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Nikon D3 vs Nikon D3500

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD3NikonD3500
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2007September 2018
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatFull frameAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 23.9 mm23.5 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution12.1 MP24.2 MP
Largest image4256 × 28326000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–6400100–25600
Sensor detail12.87 million total pixels; FX, DX and 5:4 image areas; maximum DX image 2784 × 1848 and 5:4 image 3552 × 2832Nikon DX CMOS with 24.16 million effective and 24.78 million total pixels; no optical low-pass filter; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent. Image Dust Off reference data uses Capture NX-D; no automatic vibrating sensor-cleaning system
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG12-bit compressed NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat Picture Controls
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–25600; Auto ISOISO 100–25600 in one-stop steps; Auto ISO
Image processorEXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System–
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst9 fps5 fps
Lens detailAF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with automatic crop. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered; IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedAutofocus supported with AF-P lenses and type E/G AF-S lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500FX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningMulti-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view supports face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cyclesElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detailApproximately 9 fps at full FX resolution with AF/AE; up to 11 fps in the lower-resolution DX crop, with focus locked at the first frame at 11 fps. Maker rates require continuous-servo AF, shutter-priority or manual exposure, at least 1/250 second and other specified default settingsApproximately 5 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaults
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functionsBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 7 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 8 at manual full output; accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-LightingP/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto, scene and special-effects modes; beginner Guide mode; 420-pixel RGB metering with matrix, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/off
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots920,000921,000
Tilting screenNo–
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; separate top and rear status panelsFixed 3-inch TFT; approximately 921000 dots in the US, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% DX coverage and 100% vertical/97% horizontal in 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; replaceable focusing screen and eyepiece shutterPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.85× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)4300 photographs1550 photographs
Body weight1240 g365 g
Release detailNikon's original US announcement specifies November 2007 availability; Japan records 30 November. Main retains the monthNikon Japan records first sale on 28 September 2018; global announcement on 30 August 2018
Recording mediaTwo CompactFlash Type I/II slots, including UDMA and Microdrive support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copyingOne SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXC
PortsUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, full-size HDMI Type A, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional GP-1 or MC-35 connects external GPS equipmentHi-Speed Micro-USB and HDMI Type C; no wired accessory terminal, external microphone socket or infrared remote receiver
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the bodyBluetooth 4.1 with SnapBridge; automatic transfer of two-megapixel JPEGs and smartphone time/location synchronisation. Nikon’s updated announcement supports Bluetooth remote still capture using SnapBridge 2.5, manual original-JPEG transfer, and excludes RAW/movie transfer; no Wi-Fi
Battery life detailEN-EL4a; approximately 4300 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 4700 with AF-S VR 70–200mm f/2.8 ED; EN-EL4 also supportedEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 1550 photographs per charge under CIPA testing with Bluetooth disabled
ChargingExternal MH-22 charger; optional MH-21 charger and EH-6 AC adapterExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5A power connector
DimensionsApproximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mmApproximately 124 × 97 × 69.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 1240 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe coverApproximately 365 g body only or 415 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy exterior with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof ratingSlim monocoque body structure with a deeper grip and most operational buttons grouped on the right of the rear panel
Colours–Black
In the box–EN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecup
Video
Highest video resolution–1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailNo movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AFH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p or 720p 60p/50p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Maximum 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or ten minutes depending on frame-rate/quality settings, or three minutes with Miniature Effect
AudioVoice memo recording and playback for still photographs; not movie audioBuilt-in mono microphone with adjustable sensitivity and linear PCM recording; no external microphone input. Photography Blog describes stereo sound, differing from Nikon’s technical specification

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