Nikon D3500 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D3500? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D3500 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D3500 below.
In any case, the D3500 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was revealed to the public on August 30th, 2018, which means that, as of today, the camera is 2217 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued, but there has not been a direct replacement model for the D3500 from Nikon.
Nikon's reference manual for the D3500
The camera's reference manual is 354 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D3500 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D3500 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D3500 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Nikon D3500
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D3500 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Nikon D3500 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Nikon D3500 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D3500.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Nikon D3500?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D3500 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D3500 with the EXPEED 4 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D3500?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D3500?
Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the D3500. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D3500 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D3500?
Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D3500 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Does the Nikon D3500 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D3500 for flash photography?
The D3500's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Nikon D3500 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Nikon D3500 use?
The camera gets its power from the Nikon EN-EL14a (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Where can I find the best deals for the Nikon D3500?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Nikon.
Further reading
How does the D3500 stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D3500.
Camera Model | Nikon D3500 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Nikon F mount lenses | |
Launch Date | August 2018 | |
Launch Price | USD 429 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | |
Sensor Area | 367 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 28.2 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 6 000 x 4 000 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 3.91 μm | |
Pixel Density | 6.55 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | no AA filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | EXPEED 4 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 95% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.57x | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 921k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Nikon EN-EL14a power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 1550 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
124 x 97 x 70 mm (4.9 x 3.8 x 2.8 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 415 g (14.6 oz) |
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