Status update: Nikon has ended production of the D3500 (reported in 2022). The specifications below are unchanged, but check sellers for stock.
Last updated: 25 October 2026.
Below are the full Nikon D3500 Specifications
Type Single-lens reflex digital camera Lens mount Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) Effective angle of view Nikon DX format; focal length equivalent to approx. 1.5x that of lenses with FX format angle of view Image sensor format DX Image sensor type CMOS Sensor size 23.5 mm x 15.6 mm Total pixels 24.78 million Dust-reduction system Image Dust Off reference data (Capture NX-D software required) Effective pixels 24.2 million Image size (pixels) (L) 6000 x 4000 ( 24.0 million) (M) 4496 x 3000 ( 13.5 million) (S) 2992 x 2000 ( 6.0 million) File format NEF (RAW): 12 bit, compressed JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats Nikon D3500 Specifications Picture Control system Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, Flat ; selected Picture Control can be modified Media SD, SDHC (UHS-I compliant), SDXC (UHS-I compliant) Card slot 1 Secure Digital (SD) card File system DCF 2.0, Exif 2.3, PictBridge Viewfinder Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder Frame coverage Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical Magnification Approx. 0.85 x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, –1.0 m(*1)) Eyepoint 18 mm (–1.0 m(*1); from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens) Diopter adjustment -1.7 to +0.5 m(*1) Focusing screen Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen Reflex mirror Quick return Lens aperture Instant return, electronically controlled Autofocus support Autofocus is available with AF-P and type E and G AF-S lenses. Nikon D3500 Specifications Type Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter Speed 1/4000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV; Bulb; Time Flash sync speed X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower Modes S (single frame), Continuous, QC (quiet continuous shutter-release), Self-timer Approximate frame advance rate Up to 5 fps Note: Frame rates assume manual focus, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values. Self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 to 9 exposures Metering system TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor Nikon D3500 Specifications Metering method Matrix metering: 3D color matrix metering II Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame Spot metering: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F) Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV Exposure meter coupling CPU Nikon D3500 Specifications Mode Auto modes (auto; auto, flash off); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; sports; close up; night portrait); special effects modes (night vision; super vivid; pop; photo illustration; toy camera effect; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key) Exposure compensation Can be adjusted by –5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV in P, S, A, M, scene, and night vision modes Exposure lock Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) ISO 100 to 25600 in steps of 1 EV Auto ISO sensitivity control available Active D-Lighting On, off Autofocus system Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5 to 3m/1 ft 8 in. to 9 ft 10 in.) Nikon D3500 Specifications Detection range –1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) Lens servo Single-servo AF (AF-S), Continuous-servo AF (AF-C), Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A) ; predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used Focus point 11 Can be selected from 11 focus points AF-area mode Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button Built-in flash Auto, portrait, close up, night portrait, super vivid, pop, photo illustration, toy camera effect: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release Guide number Approx. 7/22, 8/26 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) Control TTL: i-TTL flash control using 420-pixel RGB sensor is available with built-in flash; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering Nikon D3500 Specifications Mode Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off Flash compensation Can be adjusted by -3 to +1 EV in steps of 1/3 EV in P, S, A, M, and scene modes Flash-ready indicator Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output Accessory shoe ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) i-TTL flash control, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, Color Information Communication, AF-assist for multi-area AF Sync terminal AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately) White balance Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine-tuning Lens servo Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF) AF-area mode Face-priority AF, Wide-area AF, Normal-area AF, Subject-tracking AF Autofocus Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected) Nikon D3500 Specifications Automatic scene selection Available in auto and auto, flash off modes Metering system TTL exposure metering using main image sensor Metering mode Matrix Frame size (pixels) and frame rate 1920 x 1080; 60p (progressive), 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720; 60p, 50p Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps respectively; options support both high and normal image quality File format MOV Video compression H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding Audio recording format Linear PCM Audio recording device Built-in monaural microphone; sensitivity adjustable ISO sensitivity ISO 100 to 25600 Monitor size 7.5 -cm ( 3 –in.) diagonal Monitor type TFT LCD with 170 ° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment Monitor resolution Approx. 921 k-dot (VGA) Playback Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, playback zoom cropping, playback face zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, location data display, auto image rotation, picture rating, and image comment (up to 36 characters) USB connector Hi-Speed USB with Micro-USB connector; connection to built-in USB port is recommended HDMI output connector Type C HDMI connector Communication protocols Bluetooth Specification Version 4.1 Operating frequency Bluetooth: 2402 to 2480 MHz Bluetooth Low Energy: 2402 to 2480 MHz Maximum output power 1.2 dBm (EIRP) Range (line of sight) Approximately 10 m (32 ft) without interference; range may vary with signal strength and presence or absence of obstacles Battery One EN-EL14a rechargeable Li-ion battery AC adapter EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately) Tripod socket 1/4–in. (ISO 1222) Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 124 x 97 x 69.5 mm ( 4.9 x 3.9 x 2.8 in.) Weight Approx. 415 g ( 14.7 oz ) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 365 g/12.9 oz (camera body only) Operating environment Temperature: 0 °C to 40 °C (+32 °F to 104 °F) Humidity: 85% or less (no condensation) Supplied accessories AN-DC3 Strap, DK-25 Rubber Eyecup (comes attached to camera), BF-1B Body Cap, EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (with terminal cover), MH-24 Battery Charger (plug adapter supplied in countries or regions where required; shape depends on country of sale) **Unless otherwise stated, all measurements are performed in conformity with Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards or guidelines. All figures are for a camera with a fully-charged battery. The sample images displayed on the camera and the images and illustrations in the manual are for expository purposes only. Nikon reserves the right to change the appearance and specifications of the hardware and software described in these specifications at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result from any mistakes that these specifications may contain.