Nikon D3500 vs D5600

Which Camera Is Better?

Products

Nikon D3500
Nikon D5600

Tested using Methodology v0.12.1

Updated Sep 16, 2024 02:31 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.12.1

Updated Oct 03, 2024 03:56 PM

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Our Verdict

Nikon D3500

Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 sits above the Nikon D3500 in Nikon's DSLR lineup. Both use a similar sensor and are compatible with the same DX lenses, but the D5600 has some extra features that make it better overall. These include a more advanced autofocus system, an articulated screen, a mic input, and more wireless connectivity options. That said, the D3500 has a longer battery life and a unique 'Guide Mode,' making it a great choice for beginner photographers.

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Variants

  • D3500 (Black (Body Only))
  • D3500 (Black W/18-55mm Lens)
  • D5600 (Black (Body Only))
  • D5600 (Black w/ w/AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)

Check Price

Black (Body Only)
D3500
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black (Body Only)
D5600
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black W/18-55mm Lens
D3500
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black w/ w/AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
D5600
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Travel Photography

Threshold 

0.10

Travel Photography 

7.2
7.5

Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved 
 

1/10 s
1/4 s

Full Comparison

Design

Portability 
 

5.8
5.6

Portability Picture  

Height 
 

3.9" (9.9 cm)
3.9" (9.9 cm)

Width 
 

4.8" (12.3 cm)
4.8" (12.3 cm)

Depth 
 

3.0" (7.5 cm)
3.0" (7.5 cm)

Volume 
 

55.7 in³ (913.3 cm³)
55.7 in³ (913.0 cm³)

Weight 
 

0.93 lbs (0.42 kg)
1.04 lbs (0.47 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

6.5
7.0

Build Quality Picture  

Show Text 

Body  

Body Picture  

Body Type 
 

DSLR
DSLR

Water Resistance 
 

No
No

Mirrorless 
 

No
No

Rugged 
 

No
No

Hot Shoe 
 

Yes
Yes

Customizable Button 
 

No
Yes

Command Dial 
 

1
1

Tripod Mount 
 

Yes
Yes

Lens Mount 
 

F Mount
F Mount

Built-In Flash 
 

Yes
Yes

Fastest Shutter Speed 
 

1/4,000 s
1/4,000 s

In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Show Text 

Ergonomics & Comfort 
 

7.0
7.5

Hand Grip Picture  

Hand Grip: Small Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

Hand Grip: Medium Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

Hand Grip: Large Hand 
 

Yes
Yes

Hand Grip: Extra-Large Hand 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Viewfinder 
 

EVF Menu Picture  

Viewfinder Type 
 

Optical
Optical

Advertised Coverage 
 

95%
95%

Advertised Resolution 
 

N/A
N/A

Advertised Magnification 
 

0.85
0.82
Show Text 

Screen 
 

3.2
8.8

Screen Picture  

Screen Articulation Type 
 

No Articulation (Fixed Screen)
Fully-Articulated

Screen Max Brightness 
 

470 cd/m²
493 cd/m²

Advertised Resolution 
 

0.92 million dots
1.04 million dots

Size 
 

3.0" (7.6 cm)
3.2" (8.2 cm)

Touchscreen 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Menu System 
 

8.5
8.5

Screen Menu Picture  

Guide Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

App Name 
 

Nikon SnapBridge
Nikon SnapBridge
Show Text 

Built-In Lens 
 

0.0
0.0

Aperture Vs Focal Length  

Maximum Aperture 
 

No built-in lens
No built-in lens

Max Aperture (Full-Frame Equivalent) 
 

N/A
N/A

Minimum Focal Length 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Focal Length 
 

N/A
N/A

Max Focal Length (Full-Frame Equivalent) 
 

N/A
N/A

Optical Image Stabilization 
 

No
No

Light Falloff Picture  

Luminance 
 

N/A
N/A

Light Falloff 
 

N/A
N/A

Sensor 
 

Sensor Type 
 

CMOS
CMOS

Advertised Effective Pixels 
 

24.2 MP
24.2 MP

Processor 
 

EXPEED 4
EXPEED 4

Sensor Size 
 

APS-C
APS-C

Extended ISO Minimum 
 

N/A
N/A

Native ISO Minimum (Base ISO) 
 

100
100

Native ISO Maximum 
 

25,600
25,600

Tested Firmware 
 

1.0
Version 1.10

Battery 
 

7.9
7.6

Battery Type 
 

Nikon EN-EL14a
Nikon EN-EL14a

USB Charging 
 

No
No

Power Delivery While Recording 
 

No
No

Advertised Battery Life In Photo 
 

1,550 photos
970 photos

Tested Battery Life In Video 
 

120 min
110 min
Show Text 
Photo General

Photo Shooting Speed 
 

4.8
5.4

Low Speed Continuous 
 

N/A
3 fps

High Speed Continuous 
 

5 fps
5 fps

Silent Shooting Continuous 
 

N/A
N/A

Raw Buffer Size 
 

8 Photos
6 Photos

JPEG Buffer Size 
 

100 Photos
100 Photos

Buffer Empty Time 
 

3 s
0 s
Show Text 

Photo AF-C Tracking 
 

5.1
5.4

Autofocus Tracking Shots  

tracking-run-01-01
Run 01
AF-C Tracking 01
tracking-run-01-01
Run 01
AF-C Tracking 01

Perfect Focus Hit Rate 
 

39%
42%

Usable Focus Hit Rate 
 

45%
50%
Show Text 

Photo AF-C Center Point 
 

9.0
9.0

Autofocus Center Point Shots  

center-point-run-01-01
Run 01
AF-C Center Point 01
center-point-run-01-01
Run 01
AF-C Center Point 01

Perfect Focus Hit Rate 
 

87%
89%

Usable Focus Hit Rate 
 

100%
93%
Show Text 

Photo Image Stabilization 
 

8.0
9.2

Stabilization Slideshow  

Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved 
 

1/10 s
1/4 s

In-Body Image Stabilization 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Photo Image Quality

Photo RAW Dynamic Range 
 

7.6
8.3

Dynamic Range Scene  

Dynamic Range At Base ISO 
 

9.8 f-stops
10.5 f-stops

Dynamic Range At 1/500s Exposure Time 
 

8.3 f-stops
9.8 f-stops

Dynamic Range At 1/2000s Exposure Time 
 

6.9 f-stops
7.4 f-stops

Dynamic Range At 1/4000s Exposure Time 
 

6.1 f-stops
6.7 f-stops
Show Text 

Photo RAW Sharpness 
 

7.4
7.0

Sharpness Scene Crop  

MTF Graph  

See details
See details

Vertical Edge MTF50 At Base ISO 
 

1,646 LW/PH
1,567 LW/PH

Horizontal Edge MTF50 At Base ISO 
 

1,648 LW/PH
1,505 LW/PH
Show Text 

Photo RAW Noise 
 

6.6
7.5

Noise Scene Crop  

Noise Vs Exposure Time  

See details
See details

SNR 18% At 1/8 Exposure Time (125 ms) 
 

33.3dB
34.4dB

SNR 18% At 1/30 Exposure Time (33 ms) 
 

29.3 dB
31.7 dB

SNR 18% At 1/125 Exposure Time (8 ms) 
 

23.9 dB
27.0 dB

SNR 18% At 1/500 Exposure Time (2 ms) 
 

17.8dB
21.4dB
Show Text 
Pictures Sample Gallery

The Skate Park Picture 
 

Sample Gallery - Skate Park   

JPEG Skate Park Picture  

RAW Skate Park Picture  

The Polish Church Picture 
 

Sample Gallery - Church  

JPEG Polish Church Picture  

RAW Polish Church Picture  

The Studio Picture 
 

Sample Gallery - Studio  

JPEG Studio Picture  

RAW Studio Picture  

The Stairway Picture 
 

Sample Gallery - Stairway  

JPEG Stairway Picture  

RAW Stairway Picture  

Video General

Video Features  

Full HD Video 
 

Yes
Yes

4k Video 
 

No
No

6k Video 
 

No
No

Clean HDMI Output 
 

No
No

Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI 
 

Not Advertised
Not Advertised

Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI 
 

N/A
N/A

Log Picture Profile 
 

No
No

Recording Light  
 

No
No

Audio  

Audio Test Sample 
 

Audio Recording 
 

Mono
Stereo

Microphone Level Display 
 

Yes
Yes

Video File Format And Compression  

MP4 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC 
 

No
No

MP4 H.265 / HEVC 
 

No
No

MOV H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC 
 

Yes
Yes

MOV H.265 / HEVC 
 

No
No

AVCHD H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC 
 

No
No

All-I Compression 
 

No
No
4k Video

4k Video Frame Rate 
 

0.0
0.0

240 fps In 4k 
 

No
No

120 fps In 4k 
 

No
No

60 fps In 4k 
 

No
No

30 fps In 4k 
 

No
No

24 fps In 4k 
 

No
No

4k Crop At Max Available fps 
 

N/A
N/A

4k Video Internal Recording 
 

0.0
0.0

Bitrate Maximum In 4k 
 

N/A
0 Mbps

Bitrate Minimum In 4k 
 

N/A
0 Mbps

Chroma Sampling In 4k 
 

No
No

Bit Depth In 4k 
 

N/A
0 Bit

Record Time Limit In 4k 
 

0 min
0 min

Overheat Recording Interruptions in 4k 
 

N/A
N/A

4k Video Autofocus Performance 
 

0.0
0.0

4k Object Tracking Video  

Object Tracking In 4k 
 

0
0

4k Face Tracking Video  

Face Tracking In 4k 
 

0
0

Face Detection In 4k 
 

N/A
N/A

Eye Detection In 4k 
 

N/A
N/A

4k Video Quality 
 

0.0
0.0

4k Sample Low Light Video  

Low Light Capability In 4k  

0
0

4k Test Scene Extract  

Test Scene Extract In 4k  

0
0

4k Video Rolling Shutter Effect 
 

0.0
0.0

Rolling Shutter Video in 4k  

4k Rolling Shutter 
 

N/A
N/A
Full HD Video

FHD Video Frame Rate 
 

8.5
8.5

240 fps In FHD 
 

No
No

120 fps In FHD 
 

No
No

60 fps In FHD 
 

Yes
Yes

30 fps In FHD 
 

Yes
Yes

24 fps In FHD 
 

Yes
Yes

FHD Crop At Max Available fps 
 

1 x
1 x
Show Text 

FHD Video Internal Recording 
 

6.9
6.9

Bitrate Maximum In FHD 
 

35 Mbps
35 Mbps

Bitrate Minimum In FHD 
 

10 Mbps
35 Mbps

Chroma Sampling In FHD 
 

4:2:0
4:2:0

Bit Depth In FHD 
 

8 Bit
8 Bit

Record Time Limit in FHD 
 

20 min
20 min
Show Text 

FHD Video Autofocus Performance 
 

3.5
4.4

Object Tracking Video  

Object Tracking In FHD 
 

5.7
6.7

FHD Face Tracking Video  

Face Tracking In FHD 
 

0.7
1.8

Face Detection In FHD 
 

Yes
Yes

Eye Detection In FHD 
 

No
No
Show Text 

FHD Video Quality 
 

5.7
5.7

FHD Sample Low Light Video  

Low Light Capability In FHD  

6.0
6.0

FHD Test Scene Extract In FHD  

Test Scene Extract In FHD  

5.4
5.4
Show Text 

FHD Video Rolling Shutter Effect 
 

7.0
6.5

Rolling Shutter Video in FHD  

FHD Rolling Shutter 
 

4.0°
5.3°
Show Text 
Storage And Connectivity

Storage  

Card Slot Picture  

Card 1 Slot 
 

SD Card UHS-I
SD Card UHS-I

Card 2 Slot 
 

No 2nd Card Slot
No 2nd Card Slot
Show Text 

Inputs / Outputs 
 

4.8
7.8

Input Picture  

USB 
 

Micro USB
Micro USB

HDMI 
 

Mini (Type C)
Mini (Type C)

Headphones 
 

No
No

Microphone 
 

No Microphone input
Stereo

Wi-Fi 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black (Body Only)
D3500
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black (Body Only)
D5600
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black W/18-55mm Lens
D3500
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black w/ w/AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
D5600
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Nikon D3500

Nikon D5600

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