Here are the answers to various questions that have come up regarding the Nikon D3500 DSLR.
I’ve tried to include some succinct answers below. In several cases, I’ve linked to more detailed explanations and how-to guides. It’s designed as a rolling Q&A page, so by all means ask questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to expand it.
Shooting Video
Can Nikon D3500 Record Video?
Yes. The Nikon D3500 can record video up to 1080p. That’s sometimes referred to as Full HD and has a resolution of 1920×1080. It can also shoot at 720p (1280×720).
For framerate, in 1080p it can shoot at 60, 50, 30, 25, and 24 frames per second (fps). In 720p, it can shoot at 60 or 50 fps.1
If you’ve used the Nikon D3400 before, you’ll notice that the video shooting options are practically identical. And Nikon refers to video as “movies,” which is what you’ll find used in all the menu settings and features.
How to Record Video with the Nikon D3500
Starting video recording on the Nikon D3500 isn’t as intuitive as it could be, and it’s slightly different to how it worked on the D3400. The main difference is that the Lv (Live View) button that was on the back of the D3400 has been replaced with a Lv lever on the D3500.
And that’s important, because to start video recording, you first have to turn on the Live View display.
So, first, choose the recording mode you want to use from the top dial. The simplest is to start with P.
Then pull the Lv lever towards the back of the camera to enable the back screen’s live view.
Another thing to know is that there’s a dedicate video shutter button. Some cameras have a separate video shooting mode on the shooting mode dial. The D3500 doesn’t have that. Instead, it uses a separate recording start/stop button (that is, you don’t use the normal shutter). It’s the small button with the red dot on top of the camera, right next to the main shutter.
If you’re using a compatible autofocus lens, you can still use autofocus while recording. For that, use the regular main shutter button (not the one with the red dot–that’s only for starting and stopping the recording).
What Video Bitrate Does the Nikon D3500 Record At?
This table shows the bitrates the D3500 based on my tests. These are all in Mbps (Mb/s).
The D3500 uses variable bitrate encoding, which tries to match the compression to the detail in the scene. So you can get some variation either way depending on the scene you’re shooting. And these bitrates are for the overall bitrate, including both the video and audio streams.
| Resolution/FPS | Normal Quality | High Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60 | 23 | 38 |
| 1080p50 | 23 | 38 |
| 1080p30 | 12 | 23 |
| 1080p25 | 12 | 23 |
| 1080p24 | 12 | 23 |
| 720p60 | 12 | 23 |
| 720p50 | 12 | 23 |
What Kind of Video Files Does the D3500 Save?
The video files from the Nikon D3500 are saved as QuickTime MPEG-4 files. The files use the .MOV file extension.
It uses AVC encoding for the video stream and PCM for the audio.
What are the Video Recording Options on the Nikon D3500?
The D3500’s emphasis is on still photos, and its options for shooting video are quite limited.
You can find the video settings on the main menu under the Camera icon tab. Scroll down to the end to Movie Settings, and then press right.
Aside from the the resolution and framerate, the other options you can set are:
- Movie Quality. You can choose between Normal and High Quality. These refer to the bitrates, which is related to how much compression is applied to the video. Normal applies more compression, which results in smaller file sizes but also lower quality. High Quality applies less aggressive compression, which leads to, well, higher quality, but also results in larger file sizes.
- Microphone. You have a choice of Auto Sensitivity, Manual Sensitivity, and Microphone Off.
- Wind Noise Reduction. You can choose On or Off. It applies a low-cut filter to try to reduce the whooshing of wind that you’ll get if you’re moving quickly. It’s an imperfect filter that might affect other sounds you want to keep, so it’s always a good idea to test the results first.
- Manual Movie Settings. You can choose between On or Off. If you have the shooting dial set to M, it’s possible to exercise some control over the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity.
What is the Maximum Recording Time for Video on the Nikon D3500
The Nikon D3500 has a maximum recording time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds, but that’s not available in all the resolution/framerate/quality combinations. Whatever shooting mode you’re using, the maximum file size is 4GB.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the maximum video lengths on the D3500 by the resolution/framerate/quality combinations.
| Movie Quality Setting | Resolution/FPS | Max length mins |
|---|---|---|
| High Quality | 1080p60 | 10 |
| 1080p50 | 10 | |
| 1080p30 | 20 | |
| 1080p25 | 20 | |
| 1080p24 | 20 | |
| 720p60 | 20 | |
| 720p50 | 20 | |
| Normal | 1080p60 | 20 |
| 1080p50 | 20 | |
| 1080p30 | 29 min 59 sec | |
| 1080p25 | 29 min 59 sec | |
| 1080p24 | 29 min 59 sec | |
| 720p60 | 29 min 59 sec | |
| 720p50 | 29 min 59 sec |
Does the Nikon D3500 Have a Built-in Microphone?
Yes. The Nikon D3500’s built-in microphone is on the front panel. It’s the three holes immediately below the “D3500” badge on the front.
Does the Nikon D3500 Have HDMI Out?
Yes. It uses an HC-E1 HDMI cable with a type C connector.
You can choose the output resolution by going to Setup Menu (wrench/spanner icon) > HDMI > Output Resolution. The options are: Auto, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, and 480p.
If the device you’re connecting to has HDMI-CEC, you can set the option to use Device Control.
Can You Use the Nikon D3500 as a Webcam?
It is possible to use as the Nikon D3500 as a webcam for Zoom or Skype meetings or for real-time video capture to a computer for recording how-to video tutorials. But there are some caveats to that. One is that the Live View feature, which is a requirement for making this work, maxes out at 30 minutes on the D3500. That means that you’ll need to tap a button every 30 minutes to keep the video feed active.
And it’s not quite as simple as just plugging your camera in with a USB cable. You’ll need an HDMI video capture device (plus HDMI cable) between your camera and the computer.
I’ve put together a detailed guide to connecting a Nikon D3500 as a webcam separately.
Does the Nikon D3500 Shoot RAW?
The Nikon D3500 can shoot RAW image files. They are saved in Nikon’s propriety .NEF RAW format. And they’re compressed RAW.
You can enable RAW by going to Shooting Menu (camera icon) > Image Quality. There you can choose to shoot RAW-only, RAW + JPG (ie. it saves both types simultaneously), or a few different quality settings of JPG-only.
The RAW files give you more flexibility in processing and potentially offer significantly higher image quality, especially if you’re editing. The catch is that they need to be processed in something like Lightroom or an alternative before they can be shared.
When you’re shooting RAW on the D3500, you have available a maximum shooting rate of 5 frames per second continuous shooting for up to 24 RAW files.
Is the Nikon D3500 Weather-Sealed or Waterproof?
The Nikon D3500 is not weather-sealed or waterproof or otherwise ruggedized. So you’ll want to exercise caution in damp conditions. It’s not until you step up to Nikon’s D7### series that you can find weather-sealed models.
You can find dedicated underwater dive housings for the D3500, but as usual with dive housings, they’re expensive and will wind up costing far more than your camera.
A much more affordable option is a waterproof soft case from DiCAPac. They’re designed for damp conditions and shallow water. I’ve had good results from them, but there’s always some risk when taking a camera like the D3500 near the water.
Can You Control the Nikon D3500 Via WiFi?
The Nikon D3500 doesn’t have WiFi, but it does have Bluetooth. So you can connect to the camera to do some operations, but you don’t have the full range of power that a WiFi connection affords. For instance, you can’t control the camera’s operation wirelessly.
To connect to the D3500 via Bluetooth, use Nikon’s SnapBridge app. It uses low-energy Bluetooth, which means that images can be transferred to your phone without killing battery life too much.
What is the ISO Range of the Nikon D3500?
The Nikon D3500 has an ISO range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. You can set the ISO manually or use the built-in Auto ISO feature. I have a detailed guide on the D3500’s ISO features separately.
What Aspect Ratios Does the Nikon D3500 Have?
The Nikon D3500 shoots photos with a native aspect ratio of 3:2. You can’t change the aspect ratio while shooting, but you can edit the files afterwards in the camera (or on your computer or phone).
For video, it’s a fixed 16:9 aspect ratio for both the 1080p and 720p resolutions.
What Battery Does the Nikon D3500 Use?
The model number of the battery for the Nikon D3500 is EN-EL14a.
You can get Nikon-branded replacements or use aftermarket versions from other manufacturers. I have detailed post on Nikon D3500 batteries here.
Which Memory Cards are Best for the Nikon D3500?
The D3500 is not especially demanding of the memory card. It takes SDXC and SDHC cards, and you can use cards from 16GB up through 512GB.
I have posted some detailed recommendations on memory cards for the D3500 here.
Can You Imprint Time and Date Stamp on Photos in the Nikon D3500?
Yes. I’ve put together a guide on date stamping with the D3500 here.
How Do You Turn on Live View on the Nikon D3500? Where is the Lv button on the Nikon D3500?
The D3400 had a button on the back, but that button has gone on the D3500. In its place is a small lever at the base of the shooting mode dial on the top of the camera. You can find more details here.
Can You Increase the Live View Auto-Off Setting?
By default, the Live View will turn off after 10 minutes. You can change that, up to a maximum of 30 minutes, under: Settings > Auto Off Timers > Custom > Live View
I’ve included some screenshots here.
Can the Nikon D3500 Shoot Time lapse?
The Nikon D3500 doesn’t have any time lapse features built-in. Nor does it have a port for connecting accessories such as intervalometers. So the usual selection of intervalometers for Nikon cameras won’t work.
I’ve heard rumors of people getting it to work with external intervalometers designed for Sony cameras, but having tried several, I’ve yet to find one that works.
But I can confirm that you can shoot time lapse with a Nikon D3500 using the qDslrDashboard app to control the camera. The catch is that it’s limited to a physical USB connection to a computer because the D3500 doesn’t have wifi capabilities. So it’s a rather limited solution, but it does work.
- Video framerates are sometimes rounded up, especially for NTSC standards, as in this case. As a technical matter, the “60” setting records at 59.94 fps. The “30” records at 29.97 fps. And the “24” records at 23.976 fps. ↩
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.
Rajiv Sharma says
David, Thanks for your detailed explanation. I am using D3500 and it was really disheartening to know that it doesn’t support time lapse. When it’s predecessor D3400 had that feature, not sure why on earth Nikon took it off from its next version.
Josh, I tried the way you suggested. Camera, Autoclicker and Snapbridge are setup also. But when I choose 2/3 targets and click on the blue play button of Autoclicker, nothing moves in the camera. If I click on the shutter release button of Snapbridge, pic is taken. Is there a problem with the setup ? Would you mind explaining little more in detail for me to try ?
Eli says
Hi there,
Thanks for the article, it is super helpful!
I was wondering if you can help me with some trouble I have run into… I’m using the Elgato Cam Link, but when I use Skype or any other Video Conferencing app, I cannot get rid of the camera information from the Live View and it displays across in Skype. I’ve pressed the Info button numerous times but it will at the very least still display the ISO, the f-stop info and the shutter rate info along the bottom of the screen.
Is there a way to get completely clean HDMI output using the D3500 and the Elgato Cam Link?
Many thanks for taking the time!
Thanks Eli
David says
Hi Eli. I’ve just now tried that exact setup with a D3500, the Cam Link 4K, and Zoom, and it’s working as expected with me with a clean HDMI output without any camera information on screen. I’m using a Mac, although that shouldn’t make a difference since it’s a feed from the camera. I’ve tried reproducing the issue you’re seeing, but I’m unable to find a combination of camera settings that does that for me. So I’m afraid I don’t have a solution for you at the moment.
Kay says
Is There a way to use a Nikon on lens on a Nikon D40 camera? What type of mount is needed?
David says
Yes, many newer Nikon lenses will work, but much older models won’t. In general, you want want with the traditional Nikon F-mount (but not the very new Z-mount). With the F-mount lenses, if you want AutoFocus, stuck to ones that have AF-S, G, VR, or DX in the model name. You can use much older lenses, such as AF-D or AIS, but those won’t offer autofocus and won’t be able to control the aperture from the camera.
Mike says
Hello
My wife wants to use her D3500 as a webcam for shooting online tutorials. We are finding it impossible to figure out how to get the Mac to recognize the camera. We have gone through the applications menu to image capture, checked that the usb ports are working, and played with the settings on her camera. Any help would be great. PS. she is running OS Catalina 10.15.4
Thank you in advance.
David says
You can use the HDMI-out port in combination with an HDMI-to-USB converter. The converter takes the video signal from the camera and turns it into a USB signal that computer can work with in video editing and viewing apps such as Quicktime or Final Cut Pro or iMovie. There are several on the market; the two I’m familiar with are ones from Elgato and Magewell.
I don’t know of any way to do it without the converter just over USB.
Josh says
Another work around for the lack of a compatable intervolometer is using SnapBridge with Auto Clicker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truedevelopersstudio.automatictap.autoclicker&hl=en_US)
Once you have everything adjusted on your camera, start Auto Clicker and then the SnapBridge connection. I find it works best if you set the to interval about 2 seconds longer than your exposure time to give the camera time to process and reset after each shot. You can have it run continuously or you can have it do a set number of shots.
David says
Thanks for the tip! That’s an interesting use for the auto clicker. Not being an Android user, I’ve never used it. Will it keep clicking in the background, or does your phone have to be only used with SnapBridge in focus for the duration of the capture (which would make it harder for a long capture)?
Josh says
You need to have SnapBridge up the whole time unfortunately as it is just simulating you tapping the screen. I use an old android phone that no longer has service, only a Bluetooth connection to my camera.
David says
It’s a clever hack–thanks!
Coll T. Wise says
Is it possible to power the D3500 with an external power source?
David says
There should be no problem. While I haven’t done it specifically with the Nikon D3500 (yet–you’ve given me the idea to test some options soon and write them up), I have done it with several other Nikon bodies, and I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work with the Nikon D3500. But you don’t do it with the USB port. Instead, you use what’s called a dummy battery that goes in the battery compartment, and that is then connected to a power source. The power source doesn’t have to be AC, but here’s an AC power kit version.
Coll T. Wise says
Thanks for the info. I have located the unit you mention on Amazon. I probably will purchase it in the near future. I am looking for ways to use my D3500 as a webcam for Zoom meetings. Digicam will connect with the camera, but not to Zoom.
David says
That’s not something I’ve tried, but will try to experiment in the coming week to see if I can get anything to work.
Melissa Lucas says
I have had the Nikon cool pix p5000 for some time and I just upgraded to the Nikon cool pix d3500 I have to say I love them both and I love Nikon and will be a Nikon customer for life.
David says
Yes, they’re nice cameras. Glad you’re enjoying it. Do let me know if there are any D3500 topics you’d find helpful for me to post on here.
Faraz says
Can you charge the d3500 via USB?
David says
No, annoyingly, you can’t. You have to take the battery out and put it into an external charger.
Robert Yonata says
I own Nikon d3400. Can I use an old Vivitar series 1 – 35-85 lens on this camera without damaging the camera? I realize it would be a total manual operation. Thanks!
David says
I don’t have that lens but so long as it’s the F-mount version I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work. That said, Nikon support might be able to give you a more authoritative answer.