Cameras have had self-timers since the earliest days of consumer photography. While they’re the original “selfie mode” for getting yourself into a group photo, they serve a much more technical purpose on the Nikon D3500: preventing camera shake.
Unlike many other DSLRs, the D3500 doesn’t have a port for a traditional cable shutter release, nor does it have a true “Mirror Lockup” mode. Whenever you physically press the shutter button with your finger, you introduce tiny vibrations that can blur a long-exposure shot on a tripod. Using the self-timer adds a delay that lets those vibrations settle before the shutter actually opens.
Here’s how to access the self-timer on the D3500 and dial in the exact settings you need.
How to turn on the D3500 self-timer
To engage the timer, you don’t actually need to dive into the main menus. Just press the dedicated Release Mode button on the back of the camera (it has an icon of stacked rectangles and a little clock next to it).
Pressing that brings up the Release Mode screen on your rear display.
Use the directional pad to select the icon on the far right (the clock icon) and press OK.
Once engaged, you’ll see the self-timer icon appear on the main status screen so you know it’s active.
The “One-and-Done” Reset: The D3500 has a very helpful behavioral quirk — the self-timer automatically turns itself off after the shot is taken. If you want to take a second self-timer photo, you have to press the button and engage it again. This prevents that frustrating scenario where you forget the timer is on, try to take a quick candid shot five minutes later, and miss the moment because the camera is counting down from ten.
Taking the photo
When you press the shutter button, the camera won’t fire immediately. Instead, the AF-assist illuminator lamp on the front grip will start flashing. It flashes steadily at first, and then stays solid for the final two seconds before the shutter opens. This gives anyone standing in front of the lens a clear visual cue of exactly when to stop moving and smile.
Customizing the self-timer settings
While turning the timer on is done via the back button, adjusting how the timer behaves requires a quick trip into the camera’s menu system.
MENU > Setup menu (wrench icon) > Self-timer
From here, you have two specific settings you can tweak to fit your shooting scenario.
1. Self-timer delay
This dictates how long the camera waits between you pressing the shutter and the camera taking the photo.
You can choose 2, 5, 10, or 20 seconds.
- If I’m shooting landscapes on a tripod and just want to avoid camera shake, I use the 2-second delay. It’s fast and efficient.
- If I’m running around to the front of the camera to get into a large group shot, I use the 10 or 20-second delay to give myself plenty of time to get into position.
2. Number of shots
By default, the timer takes a single photo. But you can set the camera to take a burst of up to 9 shots automatically.
If you select multiple shots, the camera will pause for about 4 seconds between each frame (you can’t manually adjust this interval). This is an incredibly helpful safety net for group photos. Taking 3 or 4 shots in sequence guarantees you’ll have a few extra frames to choose from just in case someone blinked or looked away during the first exposure.
The modern alternative: SnapBridge
If you find the self-timer restrictive for long-exposure photography, the D3500 has one other built-in workaround for its lack of a physical remote port: Bluetooth.
You can connect the camera to your smartphone via Nikon’s free SnapBridge app and use your phone’s screen to trigger the shutter wirelessly. It is a completely touch-free way to activate the camera, ensuring the sharpest possible image when your D3500 is locked down on a tripod.
Nikon D3500 explorer
Here’s a fun tool I put together that explores the various buttons and dials on the Nikon D3500. And just as importantly, it shows what terminology Nikon uses for them, since each manufacturer has their own dialect and jargon.
Information was very helpful. I will return when I have concerns and need advice.
Thank you,
Dave
Glad it was helpful!