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Photography is one of the most interesting hobbies nowadays and one of the most complex too, It requires a lot of trying and learning in order to master it in addition to some creativity. The Nikon D3500 is a great choice for starters who want to take the first step into this amazing hobby using a high-quality DSLR camera at a decent price.
The Nikon D3500 is the latest model to Nikon’s D3xxx entry-level DSLR camera series, which was initially unveiled by Nikon on August 30, 2018 and replaces the popular forerunner, the D3400.
Although classified as an entry-level DSLR, the Nikon D3500 is a high-resolution camera that can capture exceptional photographs and equipped with the necessary manual controls to delve into more advanced photography techniques. Additionally, the Nikon D3500 is compatible with a wide range of Nikon and third-party lenses that extend the camera capabilities to another level.
Also, the Nikon D3500 is compatible with a wide range of Nikon and third-party lenses that extend the camera capabilities to another level.
Not to mention that it comes with performance limits and the lack of additional features that are typically found in higher-end cameras, such as the articulated touchscreen display that can be found in the Nikon D5600
Note: If you’re looking for more budget DSLR camera check the Canon’s most entry-level camera Canon T7 Bundle Deals – Starting From $589
Key Specs
- 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- EXPEED 4 image processor
- ISO range of 100-25600
- 11-point autofocus system through the optical viewfinder
- Capable of ‘Full HD’ 1080/60p video
- Shoots continuously at 5 frames per second
- 921k-dot fixed LCD screen
- Battery rated for 1,550 shots per charge (CIPA)
- Bluetooth for image transfer
Pros
- High-Resolution Sensor
- Compact body design
- User-friendly & Easy to use
- A wide and diverse range of compatible lenses.
- Excellent Battery Life
Cons
Best Nikon D3500 Bundle Deals
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Nikon D3500 1 Lens Essintial Bundle |  |
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Nikon D3500 Buying Guide
When you first get started in photography you will need more than just a camera to convert the photograph in your mind into a genuine shot, for this reason buying a camera as a bundle is very useful for beginners to save time and price to help you take better shots rather than buying them individually. So we collected the best and highest rated Nikon D3500 bundle deals to choose what fits your needs and your budget.
There’re many Nikon D3500 bundles out there with various prices and accessories. However, it’s worth considering that the majority of these bundles offer low to medium-quality gears and accessories best suited for novice photographers and simpler tasks. In any case, It’s prudent for beginners not to invest heavily in costly accessories until they require them. Conversely, professional photographers may want to procure these items individually.
Important Gears And Accessorioes
- 18-55mm Lens: The 18-55mm is the primary kit lens and is most generally utilized for basic and personal photography as it is specially designed for new photographers to gain the initial experience as it suits all kinds of photography. (Don’t forget to try more lenses in the future)
- 70-300mm Lens: This affordable and lightweight lens is the most loved telephoto zoom lens by most beginners, its large focal length makes it the ideal lens for wildlife, sports photography, cropped headshot style portraits, and exploring faraway objects.
- Memory Cards: The Memory Card is a critical component and the camera will not work without it as the camera has no internal storage. The Nikon D3500 offers a 24.2 MP sensor that produces an average JPEG image size of around 9Mb so you will need at least a 16GB memory card in order to save your favorite images. Also, you will need a high-speed memory card to synchronize with the camera’s performance. The best brands are SanDisk, Lexar, and Transcend.
- Tripod: The tripod is a valuable component for photographers to help them keep the camera steady, get sharp images while utilizing telephoto lenses, take long shutter shots, night shots, self-timer portraits, and a lot more. Most bundles offer low to medium quality tripods and can deal with the easy work just fine but not for professional heavy-duty, so make sure to invest in a high-quality tripod in the future after earning the initial experience.
1. Keep the camera steady with telephoto and macro lenses where control of depth of field is essential.
2. Necessary with long shutter speed shots.
3. It saves you a lot of effort from carrying the camera.
4. Useful for Selfie and portrait shots.
5. Also useful with numerous other photography categories like astronomy, landscapes, wedding photography.
Tripods come in all shapes and sizes from heavy-weight studio affairs to lightweight versions designed for different needs. (most camera bundles offers a low-quality tripod which is enough for light-duty uses only) - Lens Filters: The most useful lens filters are those that are clear and simply used for protection. There’re other types of filters that can enhance colors and contrast or correct the color temperature and add your favorite color tone to your images. (You can do the altering with photo editing software like Lightroom and Photoshop)
- Lens Extenders: Lens extenders meanwhile are earmarked for use with DSLRs and they sit between the lens and the camera body. They can convert the focal length of the lens either providing a wider field Of view Or boosting the lens’s magnification. The advantage is that they’re much less expensive than buying a whole new lens, But they do have slight drawbacks in that the effective aperture available will reduce and in some cases, they can soften the images you shoot slightly, particularly noticeable around the edges.
- Wide Angle Lens: A wide-angle lens is generally used for scenes where you want to capture as much as possible like Landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture.
- Flash: Most bundles offer very low-quality flashes so it’s useless in most bundles and the built-in flash will give you better results.
- Wireless Shutter Release: Useful component while using the tripod to trigger the shutter remotely.
Nikon D3500 2 Lens Bundle With Bag + 128GB Memory
This bundle is one of the best deals in terms of the price compared to the accessories. It ships with the 2 most popular and affordable lenses for beginners (Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens + Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED Lens), these lenses combined cover a good zoom range for everyday use and can be used for many types of photography.
The 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED telephoto zoom lens is useful to get far subjects closer to you and for some kinds of photography like wildlife but it lake the VR feature so you will require a strong mount for better outcomes.
One of the main features of this bundle is the Transcend 128GB memory card which is more than enough for most users to store all their photos and videos and gives you a good amount of capacity to store all your favorite images and videos without running out of storage with marketing speed up to 80MP/S.
It ships with an entry-level tripod which is useful during shots that require camera stabilization to keep the camera steady to increase the quality of the images, do self-portraits using the camera timer, get better results in low light places and get vibration-free videos. Also, it comes in handy in shots that need to use long shutter speeds without increasing the ISO in low light places like astronomy photography. Also, it is very useful to decrease the vibrations in videos and get selfie portraits using the camera timer (As the tripod is a very important piece of equipment for a photographer don’t forget to invest in a better one in the future).
it comes in handy in shots that need to use long shutter speeds without increasing the ISO in low light places like astronomy photography. Also, it is very useful to decrease the vibrations in videos and get selfie portraits using the camera timer
It also delivers with a camera case, low-quality flash, 3x UV filters, SD card reader, cleaning kit, and 2 Lens Extenders.
What Is Good About The Nikon D3500?
Sensor
The Nikon D3500 is equipped with a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor, which is renowned for its widespread usage in many DSLR cameras.
The sensor can produce images up to 6,000 x 4,000px, considered to be high resolution and adequate for most users to achieve detailed, high-quality photographs. Also, the sensor delivers well-exposed images with accurate color reproduction.
The D3500’s sensor measures 23.5 x 15.6mm, consistent with other Nikon entry-level DSLR cameras. However, due to its limited size, shooting well-exposed photographs in low-light conditions can be challenging for beginners without the use of artificial lighting.
It is worth mentioning that employing a low aperture lens, such as the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G, can noticeably enhance low-light performance when compared to standard lenses.
Performance
In terms of performance, there are few discernible upgrades from the D3400. Both cameras feature the EXPEED 4 image processor, providing a 5-fps continuous shooting speed, which is not really bad for an entry-level camera. This should suffice for capturing many dynamic scenes, such as children playing, allowing the user to take a sequence of shots and select the best of them later.
Typically, cameras with mechanical shutters have limited continuous shooting speeds due to the mechanical movement of the shutter elements compared to electronic shutters. The Nikon D5 currently holds the title of Nikon’s fastest DSLR camera, capable of speeds up to 12 frames per second and is commonly used by professional sports photographers.
The Nikon D3500 provides a diverse range of shutter speed options, spanning from 1/4000 to 30 seconds, offering reliable performance in almost any shooting scenario. This allows for capturing sharp images of fast-moving subjects and achieving authentic night-time shots using slow shutter speeds.
Moreover, the D3500’s battery life surpasses that of its predecessor,the D3400, and sets a new benchmark for its class. A single full charge can provide enough power to take approximately 1,550 photos, which is a major improvement over the d3400 while the Canon t7 is only 600 shots per charge so it is a big plus for the Nikon in comparison to Canon alternatives.
High-Quality Videos at 60FPS
Regarding its video capabilities, the D3500 is capable of recording Full HD videos at 1920 x 1080 resolution reaching up to 60fps and with a maximum clip length of 20 minutes at the highest quality and fps. The videos are saved in MOV format and use H.264/MPEG-4 video compression, resulting in high quality output.
The video quality is very good with accurate colors, exposure, and a shallow depth of field, resulting in cinematic shots. However, it lacks a port for an external microphone, restricting users to the built-in microphone making it more suitable for personal events rather than professional use.
Furthermore, the D3500 has built-in special effects filters for shooting videos that manipulate color tones, sharpness, brightness, and more, allowing for quick sharing of the footage.
Design & Build Quality
The Nikon D3500 offers a relatively small and compact camera body for a DSLR camera. Its dimensions are 4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 inches and weighs only 415g (body only with battery included) compared to 445g in its predecessor d3400.
It comes with a slightly deeper grip design and makes it considerably more comfortable to hold over extended periods. Makes it ideal for a variety of outdoor activities, such as day trips, traveling, hiking, or camping. The weight is not difficult to convey, and the size isn’t cumbersome to fit bags, so it’s reasonably easy to carry around with you.
Features
The Nikon d3500 software comes with a built-in feature that let you edit your images directly on the camera there are many onboard editing options, including resizing, red-eye correction, and automatic retouch that can make photos looks more aesthetic and creative which comes in handy to make the images ready to share on social media without the need to transfer to a PC for editing but of course it is a secondary and fast alternative and does not compare to professional photo ending software.
Wireless Connectivity
The Nikon D3500 doesn’t support Wi-Fi, however it includes Bluetooth for wireless transfers. And with the Nikon SnapBridge’ app you can easily transfer photographs from the D3500 to your smartphone or tablet.
SnapBridge
The Nikon’s SnapBridge app use Bluetooth Low Energy in the camera to sync the camera to your IOS or Android device to automatically transfer all of your images that can save you a lot of time and effort. It also can be used to turn your device to a shutter remote control to snap photos like selfies and long shutter photography to highly decrese image vibration caused by pressing the shutter button.
What Is Not Good About The Nikon D3500?
Display
The D3500 comes with a 3-inch LCD display that has a resolution of 921k dots and a 170-degree viewing angle, which makes it clear and bright and there is no issue seeing it in daylight. However, the display is fixed and does not support any articulating angles, which is one of the main downsides of this camera compared to a vari-angle touch screen display in the Nikon D5600 Bundle
Limited AutoFocus Performance In Videos
The autofocus system is relatively fast and responsive for an entry-level DSLR. It has 11 autofocus points which are quite limited to cover the scene compared to 39 points in the Nikon D5600.
Although the camera includes a 3D tracking feature to track moving objects, it is not very accurate, especially in shooting videos with fast-moving objects, and in some scenarios, it’s more beneficial to use manual focus in order to avoid unnecessary focus adjustments.
Should You Buy The Nikon D3500?
For those novice photographers seeking an inexpensive DSLR camera, the Nikon D3500 is a top contender. It boasts great dependability, extended battery life, and affordable pricing in this price range.
The 24.2MP sensor is capable of capturing some stunning images, particularly when paired with high-quality lenses. Also, Nikon has a fantastic system in place, with a wide range of lenses to fit just about every shooting style or budget.
Additionally, with the potential to take over 1,500 images without ever changing a battery. Nevertheless, it misses several essential features, like an articulating touchscreen, which can provide more versatility in difficult positions and is reserved for the Nikon D5600.
This camera is typically sold in a bundle with an AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, or you may purchase it on third-party websites such as Amazon, paired with another lens (70-300mm), and the necessary equipment to get started, such as memory cards, tripods, and more.
FAQ
Does the Nikon d3500 have Wi-Fi?
The D3500 isn’t Wi-Fi enabled, however, it supports the new Nikon’s SnapBridge application which allows you to transfer data wirelessly between the camera and your smart devices using a Bluetooth connection. Moreover, it also can be used as a remote control to trigger the camera’s shutter.
Is the Nikon d3500 good for beginners?
The D3500 DSLR camera is made especially for beginners looking for a professional camera that can shoot high-quality images with reasonable performance and affordable price.
Is the Nikon d3500 display support touch screen?
No, the screen in the D3500 is fixed and doesn’t support a touchscreen. you can get a fully articulated touchscreen in the Nikon D5600.
Is the Nikon d3500 a good camera?
The d3500 is a good and more than enough for beginners’ needs and one of the best entry-level DSLR cameras for starters who don’t want to spend too much money on their first camera, however, it lacks some nice but not major features like the articulated touchscreen LCD and poor Auto-Focus system with only 11-point AF so it isn’t reliable for shooting fast actions and professional videos, otherwise, the Nikon D3500 more than a good camera.
Read more about Nikon D3500 at nikonusa.com