Nikon D3200 vs D3500 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Nikon D3500  was released in August 2018 & D3200 was released in July 2012. Both Cameras are Amazing with some similarities & differences, but if you are looking for the best one with better photo & video quality, I would recommend the Nikon D3500 rather than D3200.

Why Do I recommend the Nikon D3500?

  • Its continuous shooting speed is 5 fps, Which means it can take up to 5 pictures in a second, whereas Nikon D3200 can take up to 4. To do that, you just need to press & hold the shutter button. This feature gives you more options to select the best shoot from 5 of them.
  • Nikon D3500 is built with  Expeed 4 image processor and D3200 is built with Expeed 3 processor. Expeed 4 processor is built to provide better autofocus, faster Image processing, better resolution and it consumes less power to run for extra time.
  • The battery power of the Nikon D3500 is super. It can shoot 1550 pictures on a single charge, whereas the Nikon D3200 can shoot only 540.
  • The light sensitivity of the Nikon D3500 is 100-25600 ISO, but D3200 is 100-6400. You will get 4 times better low-light & tough-light photography with Nikon D750 than D610.
  • You can remotely control the Nikon D3500 from your phone to shoot or view, but D3200 you can’t access it remotely.

Maybe the Nikon D3200 price can make you comfortable because it’s little bit cheaper than the D3500. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the decision is yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

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Side-by-side comparison

SpecificationNikon D3500Nikon D3200
Editor’s rating4.7 out of 54.5 out of 5
Image processorExpeed 4Expeed 3
Sensor Dimensions23.5 x 15.6 mm23.2 x 15.4 mm
Sensor Area366.60mm2357.28mm2
Max Sensor Resolution6000 x 40006016 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity100-25,600 ISO100-6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity12800 ISO
AF CenterYesNo
Viewfinder Magnification0.56x0.53x
Flash Range7.00 m (at ISO 100)12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Syncn/a1/200s
Continuous Shooting5.0 fps4.0 fps
WB BracketingYesNo
Microphone PortNoYes
Wireless ConnectivityNoneOptional
Battery Life1550 shots540 shots
GPSNoneOptional
Smartphone remoteYesNo
PriceCheck D3500 priceCheck D3200 price

Common things that both DSLRs can do…

  • Nikon D3500 & D3200 have Face Detection Focus that locks on the face and tracks the subject while they are moving. It’s very helpful while you are making vlogs or any other kind of Videos.
  • Nikon D3500 & D3200 has 24.10 megapixels APS-C sensor. A better megapixel camera helps to capture images and videos in higher Resolution with more details.
  • Both DSLRs have 921k dots higher resolution screen that can display same detailed visual information on the display.
  • Nikon D3500 & D3200 have a Live view() option, This option allows you to shoot while viewing a real-time image.
  • They have 11 focus points, which helps to focus on 11 objects at the same time.
  • Nikon D3500 & D3200 can record (1920 x 1080) Video at 60 FPS, which helps to record fast-moving objects without getting blurred.
  • The shutter speed of both DSLRs is 1/4000, which helps to capture super-fast moving objects without getting blurred Like racing cars or bikes.

If you are okay with the above-explained feature, then you can get any one of these, but if you are looking for advanced features and the best one Between Nikon D3500 & D3200, you must pick the Nikon D3500.

Common features

SpecificationNikon D3500Nikon D3200
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor SizeAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor Megapixels24 megapixels24 megapixels
RAW SupportYesYes
AF ContinuousYesYes
AF SingleYesYes
AF TrackingYesYes
AF SelectiveYesYes
AF Multi AreaYesYes
AF Live ViewYesYes
AF Face DetectionYesYes
AF Contrast DetectionYesYes
AF Phase DetectionYesYes
Number of Focus Points1111
Manual FocusYesYes
Number of Available Lenses316316
Screen TypeFixed typeFixed type
Screen Size3.00″3.00″
Screen Resolution921k dots921k dots
ViewfinderOptical (pentamirror)Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage95%95%
Max Mechanical Shutter1/4000s1/4000s
Shutter PriorityYesYes
Aperture PriorityYesYes
Manual Exposure ModeYesYes
Custom White BalanceYesYes
Built-in FlashYesYes
External FlashYesYes
Multi-Segment MeteringYesYes
Average MeteringYesYes
Spot MeteringYesYes
AF-Area MeteringYesYes
Center Weighted MeteringYesYes
Max Video Resolution1920 x 10801920 x 1080
Video FormatsMPEG-4, H.264MPEG-4, H.264
HDMIYesYes
PriceCheck D3500 priceCheck D3200 price

Frequently asked questions about Nikon D3500 & D3200

1. Is D3500 worth it?

The Nikon D3500 is a great device for travel photography. Its sensor punches help to produce a solid image quality and good dynamic range for an entry-level DSLR. Its Battery life is better than its competitors.

2. Can D3500 record video?

Yes. It can record 1080p video at up to 60 fps. If you shoot at normal quality, you can record for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds, but if you record at the highest quality, then the maximum clip length would be 20 minutes.

3. Does the Nikon D3200 take good pictures?

Nikon D3200 has a high-resolution 24.2 MP CMOS sensor so that it can record full HD video. Nikon D3200 has a lightweight camera body. The D3200 is a good DSLR for beginner photographers.

4. Does the Nikon D3200 shoot 4k?

The maximum resolution of  D3200 is 1080p. So it can’t capture 4k video.