All cameras should have dual slots. But having only 1 slot saves literally a few dollars in manufacturing, and at the cash register. And camera companies will make you pay a LOT for such photographic "insurance." The camera’s image quality is beautiful on the low end of the ISO range and just fine up to about ISO 6400. On the higher end of the range things start to deteriorate. We didn’t love the amount of noise that we were seeing on files shot at ISO 12800. Being a starter DSLR, we don’t get the luxury of 4K resolution video capture here, but most amateur videographers will be happy with its Full HD 1920x1080 pixel clips. Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi is offered by way of cable-free transfer, but at least this still lets us send images to a smartphone, as well as utilise a handset as a remote means of firing its shutter. Ultimately the D3500 is a very capable and affordable camera for beginners and young families. It does a fine job capturing 'candids' and other casual shots. Although the Guide Mode leaves something to be desired for seasoned shooters, it does offer a non-intimidating way to learn about some of the more technical aspects of photography.

As on the Nikon D3400 there's no Wi-Fi connectivity, but you do get Bluetooth, so it's possible to transfer images via Nikon's SnapBridge feature. Here, an always-on Bluetooth Low Energy connection is made between the camera and your smart device, and you can configure SnapBridge so that images are automatically transferred as you shoot, or later, so you can select particular images to transfer. Which 18-55mm kit lens should you buy with the D3500? Cost is a key factor for this market, so it’s welcome to see Nikon delivering the new model at a more attractive price point than before, at least in the US. To further expand creativity, the in-camera Guide Mode gives new DSLR users the tools they need to learn about their new camera’s capabilities and become better, more knowledgeable photographers. Sharing photos with the ones you love is easier than ever with the Nikon D3500 and Nikon SnapBridge app. The D3500 uses Bluetooth 2 to create an always-on 3 connection between the camera and a compatible smart device, making it possible to seamlessly share 2MP images to social media as they are captured. Additionally, D3500 users will now be able to trigger their camera remotely via Bluetooth using SnapBridge. Nikon SnapBridge users can also access Nikon Image Space 4, a free online image sharing and storage service that preserves memories in the cloud.The viewfinder might only be a cheaper ‘pentamirror’ design rather than the pentaprism found in more expensive DSLRs, but its bright and clear, you can see right into the corners of the frame without shifting your eye and there’s no colour fringing at the edges. The information display is limited to basic exposure and status information along the bottom, but this is big, clear and easy to see.

As someone who shoots a camera for a living, I favor the D3500 because it's newer, takes more pictures per battery charge, has a rebuilt, deeper grip, and has a built-in quiet mode that won't disturb wildlife in the woods or guests at a wedding. If you want the best entry-level camera, you want the newer D3500. As with a lot of technology, newer is better in this case. So if you own the D3400 but find the battery life somewhat limiting or the grip too small, the D3500 is a solid upgrade that's sure to please. Nikon does not use on-sensor phase-detection autofocus in its DSLRs, relying on slower contrast-based autofocus instead. Or at least it should be slow. But somewhere along the line Nikon has found a way to make the D3500’s live view AF feel almost as responsive as a mirrorless camera’s, and we think it’s down to the AF-P autofocus technology in its kit lens. We might scoff at the D3500’s relatively small weight reduction compared to the D3400, but in truth its out-of-the-box weight of just 415g is actually really impressive. It’s only 124mm wide, which means in all it’s not that different in the hand – or on the shoulder – as many mirrorless cameras. It’s a major thinking point for those who hold the opinion that mirrorless cameras have sounded a death knell for the DSLR.Most importantly, buying into a future-proof system, where a more professional camera (like an X-T3) is not necessarily much larger and heavier.

EVFs certainly have their advantages, especially as you can see the exposure 'live', meaning you don't get any nasty surprises when you fire the shutter. These days, modern EVFs are also fantastic at what they do. But still many photographers prefer the cleaner, definitely lag-free view offered by an optical viewfinder, so there's no 'best' option for everyone. We spent time with the D3500 around Brooklyn with the standard 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens and an additional 35mm f/1.8G DX Nikkor lens. What’s new? Your A6000 is very dated, and old tech. There are better iterations from Sony itself, and for example, a X-T100 wipes the Floor with the A6000, anytime in terms of Image Quality. Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Son of Waldo - First, point taken, the kit lens does serve a purpose, and it is capable of out resolving a smartphone. Second, please calm down; I'd hate to think sharing my opinion about entry-level DSLRs necessitated a change in someone else's blood pressure meds.The cost of a camera seems to have a direct impact on the number of buttons on the body, so we’re disappointed if not surprised to note that the Fn button – present on the front of other Nikon cameras and normally assigned to changing the ISO – is missing here. If you’re comparing this directly with a mirrorless camera however, the D3500’s body is inevitably going to seem chunky by comparison. However the upshot is that we get a decent sized handgrip in comparison. While the LCD here is fixed and isn’t touch sensitive, the sensibly spaced and implemented button layout here is such that we’re not accidentally activating features we don’t want. Keep the ISO under control and the camera’s image quality is only limited by the lens you attach. Colours were always accurate and, natch, you can always opt to shoot RAW files to gouge the maximum from your files in post-production.

If you shoot in low light/low contrast, you need a camera able to handle high ISO, if you shoot in fierce light and high contrast you probably need a camera with a huge dynamic range.What I mean by that second part—that it will remain—is that it is a technical possibility for camera manufacturers to issue a firmware update that restricts the camera to using only batteries produced by the manufacturer, so that it stops working with batteries made by other manufacturers. It might be because of some compatibility issue—camera manufacturers understandably aren’t enthusiastic about spending support resources on dealing with problems caused by accessories produced by other manufacturers. It’s rare that a camera manufacturer would go to those lengths, but it has happened (we’re looking at you, GoPro). photoMEETING - Consumers are not interested in metaphysical debates over what is "reality." All they care about is what the viewfinder can do for them as they take photos. Millions of people now take photos using smartphone screens to see, focus, compose, and capture their images. We all know that the very act of capturing an image digitally is an "interpretation of reality." The true factor that we are interested in is capturing an "interpretation of reality" that we find pleasing, desirable and adequate. This whole argument of "reality" is just psychobabbble nonsense spouted by people desperately trying to put OVFs on some metaphysical, philosophical pedestal. Get over yourselves! The APS-C sized sensor (typical for an entry-level DSLR, and much larger than the sensors used in most compact cameras) in the D3500 also does away with an optical low-pass filter to help improve image quality.