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Nikon D3500 vs Nikon Z50II

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD3500NikonZ50II
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2018November 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRMirrorless
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.6 mm23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution24.2 MP20.9 MP
Largest image6000 × 40005568 × 3712
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–25600100–51200
Sensor detailNikon 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 system21.51 million total pixels; Japanese exact specification gives 20.88 million effective, rounded to 20.9 on Nikon UK. Image-dust-off reference data requires NX Studio.
Image formats12-bit compressed NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat Picture Controls14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and HEIF; RAW plus JPEG or HEIF
ISO detailISO 100–25600 in one-stop steps; Auto ISOStandard still-image ISO 100–51200, expandable to equivalent ISO 204800; HLG starts at ISO 400. Movie ISO 100–25600, with N-Log-specific limits.
Image processor–EXPEED 7
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon Z mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst5 fps30 fps
Lens detailAutofocus supported with AF-P lenses and type E/G AF-S lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lensesNIKKOR Z FX and DX lenses; FX lenses have a DX field-of-view crop. F-mount NIKKOR lenses require an adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions.
AutofocusMulti-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 areasHybrid phase/contrast detection; 209 single-point or 231 auto-area positions, nine subject types, 3D tracking and AF-A. Nikon's −9 EV sensitivity uses AF-S, ISO 100, an f/1.2 lens and 20°C.
ShutterElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 secondMechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic; 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb/Time, extendable to 900 seconds in manual mode. Flash sync up to 1/250 second with reduced guide number above 1/200; Auto FP supported.
Burst detailApproximately 5 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaultsExtended continuous shooting approximately 11 fps, or 15 fps silent; ordinary high approximately 5.6 fps, rising to 9.7 fps silent without RAW. C15/C30 high-speed capture with pre-release capture reaches 30 fps for JPEGs, not RAW.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical stabilisation depends on a VR lens. Electronic video VR adds a crop.
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 7 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 8 at manual full output; accessory shoeManual pop-up flash, guide number approximately 7 at ISO 100 in metres; i-TTL and ISO 518 accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/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/offAuto, P/S/A/M and scene modes; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps3840 × 2160 at 60 fps
Video detailH.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 EffectUHD 3840 × 2160 up to 60p, with additional crop at 50/60p; full-width DX UHD up to 30p is oversampled from 5.6K. Full HD up to 120p; H.265 8/10-bit and H.264, N-Log and HLG, waveform, timecode, tally lamp, Product Review mode and Full HD Hi-Res Zoom. Maker recording limit 125 minutes, subject to conditions; no internal RAW video listed.
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 specificationBuilt-in stereo microphones; PCM 48 kHz/24-bit for MOV or AAC 48 kHz/16-bit for MP4; external microphone and headphone monitoring
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0001,040,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screen–Yes
Display detailFixed 3-inch TFT; approximately 921000 dots in the US, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; dots count subpixelsVari-angle TFT, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.85× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint0.39-inch XGA OLED, approximately 2.36 million dots, 100% coverage, 1.02× magnification and 19.5 mm eyepoint; maker maximum brightness claim 1000 cd/m²
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)1550 photographs250 photographs
Body weight365 g495 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 28 September 2018; global announcement on 30 August 2018Announced in November 2024; Nikon US states availability in late November 2024. Month precision is retained because an exact first UK retail day is unconfirmed.
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXCSingle SD/SDHC/SDXC slot supporting UHS-II, in the battery compartment
PortsHi-Speed Micro-USB and HDMI Type C; no wired accessory terminal, external microphone socket or infrared remote receiverUSB-C SuperSpeed USB; Micro HDMI Type D; 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output, the latter also supports MC-DC3 remote release
Wireless connectionsBluetooth 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-FiWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; SnapBridge and Nikon Imaging Cloud
Battery life detailEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 1550 photographs per charge under CIPA testing with Bluetooth disabledEN-EL25a; CIPA approximately 250 monitor shots with power saving enabled or 230 without; EVF 240 with power saving or 220 without. Tested with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR; movie battery-life claim 55 minutes. EN-EL25 compatibility gives shorter battery life; Photography Blog's 300-shot EN-EL25 narrative is not the current maker claim.
ChargingExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5A power connectorUSB charging and power with compatible equipment; optional EH-8P adapter
DimensionsApproximately 124 × 97 × 69.5 mmApproximately 127 × 96.8 × 66.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 365 g body only or 415 g including battery and SD card, excluding body capApproximately 495 g body only or 550 g including battery/card, excluding body cap
MaterialsSlim monocoque body structure with a deeper grip and most operational buttons grouped on the right of the rear panel–
ColoursBlack–
In the boxEN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecupEN-EL25a battery, AN-DC29 strap, USB-C cable and BF-N1 body cap

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