality. However, much else has remained the same between the D3400 and the D3500, so expect similar image quality, autofocus performance and video features.

Nikon D3500 pricing and availability

With shipments that started in September 2018, the Nikon D3500 is sold in single-lens and two-lens kits. The single-lens kit includes the camera body and AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens and lists for US$499.95, breaking the ever-important $500 price point. The two-lens kit includes the same 18-55mm VR lens plus an AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lens lists for US$849.95. Prices have dropped since the announcement, though, to around $400 for the single-lens kit and $500 for the two-lens kit, which are screaming deals. However, be aware the 70-300mm lens in the two-lens bundle does not include VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization, unlike the 18-55mm kit lens.

In the Box

The D3500 retail two-lens kit (as reviewed) contains the following items:

• Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera Body
• Nikkor AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
• Nikkor AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED Lens
• EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MH-24 Quick Charger
• BF-1B Body Cap
• DK-25 Rubber Eyecup
• AN-DC3 Camera Strap
• Warranty Cards

Optics

The Nikon D3500 is available body-only, or bundled with either the Nikkor AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Visit our Nikon D3400 Optics page to see how the AF-P 18-55mm kit lens performs.

Below are our viewfinder accuracy test results for the Nikon D3500.

Viewfinder Test Results

Coverage
Below average coverage accuracy from the optical viewfinder. Excellent accuracy from the LCD in Live View mode.

The Nikon D3500's optical viewfinder yielded about 94 percent coverage with our reference Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. This is a little below average for its class (Nikon's specification is approx. 95%) and the viewfinder image is also offset vertically compared to the imaging sensor, which unfortunately is not that uncommon in consumer DSLRs. In Live View mode, the Nikon D3500's LCD showed very close to 100% coverage, which is excellent.

The images above were taken from our standardized test shots. For a collection of more pictorial photos, see our Nikon D3500 Photo Gallery .

Exposure

Color

Saturation & Hue Accuracy
About average mean saturation with typical hue accuracy.

ISO Sensitivity
100	200	400
800	1600	3200
6400	12800	25600
In the diagram above, the squares show the original color, and the circles show the color that the camera captured. More saturated colors are located toward the periphery of the graph. Hue changes as you travel around the center. Thus, hue-accurate, highly saturated colors appear as lines radiating from the center. Mouse over the links to compare ISOs, and click on them for larger images.

Saturation. The Nikon D3500 pumps dark blues quite a bit, reds and dark greens moderately, and most other colors by small amounts, but slightly undersaturates bright yellow, light green and cyans. Mean saturation at base ISO was 109.6% or 9.6% oversaturated, which is about average. And saturation levels remained fairly stable as sensitivity climbed, even at the highest ISOs. Overall, we found the D3500's default saturation levels pleasing to the eye and typical for Nikon. Most consumer digital cameras produce color that's more highly saturated (more intense) than found in the original subjects. This is simply because most people like their color a bit brighter than life.

Skin tones. The Nikon D3500's Caucasian skin tones looked just about right when using manual white balance in simulated daylight. A very good job here. Skin tones with auto white balance were just a bit too flat and yellow for our tastes. Where oversaturation is most problematic is on Caucasian skin tones, as it's very easy for these "memory colors" to be seen as too bright, too pink, too yellow, etc.

Hue. The Nikon D3500 did shift cyan toward blue by quite a bit at base ISO (which is very common among the digital cameras we test; we think it's a deliberate choice by camera engineers to produce better-looking sky colors), with smaller shifts in reds, orange and magenta. With an average "delta-C" color error of 5.56 after correction for saturation at base ISO, overall hue accuracy was about average (lower numbers are better) and hue accuracy remained quite stable across the ISO range. Hue is "what color" the color is.

Sensor

Exposure and White Balance

Indoors, incandescent lighting
Good color with the Manual white balance setting, but overly warm results with Auto and Incandescent. Average amount of exposure compensation required.

Indoors, under normal incandescent lighting, color balance was very warm and reddish with the Auto white balance setting. (We'd say unacceptably so, though unfortunately this is common.) The Incandescent setting was also too warm, with a strong yellow/green cast. The Manual (Custom) setting produced the most accurate results by far, if just a touch warm. The Nikon D3500 required +0.3 EV exposure compensation here, which is about average for this shot. Our test lighting for this shot is a mixture of 60 and 100 watt household incandescent bulbs, a pretty yellow light source, but a very common one in typical home settings here in the U.S.

Outdoors, daylight
Excellent results under harsh lighting for its class.

Outdoors, the Nikon D3500 performed well, requiring +0.7 EV exposure compensation for our "Sunlit" Portrait shot to keep the mannequin's face reasonably bright. (The average for this shot is +0.7 EV, so the D3500 performed about average in terms of exposure.) We preferred skintones from the Manual white balance setting as they were a little pinker and healthier-looking than Auto which were a bit yellow. Contrast is a little high as you might expect under such harsh lighting, but the camera did a very good job of holding onto detail in the highlights and shadows. Overall, excellent performance for its class here.

Resolution
~2,750 to ~2,800 lines of strong detail.

Our resolution chart revealed sharp, distinct line patterns up to about 2,800 lines per picture height in the horizontal direction, and to about 2,750 lines in the vertical direction. Some may argue for higher numbers, but lines begin to merge and aliasing artifacts start to interfere with detail at these resolutions. Extinction of the pattern didn't occur until around 3,400 to 3,600 lines where color moiré and other aliasing artifacts swamp it out. We weren't able to do significantly better with the matching NEF file processed through Adobe Camera Raw, though color moiré is however more evident in the ACR converted file. Use these numbers to compare with other cameras of similar resolution, or use them to see just what higher resolution can mean in terms of potential detail.

Sharpness & Detail
Sharp, crisp images with great detail, however edge-enhancement artifacts are visible on high-contrast subjects. Moderate noise suppression visible at base ISO.

Sharpness. The Nikon D3500 produces images that are crisp and sharp when coupled with a sharp lens as used in the above left crop. Edge enhancement artifacts are however visible on high-contrast subjects such as the halos seen around the border and text above left, but default sharpening looks to be a very good compromise between crispness and sharpening artifacts for a consumer model. Edge enhancement creates the illusion of sharpness by enhancing colors and tones right at the edge of a rapid transition in color or tone.

Detail. The crop above right shows some mild to moderate noise suppression, as the darker and lower-contrast areas of the model's hair show some smudging where individual strands of hair merge. Still, a very good performance here considering the resolution and target market. Noise-suppression systems in digital cameras tend to flatten-out detail in areas of subtle contrast. The effects can often be seen in shots of human hair, where the individual strands are lost and an almost "watercolor" look appears.

Aliasing. You can see hints of aliasing artifacts in a number of our test shots, however the D3500 seems to do a pretty good job at suppressing moiré in its JPEGs for a camera that doesn't have an optical low-pass filter.

RAW vs In-Camera JPEGs
As noted above, the Nikon D3500 does a great job at capturing lots of fine detail in its JPEGs, but more detail can often be obtained from carefully processing RAW files, while at the same time reducing sharpening artifacts. Let's have a look at base ISO:

Base ISO (100)
Camera JPEG, defaults	RAW via Adobe Camera Raw

In the table above, we compare an in-camera JPEG taken at base ISO using default noise reduction and sharpening (on the left) to the matching NEF file converted with Adobe Camera Raw 9.1 via DNG Converter 11.1 (right) using default noise reduction with some strong but tight unsharp masking applied in Photoshop (300%, radius of 0.3 pixels, and a threshold of 0).

As is frequently the case, the demosaicing in Adobe Camera Raw and sharpening in Photoshop deliver slightly finer detail than the camera, with fewer sharpening artifacts. Looking closely at the images, ACR extracted some detail that wasn't present in the camera JPEG, especially in the red-leaf swatch where the conversion was able to resolve some of the fine thread pattern, which the camera's JPEG engine tended to blur it away as if noise. The ACR conversion does however show more noise at default noise reduction settings than the camera at its default settings. All-in-all, though, the D3500 did a very good job at reducing noise while maintaining excellent detail in most areas of our target here at base ISO. Still, for maximum detail (and flexibility), using a good RAW converter does yield better results than in-camera JPEGs, as is usually the case.

ISO & Noise Performance
Excellent high ISO performance for its class.

Noise Reduction = On (Default)
ISO 100	ISO 200	ISO 400
ISO 800	ISO 1,600	ISO 3,200
ISO 6,400	ISO 12,800	ISO 25,600

Noise levels are quite low at ISOs 100 through 400 with excellent detail, though some very fine detail is lost to noise reduction even at base ISO. ISO 800 begins to show a very fine noise "grain" but detail is still quite good, and chroma noise is well-controlled. At ISO 1,600 noise levels increase with a touch more blurring in fine details and more visible "grain", but detail is still pretty good and chroma noise remains low. Of course, ISO 3200 has higher luma noise but it's still fine-grained, detail is good and chroma noise is low. ISO 6400 shows higher luma noise and noticeably stronger blurring, but there's some fine detail left, and chroma noise remains remarkably low. At ISOs 12,800 and 25,600, image quality deteriorates rapidly with much stronger noise and blurring, and chroma noise becomes an issue with some minor purple and yellow blotchiness in darker areas, though it's still fairly well-controlled. Luma noise and blurring are quite strong at the top two ISOs, however the D3500 manages to still hold on to nice color and contrast at ISO 12,800, allowing this ISO to still be useful for small prints.

Overall, excellent noise performance for a 24-megapixel APS-C camera, especially for an entry-level model, though perhaps not quite as good as its predecessor when viewed on screen at 100%. See our Print Quality analysis section below for recommended print sizes at each ISO.

Extremes: Sunlit, dynamic range, and low light tests
Very good detail in both highlights and shadows, resulting in very good dynamic range. Good low-light performance, capable of capturing bright images in near darkness though autofocus can struggle in very low light.

Sunlight:
The Nikon D3500 handled the deliberately harsh lighting in the test above well. While contrast is a little high, shadow and highlight detail are both very good. The +0.7 EV exposure did the best overall job here, producing a fairly bright face without blowing out too many highlights in the brighter areas. Despite the bright appearance of her shirt, it has relatively few clipped highlights. Some shadows are pretty dark and a little noisy, but contain very good detail. Be sure to use fill flash in situations like the one shown above; it's better to shoot in the shade when possible.

Because digital cameras are more like slide film than negative film (in that they tend to have a more limited tonal range), we test them in the harshest situations to see how they handle scenes with bright highlights and dark shadows, as well as what kind of sensitivity they have in low light. The shot above is designed to mimic the very harsh, contrasty effect of direct noonday sunlight, a very tough challenge for most digital cameras. (You can read details of this test here.)

Face Detection
Off Aperture-priority 0 EV	Live View with Face-priority AF 0 EV	Auto mode (Portrait) 0 EV

Here, we can see the effect of the Nikon D3500's face detection AF enabled in Live View mode, as well as full Auto mode with the optical viewfinder. Above, in Live View mode using Aperture-priority at f/8 (center), Face-priority AF mode improved the exposure versus Aperture-priority with the optical viewfinder, selecting a slower shutter speed of 1/40s versus 1/60s to brighten the image (since the other two exposure variables of aperture and ISO were fixed). Full Auto mode (right) used a wider aperture (f/5.6), a higher ISO (280), and enabled Active D-Lighting which combined to produce a better exposed and balanced image than Aperture-priority with no exposure compensation. However Auto white balance was a little warm and yellowish (the other two shots used Manual (Custom) white balance).

Outdoor Portrait Active D-Lighting 0 EV
Off	On

Nikon's Active D-Lighting
The shots above show the results with Active D-Lighting Off and On with no exposure compensation. (Like other entry-level Nikon models, the D3500 only has these two Active D-Lighting settings, while Nikon's more advanced models let you choose from a range of strengths of the effect.) This is different than the touch-up menu's D-Lighting, as it is performed during image capture instead of after. (It does affect only JPEG images though, Nikon very properly leaves raw file data strictly as it comes from the sensor.) Mouse-over the links to see the difference, and click on the links to load the corresponding full-resolution image.

As you can see from the images and histograms above, enabling Active D-Lighting resulted in much brighter exposure without blowing many highlights. The effect of Active D-Lighting can vary quite a bit with the subject and lighting, though, as the camera decides what needs adjusting, and by how much.

Dynamic Range Analysis (RAW mode)
While we once performed our own dynamic range measurements based on in-camera JPEGs as well as converted RAW images (when the camera was supported by Adobe Camera Raw), we've switched to using DxO Labs' results from their DxOMark website. As technology advanced, the dynamic range of modern high-end cameras in some cases exceeded the range of the Stouffer T4110 density scale that we used for our own measurements. DxO's approach based on RAW data before demosaicing is also more revealing, because it measures the fundamental dynamic range of the sensor, irrespective of whatever processing is applied to JPEGs, or to RAW data by off-the-shelf conversion software.

In the following, we use DxO's "Print" dynamic range results, which are scaled based on camera resolution. As the name suggests, this scaling corresponds to the situation in which you print at a given size, regardless of how many megapixels the camera might have. (In other words, if you've decided to make a 13x19 inch print, that's the size you're printing, whether the camera's resolution is 16 or 300 megapixels.) Also note that DxO Labs uses a signal-to-noise (SNR) threshold of 1 when defining the lower boundary of acceptable luminance noise in their dynamic range measurements, which corresponds to the "Low Quality" threshold of the Imatest software we used to use for this measurement.

Unfortunately, DxOMark has not yet tested the Nikon D3500. We'll come back and update this section if/when they do. Photons to Photos has however tested both models, and found the D3500 lags behind the D3400 a bit in terms of dynamic range across the ISO range, but likely not enough to make a significant difference in most real-world photos.

LL AF: The camera's phase-detection autofocus system (using the optical viewfinder) was able to focus on our legacy low-contrast AF target down to about -0.6 EV and on our new high-contrast AF target down to -2.3 EV unassisted. That's not bad for its class, as the D3500's AF sensitivity is rated by Nikon down to -1.0 EV. The Nikon D3500 is able to focus in complete darkness with the AF assist enabled, as long as the target is in range and has sufficient contrast. In Live View mode, the camera's contrast-detect autofocus was able to focus on our low-contrast target down to -1.6 EV, and on our high-contrast target down to -3.3 EV, which is quite good for the class.

NOTE: This low light test is conducted with a stationary subject, and the camera mounted on a sturdy tripod. Most digital cameras will fail miserably when faced with a moving subject in dim lighting. (For example, a child's ballet recital or a holiday pageant in a gymnasium.) Digital SLRs like the Nikon D3500 do much better than point & shoots, but you still shouldn't expect a quick autofocus lock with moving subjects.

Built-in Flash
Good performance for a pop-up flash.

Exposure. Indoors under incandescent background lighting, the D3500's flash required +0.7 EV of flash exposure compensation for our standard indoor portrait scene at ISO 200 and f/4, which is about the average needed for this shot. However with Auto ISO, the camera produced a bright exposure with no flash exposure compensation, though the camera boosted ISO to 2500. The ISO 200 image has a yellow/green cast using Auto white balance, while Auto ISO image has a very warm, orange cast from the tungsten ambient lighting.

Output Quality

Print Quality
Very good 30 x 40 inch prints at ISO 100; a nice 13 x 19 at ISO 1600; a good 5 x 7 at ISO 12,800.

ISO 100 prints shine at 30 x 40 inches or larger, constrained only by the 24-megapixel resolution at your intended viewing distance. Here at base ISO the images have nice color depth and good fine detail. And more than this, the prints have a nice three dimensionality, especially remarkable given the price of this camera, that's hard to quantify or measure.

ISO 200 also delivers nice 30 x 40 inch printed images, with no apparent sign to speak of that the ISO has climbed a step. Rich color and nice detail still abound at this size.

ISO 400 produces a very nice 24 x 36 inch print. There is only a minor loss of fine detail in the heavily textured areas of our test target, but still a very good print. You can certainly also use 30 x 40 inch prints at this ISO for wall display purposes and less critical applications.

ISO 800 yields a 16 x 20 inch print that is quite good for this sensitivity and price point in combination. There is now a definite and noticeable loss of contrast detail in the tricky red-leaf fabric swatch of our test target, and some minor loss of fine detail apparent in a few additional areas, but still a good print overall. For your most critical printing purposes, a reduction to 13 x 19 inches is advised here.

ISO 1600 delivers a 13 x 19 inch print similar to the 16 x 20 at ISO 800, with a slight loss in fine detail in just a few areas of our Still Life test target. But noise is still well-controlled at this print size, with no sign of glaring artifacts from noise reduction, and full color representation is very much still on display.

ISO 3200 begins to show its teeth for all but some full-frame sensors and larger, but the APS-C D3500 handles it well and still delivers a solid 11 x 14 inch print. There is a mild trace of noise apparent in some flatter areas of our target, but certainly nothing major, and the noise that is visible has a nice film-grain-like appearance. Full colors are also still on display at this size.

ISO 6400 turns in an 8 x 10 inch print that just passes our good seal of approval. As with the 11 x 14 at ISO 3200, there is mild fiilm-grain-like noise apparent in a few areas, such as in the shadows behind the test target bottles, and there is no contrast detail remaining in our target red-leaf swatch, but otherwise still good fine detail and full colors at this size.

ISO 12,800 is capable of printing a good 5 x 7 inch print, and considering how high this ISO is, that is a solid feat for a camera at this price indeed. Noise is well-controlled and there is still full color on display, whereas many entry-level cameras turn in muted or burnt colors at this ISO and above.

ISO 25,600 prints are good at 4 x 6 inches, which is all you can hope for from an APS-C camera at the time of this writing. Some cameras are not able to produce even a usable 4 x 6 at their highest "available" ISO, and we therefore like to commend cameras that can!

The popular Nikon D3500 turns in a solid performance in the print quality department. And when you factor in the price, you're in rare territory, as there really aren't many other cameras well below $500 at the time of the writing of this analysis that can compare to the D3500 for overall image and print quality. For the price, the camera is more or less in a league of its own. Well done, once again, to Nikon.

The images above were taken from our standardized test shots. For a collection of more pictorial photos, see our Nikon D3500 Photo Gallery .

Not sure which camera to buy? Let your eyes be the ultimate judge! Visit our Comparometer(tm) to compare images from the Nikon D3500 with those from other cameras you may be considering. The proof is in the pictures, so let your own eyes decide which you like best!

Performance

Image Quality

Below are crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing Nikon D3500 JPEG image quality to its predecessor, the D3400, as well as against several competing entry-level interchangeable lens cameras at similar price points: the Canon T6, Canon EOS M100, Fuji X-T100 and Sony A5100. (Some may think the Canon 24-megapixel T6i would be a closer match to the D3500 than the 18-megapixel T6, however the T6i is currently selling for $150 more than the D3500 while the T6 is the same price. We have however included the 24-megapixel Canon M100, as it's only about $50 more than the D3500 at the time of writing.)

NOTE: These images are from best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). All cameras in this comparison were shot with our very sharp reference lenses. Clicking any crop will take you to a carrier page where you can click once again to access the full resolution image as delivered straight from the camera. For those interested in working with the RAW files involved: click these links to visit each camera's respective sample image thumbnail page: Nikon D3500, Nikon D3400, Canon T6, Canon M100, Fuji X-T100 and Sony A5100 -- links to the RAW files appear beneath those for the JPEG images, wherever we have them. And remember, you can always go to our world-renowned Comparometer to compare the Nikon D3500 to any camera we've ever tested!

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D3400 at Base ISO

Nikon D3500 at ISO 100	Nikon D3400 at ISO 100
Above we compare the D3500 to its predecessor, the D3400, which uses a similar sensor and processor. As you can see, image quality here at base ISO is very similar as expected, although there appear to be some minor tweaks to color, contrast and noise reduction, with the D3500 showing more of the thread pattern but lower contrast in our tricky red-leaf swatch. Both cameras generate very sharp, detailed images but with visible sharpening haloes and aliasing artifacts.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon T6 at Base ISO

Nikon D3500 at ISO 100	Canon T6 at ISO 100
Here at base ISO, the Nikon D3500's 6-megapixel resolution advantage is apparent compared to the 18-megapixel Canon T6, with the Nikon resolving noticeably more fine detail than the Canon. The Nikon also forgoes an optical low-pass filter which produces sharper images from its sensor (though with the risk more aliasing artifacts), despite both cameras applying generous amounts of sharpening. Colors are also a bit warmer and more vibrant from the Nikon, though the Canon's color is generally more accurate.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon EOS M100 at Base ISO

Nikon D3500 at ISO 100	Canon EOS M100 at ISO 100
While both cameras here feature 24-megapixel APS-C sensors, the Nikon D3500's sensor lacks an optical low-pass filter, unlike the EOS M100 which includes one. This, along with different approaches to default sharpening, allows the D3500 to produce crisper fine detail than the M100 here in this base ISO comparison. Colors are warmer and more vibrant from the Nikon, though the Canon's are technically more accurate overall.

Nikon D3500 vs Fujifilm X-T100 at Base ISO

Nikon D3500 at ISO 100	Fujifilm X-T100 at ISO 200
Here we compare the D3500 to Fuji's entry-level EVF mirrorless, the 24-megapixel X-T100. As you can see, both cameras produce very sharp, detailed images at base ISO with noticeable sharpening haloes, however noise is more visible from the X-T100 in brighter, flatter areas such as in the lighter label backgrounds. And as you can see, colors rendering is quite different, with the X-T100 producing brighter colors (especially reds) that are more accurate overall.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A5100 at Base ISO

Nikon D3500 at ISO 100	Sony A5100 at ISO 100
At identical resolutions, these two cameras turn in fairly similar performances here at base ISO too, but the D3500 produces a brighter, sharper image. The A5100 does much better with our tricky red-leaf swatch, though, rendering more detail with less noise, and its sharpening algorithm doesn't generate obvious haloes like the D3500. Colors are warmer and a little more pleasing overall from the Nikon.

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D3400 at ISO 1600

Nikon D3500 at ISO 1600	Nikon D3400 at ISO 1600
Again, the D3500 produces image quality very similar to the D3400 here at 1600, with just minor differences in color, contrast and noise.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon T6 at ISO 1600

Nikon D3500 at ISO 1600	Canon T6 at ISO 1600
The Nikon D3500 produces a crisper, more vibrant image with lower noise levels and better detail than the Canon T6 here at ISO 1600. Both struggle to render fine, low-contrast detail in our tricky red-leaf swatch, but the Nikon manages to do a bit better there as well.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon EOS M100 at ISO 1600

Nikon D3500 at ISO 1600	Canon EOS M100 at ISO 1600
While the Nikon struggles more with the red-leaf fabric at ISO 1600, its shadow noise is more pleasing and finely-grained compared to the Canon's. Fine detail in the mosaic crop is slightly more natural-looking from the Nikon as well.

Nikon D3500 vs Fujifilm X-T100 at ISO 1600

Nikon D3500 at ISO 1600	Fujifilm X-T100 at ISO 1600
Here at ISO 1600, the D3500 produces much stronger luminance noise in flatter shadow and midtone areas while X-T100 image is much smoother in those areas but with more obvious chroma noise. Both cameras continue to produce noticeable sharpening haloes along high-contrast edges. The X-T100 does better with fine detail in our mosaic crop but it also shows more noise in lighter, flat areas. Both start to struggle with our tricky red-leaf swatch, but the Fuji holds onto more of the leaf pattern.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A5100 at ISO 1600

Nikon D3500 at ISO 1600	Sony A5100 at ISO 1600
At ISO 1600, the Sony produces a cleaner image, but heavy-handed noise reduction takes its toll in our mosaic crop, softening and smearing fine detail much more than the Nikon. The Sony continues to do much better with our red-leaf swatch, but the Nikon produces a better image overall, with brighter colors, sharper detail and fewer noise reduction artifacts.

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D3400 at ISO 3200

Nikon D3500 at ISO 3200	Nikon D3400 at ISO 3200
Yet again, very similar image quality from the two siblings, but the D3500 does appear to show slightly higher noise levels here at ISO 3200.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon T6 at ISO 3200

Nikon D3500 at ISO 3200	Canon T6 at ISO 3200
The Nikon D3500 easily out-performs the Canon T6 here at ISO 3200, with a crisper image, more detail and lower noise. Colors are also more vibrant and pleasing from the Nikon.

Nikon D3500 vs Canon EOS M100 at ISO 3200

Nikon D3500 at ISO 3200	Canon EOS M100 at ISO 3200
Fine detail in the mosaic crop looks better and edges are crisper from the Nikon, but the D3500 shows slightly higher luminance noise, though the noise pattern has a tighter "grain" structure. The red and pink fabric swatches cause trouble for both cameras. The Canon shows some semblance of the red-leaf pattern, while the Nikon manages to show more subtle, noisy detail, but overall, both camera have a tough time here.

Nikon D3500 vs Fujifilm X-T100 at ISO 3200

Nikon D3500 at ISO 3200	Fujifilm X-T100 at ISO 3200
The Fuji continues to hold onto more detail here at ISO 3200 than the Nikon, with less noise in flatter midtones and shadows, but more noise in light areas. The Nikon's noise grain is however more film like with fewer noise reduction artifacts.

Nikon D3500 vs Sony A5100 at ISO 3200

Nikon D3500 at ISO 3200	Sony A5100 at ISO 3200
An easy win for the D3500 here at ISO 3200, with a sharper, more vibrant and detailed image than the A5100's soft, dull and smudged rendering. The Sony appears to do better in the red-leaf swatch, but much of the detail is heavily distorted and false.

Nikon D3500 vs. Nikon D3400, Canon T6, Canon EOS M100, Fujifilm X-T100, Sony A5100

Nikon D3500 ISO 100 ISO 3200 ISO 6400	Nikon D3400 ISO 100 ISO 3200 ISO 6400	Canon T6 ISO 100 ISO 3200 ISO 6400	Canon EOS M100 ISO 100 ISO 3200 ISO 6400	Fujifilm X-T100 ISO 200 ISO 3200 ISO 6400	Sony A5100 ISO 100 ISO 3200 ISO 6400
Detail comparison. High-contrast detail is also important, pushing the camera in different ways, so we like to look at it too. Here, we can see the D3500 performs nearly identical to its predecessor. The two Nikons also lead the pack in terms of contrast, though the X-T100 comes out ahead in detail and sharpness especially as ISO climbs, though with higher noise levels. Unsurprisingly, the 18-megapixel Canon T6 trails in detail, contrast and noise. The M100 does better, but is still not up to the level of the Nikons or Fuji. The Sony A5100 does well at base ISO, however it shows the most false colors and degrades more at higher ISOs than the leaders in this group.

Very good 30 x 40 inch prints at ISO 100; a nice 13 x 19 at ISO 1600; a good 5 x 7 at ISO 12,800.

ISO 100 prints shine at 30 x 40 inches or larger, constrained only by the 24-megapixel resolution at your intended viewing distance. Here at base ISO the images have nice color depth and good fine detail. And more than this, the prints have a nice three dimensionality, especially remarkable given the price of this camera, that's hard to quantify or measure.

ISO 200 also delivers nice 30 x 40 inch printed images, with no apparent sign to speak of that the ISO has climbed a step. Rich color and nice detail still abound at this size.

ISO 400 produces a very nice 24 x 36 inch print. There is only a minor loss of fine detail in the heavily textured areas of our test target, but still a very good print. You can certainly also use 30 x 40 inch prints at this ISO for wall display purposes and less critical applications.

ISO 800 yields a 16 x 20 inch print that is quite good for this sensitivity and price point in combination. There is now a definite and noticeable loss of contrast detail in the tricky red-leaf fabric swatch of our test target, and some minor loss of fine detail apparent in a few additional areas, but still a good print overall. For your most critical printing purposes, a reduction to 13 x 19 inches is advised here.

ISO 1600 delivers a 13 x 19 inch print similar to the 16 x 20 at ISO 800, with a slight loss in fine detail in just a few areas of our Still Life test target. But noise is still well-controlled at this print size, with no sign of glaring artifacts from noise reduction, and full color representation is very much still on display.

ISO 3200 begins to show its teeth for all but some full-frame sensors and larger, but the APS-C D3500 handles it well and still delivers a solid 11 x 14 inch print. There is a mild trace of noise apparent in some flatter areas of our target, but certainly nothing major, and the noise that is visible has a nice film-grain-like appearance. Full colors are also still on display at this size.

ISO 6400 turns in an 8 x 10 inch print that just passes our good seal of approval. As with the 11 x 14 at ISO 3200, there is mild fiilm-grain-like noise apparent in a few areas, such as in the shadows behind the test target bottles, and there is no contrast detail remaining in our target red-leaf swatch, but otherwise still good fine detail and full colors at this size.

ISO 12,800 is capable of printing a good 5 x 7 inch print, and considering how high this ISO is, that is a solid feat for a camera at this price indeed. Noise is well-controlled and there is still full color on display, whereas many entry-level cameras turn in muted or burnt colors at this ISO and above.

ISO 25,600 prints are good at 4 x 6 inches, which is all you can hope for from an APS-C camera at the time of this writing. Some cameras are not able to produce even a usable 4 x 6 at their highest "available" ISO, and we therefore like to commend cameras that can!

The popular Nikon D3500 turns in a solid performance in the print quality department. And when you factor in the price, you're in rare territory, as there really aren't many other cameras well below $500 at the time of the writing of this analysis that can compare to the D3500 for overall image and print quality. For the price, the camera is more or less in a league of its own. Well done, once again, to Nikon.

Field Test

Another good entry-level DSLR from Nikon, but has enough changed?

By Jeremy Gray · 01/04/2019

In 2014, Nikon launched the D3300, which proved to be a great entry-level DSLR for many reasons. Its 24.2-megapixel APS-C image sensor delivered image quality above its price point, and the camera was compact and easy to use. The strengths of that camera, and the D3400 that followed, are on display again with the new Nikon D3500.

While the effective resolving power stays the same at just over 24 megapixels, the D3500 does include a new image sensor. The camera continues to offer the same native ISO range of 100 to 25,600 as the D3400, but Nikon stresses that image quality is improved. Further, the D3500 is even more compact and easier to use than its predecessor, featuring a redesigned front grip and a reorganized top deck.

However, some of weaknesses of the earlier versions remain. For example, the D3500 continues to rely upon an aged 11-point autofocus system and offers only Full HD video recording. As is the case with every camera, the D3500 includes pros and cons, but like its predecessors, the D3500 continues to be a capable camera and a great value. Let's take a closer look at how the entry-level DSLR handles in the field.

Key Features and Specs

• Portable entry-level DSLR camera
• 24.2-megapixel APS-C image sensor
• Native ISO range of 100 to 25,600
• Up to 5 frames per second continuous shooting
• 11-point autofocus system
• Live View shooting with face-detect and subject tracking
• Full HD video recording at up to 60 fps
• Guide Mode to help new users
• Built-in Bluetooth for Nikon SnapBridge compatibility
• Available in kits with an 18-55mm lens or with the 18-55mm lens and a 70-300mm lens
• Available for under $500 USD with both kit lenses

Camera Body and Handling

The Nikon D3500 is 4.9 inches (124 millimeters) wide, 3.9 inches (97mm) tall and has a maximum depth of 2.8 inches (69.5mm). The camera weighs a mere 12.9 ounces (365 grams) without a battery or memory card. Having shot with the D3400, the D3500 feels quite a bit different in the hands and is a more refined camera. It's one of the smallest and lightest DSLR cameras I've used, and according to Nikon, it's their most portable DSLR to date.

The front grip is narrow but surprisingly deep, which allowed me to get a very good hold of the camera, despite the small overall size of the body. The textured surface on the camera feels good too. The shutter release has a responsive feel and is located in a comfortable position. Further, the buttons on the rear of the camera, which have all been moved to the right of the display, are easy to reach. I do wish that the exposure compensation button on the top of the camera could be reprogrammed to handle a different task, such as controlling ISO, but that's a minor complaint. That said, you do have to dive into a menu to change ISO. To enable Auto ISO, you also need to go into the camera's shooting menu.

Coming back to the rear of the D3500, the display is a 3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots of resolution. It is not particularly sharp, but it does the job. Unfortunately, it is fixed in place -- you can't tilt or swivel the screen. It also lacks touchscreen functionality, which would be a nice feature because a well-designed touch-based user interface can be very intuitive for new photographers. The optical viewfinder is a bit lacking, offering only 0.57x magnification (35mm equivalent) and about 95 percent frame coverage. This isn't unusual for an entry-level DSLR, but it can still be frustrating to have something sneak in on the edge of the frame that you couldn't see when composing a shot. The D3500 does offer Live View as well, so that can help with composition, especially if you are working on a tripod.

Overall, the D3500 is a well-designed entry-level DSLR. The redesigned grip is a welcome improvement and the camera is very compact and lightweight. Simply put, it feels good to hold and use. While a better viewfinder and a touchscreen would be nice, the D3500 feels good to use overall.

Image Quality

The D3500 has the same megapixel count (24.2) and ISO range (100 to 25,600) as the D3400, but the sensor has been reworked according to Nikon. Like its predecessor, the D3500 lacks an optical low-pass filter, which results in images with nice fine detail, yet with an increased risk or moiré artifacts. I personally didn't run into issues with moiré, but it can happen with detailed repeating patterns, such as certain clothing materials.

Paired with an EXPEED 4 image processor, the D3500 delivers images with very good detail and overall appearance across a wide range of ISO speeds. The camera does pretty well at higher ISOs, but really shines at the lower end. Near the base ISO, the images are clean and deliver very good sharpness for an APS-C camera. For users who might crop or make large prints, the 24-megapixel sensor delivers a good amount of detail to work with as well.

At higher ISOs, the camera applies pretty good noise reduction to JPEG files. It can smudge out some fine detail, but it does a good job of reducing noise without overdoing it. It strikes a good balance between retaining the important details and reducing the visible noise in an image file. If you find that the noise reduction is not to your liking, I advise processing raw files and using noise reduction in your image editing software of choice. For those who want to simply shoot and then share the images straight from the camera, you will likely not be disappointed by the camera's built-in processing.

The overall theme with the D3500 is solid performance for the price. This is especially true with respect to image quality, as the D3500 really punches above its weight in this department. The images are clean and detailed at lower ISOs and impressively good at higher ISOs.

Autofocus and Performance

Autofocus

While there are many nice aspects of the Nikon D3500, the autofocus system is not a strength. The 11-point autofocus system struggles in low light with a working range of -1 to +19 EV, can have difficulty dealing with moving subjects and simply put, lacks enough autofocus points. The 11-point array doesn't cover a large area of the image frame, meaning that if your subject is near the edge of the frame, you may need to employ focus and recompose techniques.

It can also be a bit difficult to see which autofocus point is active. There are 11 rectangles in the viewfinder frame at all times, and if you are using a single point autofocus mode, you only see the active point for a split second when it lights up red after half-pressing the shutter release. However, I do like that you have immediate, direct control over the active autofocus point simply by pressing on the directional pad, as that's very helpful.

When shooting video or using Live View, the situation is a bit different. You can still move the autofocus point using the directional pad, but there are many more points to cycle through and it can take some time. This is an area where a touchscreen would've helped a lot.

The D3500 allows you to independently change the autofocus drive mode and autofocus area for shooting through the viewfinder or doing Live View/movie recording, which is a nice inclusion. In total, there are single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking and Auto-area AF modes available when shooting through the viewfinder and face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF and subject-tracking AF when shooting with Live View or recording video. Regarding viewfinder shooting, Dynamic-area AF and 3D-tracking can only be selected when using auto-servo AF or continuous-servo AF.

Overall, the D3500's AF system does a fine job of locking onto a static subject, but the subject tracking performance is not very strong. Further, the camera's minimal number of AF points is a definite limitation.

Performance

Although unlikely to blow you away with its EXPEED 4 image processor, the D3500 is quite fast for its price. The D3500 can shoot RAW images at 5.1 frames per second for just over a dozen frames with buffering taking just over two seconds. If you want to capture only JPEG images, the buffer is 100 frames and it takes just over a second to clear, making it the best choice for photographing action due to its buffer depth.

The D3500 has good startup time and cycling through captured images and navigating menus is snappy, as well. Further, the camera has very good battery life, rated for 1,550 shots. Overall, this entry-level DSLR camera is a good performer.

Shooting Experience

There are many positive aspects of the D3500's shooting experience. We have previously discussed the camera's good design and image quality, for example. For many, the D3500 will be their first DSLR camera and the first camera with the option of full manual exposure controls. This can be daunting. To help familiarize beginners, there is a special "Guide" mode on the mode dial. When you enter this mode, you select from four initial options, Shoot, View/delete, Retouch and Set up.

If you enter the Shoot mode, you can then choose between easy and advanced operation. Advanced operation allows you to select from eight different scenarios: softening your background, bringing more of a scene into focus, freezing action (people), freezing action (vehicles), slowing down flowing water, capturing reds in sunsets, shooting a high key (bright) image and shooting a low key (dark) image. If you click on "softening your background," for example, the camera enters aperture priority mode and tells you about shooting with a lower f-number and a longer lens, it then allows you to select an aperture and capture a shot, giving you a warning if the scene is too dark or if there are any other potential concerns. In another example, selecting the "bringing more into focus" option also takes you into aperture priority mode, although this time advising the user to set the f-stop to a higher number and use a wider focal length.

Guide Mode can help you learn how to take certain types of images. For example, if you wanted to shoot an image with a soft background, Guide Mode explains the shooting mode and settings you should select for the optimal results.

Considering other aspects of the shooting experience, the D3500 offers matrix, center-weighted average and spot metering modes, with the lattermost option being tied to the active autofocus point. You can use up to five stops of exposure compensation via a dedicated button near the shutter release, which is particularly useful when in shutter speed or aperture priority modes. The camera does a good job of metering exposure and white balance and proved to be quite consistent across many different situations.

Overall, my shooting experience with the D3500 is positive. The Guide Mode provides a great introduction to different shooting situations for new photographers and can teach you a lot about the general workings of a camera and which settings are typically best for capturing certain types of images.

Kit lenses

The Nikon D3500 is available exclusively as a kit with one or two lenses. The one-lens kit comes with an AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens and the two-lens kit adds an AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lens (without Vibration Reduction, although a VR version is available separately). The kits can be purchased for as little as $400 and $500 respectively at the time of writing. Minor quibbles with the camera aside, these are excellent deals and you get a lot of camera for the money.

In my experience with the two kit lenses, they are both pretty capable. The 18-55mm is impressively compact and delivers nimble autofocus in good light and nice image quality, especially in the center area of the frame when you stop down the aperture a bit. It's not designed to be a portrait lens, as the aperture isn't fast enough, although you could certainly capture nice family portraits or candid images using the lens. The 70-300mm lens, which is equivalent to a 105-450mm lens on a full-frame camera, offers up a lot of reach and pretty good performance provided that you are shooting in bright lighting conditions. Both lenses are excellent values, although I would recommend adding an affordable fast prime lens if you want to capture portraits with the D3500. The camera has great image quality, so if paired with something like a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 lens, you could take really nice portraits with soft, out-of-focus backgrounds.

Video

Like the D3400 before it, the D3500's video resolution tops out at just Full HD (1,920 x 1,080), which is somewhat disappointing given the growing prevalence of 4K-capable cameras these days. Granted, many cameras at this price point don't offer 4K, so it is not particularly surprising, but it is nonetheless worth pointing out. Video quality itself is pretty good and the kit lenses are AF-P lenses, which means that they have faster, quieter autofocus during live view and video recording than prior versions.

Video quality is good for Full HD, but without 4K, there are better options for video-heavy users. The same goes for the video autofocus. If you are using one of the kit lenses, the new AF-P focusing system is definitely a large improvement over older AF-S lenses, but it is still not super fast nor able to keep up with quick-moving subjects. However, for many purposes, the D3500's video capabilities are sufficient

Overall, the D3500 is a stills camera that can also record video. Its specs would have been impressive a few years ago, but given the capabilities of competing mirrorless cameras and smartphones, the D3500 is an acceptable, but not great, option for recording video.

Nikon D3500 Field Test Summary

Very good imaging performance in a compact DSLR camera body

What I liked:

• Compact form and intelligent revisions to the design of the camera
• Very good image quality for an entry-level DSLR
• Guide Mode is helpful for beginners
• Great value

What I didn't like:

• No dedicated ISO button
• No touchscreen or tilting display
• Only 11 autofocus points when shooting through the viewfinder
• Mediocre autofocus for moving subjects

For an extremely affordable price, the Nikon D3500 delivers really good image quality in a compact form factor. The autofocus and overall performance are somewhat limited at times, but for its price and this camera class, the D3500 is impressive. Where the camera shines is in its usability and image quality, which are both very good not only for beginners but also for photographers as they advance and grow. Like its predecessors, the D3500 is an impressive entry-level DSLR camera.

Conclusion

It feels like we've seen a whirlwind of mirrorless cameras as of late, especially fairly pricy full-frame mirrorless models, but we shouldn't forget the humble entry-level DSLR. Despite the growing popularity of mirrorless, the entry-level DSLR is a very important, very popular type of camera for many people. Featuring a compact design, easy-to-use interface and controls, and a low price point, the entry-level DSLR can be many things, including a casual "upgrade" camera to a smartphone or versatile learning tool for the burgeoning, beginner photographer, for example.

One manufacturer who's been very consistent in producing excellent entry-level DSLRs is Nikon. Their D3XXX-series of beginner DSLRs have a history of offering surprisingly excellent image quality, comfortable ergonomics, and a very wallet-friendly price point. The latest iteration, the Nikon D3500, continues that tradition with aplomb.

Featuring a slight redesign to its body, the D3500 is, however, not significantly different from its predecessor when you look under the hood. It uses a similar 24MP APS-C sensor, the same image processor, and the same aging 11-point AF system. On the other hand, what's downright shocking and frankly amazing, is its price. The list price of a D3500 kit with an 18-55mm lens is just $499, but at the time of publishing, the camera is further discounted at major retailers for a staggeringly low price of $396.95. That is just an insane value for a brand-new 24MP APS-C DSLR!

So, while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of higher-end siblings, nor is it drastically different from the previous model, the Nikon D3500 is a fantastic value for those looking to take their first step into the world of photography.

Design & Features

As mentioned, there hasn't been significant changes to the D3500's overall design compared to the previous D3400 model. The camera body itself remains very compact, very lightweight and yet still surprisingly comfortable to hold and operate. Nikon has tweaked the design of the body somewhat, slimming-down the thickness and re-contouring the grip to be deeper and yet still comfortable despite the overall compact size.

Nikon has also rearranged the control layout compared to the predecessor, such as moving some of the rear buttons from the left of the LCD over to the right so that the majority of your controls are all accessible via your thumb. The overall operability is still quite similar, and the camera remains very easy to use. There's still a single command dial along the top of the thumb rest area and a multi-directional pad on the back. For those just getting started with a DSLR, the D3500 features a helpful "Guide Mode" that will walk you through what settings and what controls to use to help you capture a particular type of photograph.

Unlike a vast number of cameras these days, the Nikon D3500, like most basic, entry-level cameras, uses a smaller, fixed rear LCD rather than an articulated or tilting display. An articulated display is great for shooting at awkward angles, tilting to avoid glare and for shooting videos, so keep that in mind if those are important factors in how you like to shoot. It's also not a touchscreen, which is a bit of a bummer (but again, think of the camera's price point). At 921K dots, the D3500's screen resolution isn't the sharpest compared to higher end camera, but it gets the job done. Similarly, the optical viewfinder is fairly small with only 0.57x magnification and offering just 95% frame coverage (in other words, it doesn't show you the entire image).

Image Quality

The major story with the D3500 is its image quality. Despite their class, Nikon's recent entry-level DSLRs, especially those with 24MP sensors, have offered excellent image quality, often performing as well or better than some higher-end cameras out there. They really punch above their weight, and the latest D3500 is no exception to this tradition. In fact, as we said in our Print Quality analysis, for the price, the D3500's image quality really is in a class of its own.

Although Nikon states that the 24MP APS-C sensor is "updated" compared to the one from the D3400, we're not exactly sure what changes were made. But nonetheless, the D3500 is capable of producing excellent images, that are sharp and rich in detail, especially at lower ISOs (thanks in part to the lack of an optical low-pass filter on the sensor). And at higher ISOs, the performance is also very impressive for an APS-C camera. Noise is well controlled, and the noise reduction processing does a nice job at preserving detail while removing noise.

Image quality overall isn't drastically different from its predecessor, and that's not a bad thing -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it. The camera uses the same EXPEED 4 image processor as the D3400, and we saw quite pleasing JPEG image processing for straight-out-of-camera images. We did, however, observe that dynamic range isn't as good as the predecessor for whatever reason, however, it's still quite good overall -- as is typical of modern Nikon cameras.

Performance & Autofocus

Being an entry-level camera, one shouldn't expect top-shelf performance, and that is indeed the case here with the D3500, although the camera is far from what we would consider sluggish by any means. You need to keep in mind its entry-level category.

In general, the D3500 feels nimble and responsive to use, with a quick startup time and fast single-shot AF performance. Cycle times are quite fast, as well, and the camera has a pretty decent burst rate performance for an entry-level camera at around 5fps. Buffer depth, especially for JPEGs is very deep, so while the camera doesn't have an enthusiast-grad burst rate, it can capture a lot of frames before having to slow down. The camera also has outstanding battery life, with a CIPA rating of over 1500 shots per charge.

The AF system in the camera is perhaps the primary drawback of this camera. This 11-point AF system has been around for a few generations of D3XXX-series cameras now, and it's starting to show its age. While single-shot AF is great, the D3500 can struggle with continuous AF tracking as well as in low-light situations. Furthermore, the AF point coverage is very limited, with the small amount of AF points clustered in the central region of the frame, making it more difficult to quickly focus on elements that are out towards the edge of the frame.

Additionally, Live View AF is another weak point of the camera. Like most of Nikon's DSLRs, the D3500 can autofocus while shooting in Live View mode, but it uses a contrast-detect AF system. This results in slower AF speeds that are also more prone to hunting and wobbling, which isn't all that pleasant for video recording in particular.

Summary

In the end, despite some shortcomings with AF performance, the Nikon D3500 is an extremely enticing camera for beginner photographers. It has a compact design, comfortable ergonomics, fast single-shot AF and best of all, the camera's image quality is fantastic, not only for an entry-level camera but for APS-C cameras in general. The fact that you can get this kind of image quality out of a camera for under $500, with a lens included, is just shocking.

Feature-wise, sure, the Nikon D3500 is fairly lacking compared to higher-end cameras. Video recording is available, and the quality is pretty good, but it's only Full HD up to 60fps, and the Live View AF performance is underwhelming. There's also no headphone jack, no mic jack or any other accessory ports at all. The camera also lacks a touchscreen, and while there is wireless connectivity, it's only a Bluetooth connection -- no Wi-Fi -- so remote functionality is limited. But, remember, this is an entry-level camera, so we shouldn't expect a smorgasbord of features.

If you're a beginner looking to expand his or her photography knowledge and skills beyond a smartphone or point-and-shoot, or you simply want an easy-to-use camera that offers significantly better image quality and more versatility than a smartphone, the Nikon D3500 is a prime choice. And the fact that this camera sells for under $500 is just icing on the cake.

Given its image quality performance, compact design, ease of use, and amazingly low price, it's no wonder that the Nikon D3500 got our pick for Best Entry-Level Camera of 2018 in our annual Camera of the Year awards, and it surely gets added to our list of Dave's Picks!