The Nikon D3500 has pretty good battery life, but you’re bound to run into situations where your battery is running out of juice right when things are getting interesting. So having fully charged spares on hand is always a good idea–a truism with any digital camera, not just the D3500.
If you’re after a spare battery for a Nikon D3500, or need to replace a dying one, the obvious choice is to get the Nikon-branded replacement batteries. And while that’s a safe way to go, there are also options with some other features that you (and your wallet) might prefer.
So here’s a quick rundown of different Nikon D3500 battery and charger options that work well with this camera. It includes Nikon original versions as well as some good options from aftermarket manufacturers.
Something worth noting if you’re upgrading from the D3400 is that the D3500 uses the same batteries and chargers. So if you already have some on hand from the older camera, you can go ahead and use them in the new one as well.
Nikon D3500 Battery
The model number of the battery for the Nikon D3500 is EN-EL14a. The official Nikon version has a small holographic sticker on the bottom, which should help tell whether you’re getting an authentic Nikon battery or a fake (yes, there are fakes out there).
You might also still find an older version still available, the EN-EL14 (without the “a” at the end). Go with the newer version if possible.
Obviously, Nikon has their own branded battery, and those are the ones they officially recommend. They’re the safe option. But they’re not necessarily the most affordable option.
I’ve also found some of the more affordable aftermarket versions to work well, particularly the batteries from Wasabi Power. I’ve used their batteries for several years in other cameras and found them to be one of the better aftermarket camera battery manufacturers.
The Wasabi Power batteries that I’ve found to work well in the Nikon D3500 have a model number of BTR-ENEL14-JWP. It also has a capacity rating higher than either of the Nikon models: 1500mAh. I’ve run into no issues using them in my D3500. They’re available individually, in 2-packs, or bundled with a USB dual charger.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for Nikon EN-EL14a and Nikon EN-EL14 (fully-decoded)
- Rated at 7.4V with 1500mAh for a longer run time than the Nikon original
Nikon D3500 Chargers
There are a few different varieties of battery chargers for the Nikon D3500, ranging from the simple, single-battery AC charger provided by Nikon to dual-bay USB chargers from aftermarket manufacturers. Here’s a quick rundown of the options.
The D3500 comes with an AC battery charger. Its model number is model number MH-24. It’s a single-bay AC charger, with the prongs for the wall socket folding back into the body of the charger.
- Charger for EN-EL14 Li-ion Battery
- Compatible with Nikon D3100 SLR and P7000 Digital Cameras
As always, Nikon recommends using their own branded products. But something I don’t like about the MH-24 is that it only works with an AC power outlet–and one with enough room around the socket to fit the rather bulky charger. That’s not always convenient, especially when traveling.
But there are other good options from aftermarket manufacturers, some of which use a much more convenient, if slower, charging method: via USB. That saves me having to carry around a bunch of different AC adapters whenever I travel (I like to travel light). It also means that I can charge my camera batteries from an external powerbrick even while I’m out and about taking photos.
My current favorite is the NiteCore UNK1 USB charger. It has two bays, one for the EN-EL14/a and another for the EN-EL15/a batteries like the ones the Nikon D850 takes. If you’re only using the D3500, you can regard this as a single-battery charger, since you’ll only be able to use one of the two slots. But if you’re also shooting with one of Nikon’s other DSLRs which happens to use the EN-EL15a, as I do, then you get to take full advantage of the dual slots. It also has a small LED screen that shows a more precise percentage for charging status as well as battery health and the current flowing. It’s smaller and lighter than the official Nikon MH-24 charger and can be powered via USB by an external powerbank, AC charger, or in the car. So I find it to be a more convenient option even using only one of the two slots.
Another good option that also uses USB are these dual-battery chargers. They’re a little slower to charge–they’re 0.6A rather than the 0.9A of Nikon’s MH-24, but they’re still very lightweight and convenient if you’re traveling.
- Charge 2 batteries at a time for the Nikon EN-EL14
- Universal power from any USB source (2.1A recommended); Outputs 600mA max (x2)
A Modular Option
If access to AC power isn’t a problem, I’m a big fan of these dual-chargers because you can mix and match adapter plates for different types of batteries. Since I use a range of different cameras, it means I can cut down on the overall bulk by taking the one charger and a few lightweight and inexpensive adapter plates. Or you can, of course, charge two batteries of the same type together. It also has an LED screen that gives a more precise indication of the charging status–something I find very handy when I’m trying to head out the door and want a sense of how long the charge is likely to take.
The main charger acts as a docking base. Here’s a direct link for the adapter plates for the Nikon D3500’s EN-EL14a batteries.
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Where to Buy a Nikon D3500 DSLR
The D3500 is an excellent entry-point camera for getting started with DSLR photography. You can find them at Amazon and B&H Photo. You can also find them used at major used camera gear sellers such as KEH (which is where I often buy when I'm looking for used gear).Nikon D3500 Tips
I've put together a number of resources related to the Nikon D3500.
Good places to start are with the Nikon D3500 Q&As and recommended SD cards for the Nikon D3500.
Azmy says
Dear .. frequently when I start my nikon D3500 for portrait shoot, it dosnt shoot and I dont hear the peep sound although the spot lite on the screen flashes and the light indicator on the front of the camera lights?
Some other time it starts and shoots immediately, beep is heard, every thing is perfect ?
Thomas Wright says
I recently had an experience I have not seen documented … my new D3500 was burning through it’s battery in well less than a week just sitting off in the bag. This did not seem normal. After some musing I took a look at the status and discovered that I had apparently set it to support Bluetooth even when the camera was off. Fixed that, problem solved.