NikonVBA550K001 D3500 + AF-P DX 18–55 VR Kit - Black

This is a brilliant camera for the beginner or for the program set at first when you open the box it doesn’t look as if you’ve got much in there but this is a very different camera to the oldest dials. The camera comes with a decent mid-range lens,a strap,a battery also a lens cap. There was a fanfold instruction sheet which has limited information but you are best advised to go online onto the Nick on the website and download the manual in PDF format and read up. If you leave the camera on the ‘A’ setting which is for automatic - it lets the camera do the work and allows you to be creative and frame the shots that you want. The camera can save pictures to a standard SD card which can either be in JPEG format or NEF. The one drawback is that there is no memory card with the camera and it doesn’t hold any internal memory so before you can start to take any pictures you must order an ST card I would recommend either 64 or 128 gig of a branded card for example Sandisk or Samsung. Beware of buying ST cards off eBay as there are lots of fakes on the market which don’t format is the right card and normally 2 GB masquerading as much higher formats your best advice buying off Amazon directly rather than taking the risk of a non-descript seller. There are several software packages which you can download for the Google phone or the Apple phone however one thing to bear in mindIs the size of the files when they save to your phone by default these will only be roughly one or two megapixels which means the quality is only good enough for social media or for sending to people for proofing or for just viewing to see whether or not you want to retake the shot the limitation of this is the memory size of your phone not the camera it self if you are saving pictures to the ST card on the highest setting the pictures will be at least between 18 to 21 MB in size for each picture therefore realistically you do need several ST cards to make sureThat you do not run out of space overall I would give this camera 9 out of 10 it also has Bluetooth and USB connectivity when plugged into your computer it will see it as I drive so you can download pictures straight from the SD card however one thing that you will need is a suitable USB cable this does not come with the camera.I have found that by saving the pictures in the default NIKON .NEF format makes editing in photo shop and light room a breeze you can then save the pictures out as JPEGs or TIFF files or which ever you wish, this is a really great camera for beginners there’s lots of things to learn but the back display and the menu system is very simplistic intuitive and with a little bit of reading up you won’t get too lost using it what I would also advise is also buy yourself a set of filters - the screw on type which have the 55 millimetre radius which are available on Amazon and to at least have a UV filter screwed in to the lens at all times which not only protects the lens from dust and dirt but also means that if the UV filter breaks this will also protect the lens which can be expensive to replace.I would also recommend that if you’re going to do landscape photography to buy a wide-angle NIKON lens which is the AF DX type. If the lens doesn’t show a DX on it you CANNOT use it with this range of DSLR cameras.The camera is not too bulky it’s relatively light weight very grippable and when do you start to get used to it, it’s a lovely smooth camera to use.You’ll want to stay within the NIKON camp and upgrade based on your abilities and need for a more intuitive camera - it is excellent value for money and there is very little that I can find realistically against it - all in all I’m pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend it.Buying a few spare batteries and a USB charger off Amazon or eBay is essential so that you have enough power when out and about especially when using the in-built or shoe mounted flash.

The Nikon d3500 is simply the best dslr money can buy under £500.If you are on the market for a new camera but are having a hard time choosing, I can guarantee the d3500 will tick every box and for the price you really cant get much better.- Build Quality -As soon as you pick up this camera the first thing you will realise is that it is so lightweight and compact. This makes it perfect for travelling as you can put it in your bag with you and its not hard to carry around wherever you go. But with the sacrifice of weight loss, does not mean that it is lacking in build quality either. The d3500 feels very comfortable to hold with the rubberised grip but feels also quite solid. The material is a hard plastic so dont get me wrong there are more rugged models out there, but for general use and wear like bumps, drops, scrapes and maybe a bit of rain none of that should be a problem.- Ease of use -Whether you are an amateur getting to grips or a photographer by trade this camera is really easy to use and I did find that the button placement is simple but very effective if you want to change your settings quickly. There are plenty of different modes to go in depending on what situation you want to capture but manual mode is where you can maximise the potential and get the outcome you really want. The menu interface is simple, not cluttered and includes a handy setup guide to get you acquainted with the camera its self. I have seen a lot of people complain about the snapbridge feature that transfers photos wirelessly to your phone. But personally with my galaxy s9+ I had no problems at all and found it to be brilliant.- Image Quality -Now on to the most important thing of all, image quality. To be realistic normally for a budget camera around £350 you wouldnt expect too much with picture quality. But in this case the nikon d3500 is fantastic, the 24mp sensor really does capture all the intricate detail and sharpness that we all crave in our pictures. low light performance even with the kit lens is excellent and is even better with my 50mm f1.8g lens attached for them low noise night shots and plenty of bokeh !If its street photography, portraits, landscapes, macro or even a bit of all you will definitely not be disappointed with the nikon d3500 and for how much this is I would say it is a must buy. After familiarising your self with the settings and an addition of a few nice lenses you will be on your way to taking professional looking photos for an entry level price.

Whilst it's features are minimal for a modern day DSLR, the D3500 is hands down the best entry level camera I've ever tried. Lightweight and presented a simple - relative to other higher end DSLR's - interface. The Nikon D3500 is great for anyone starting out or even those wanting a second camera with a surprisingly long lasting battery life even under fairly heavy use. Crisp, professional images are not a problem for the D3500 and settings are easy - again when compared to other DSLR's - to get used to.It's a huge bonus to have the option to shoot some nice HD video too, although the camera does limit this to a 10 minute stretches before needing to restart recording and with no option for an external mic, the sound quality is really not great - that said the main focus of any DSLR is obviously to take clean, professional still images and if you're looking for an improvement on your phone's built in camera without spending thousands this is definitely the best option out there right now.A perfect gift option for anyone looking to get into Photography but without the certainty of full on commitment. Maybe a son or daughter has shown an interest but you're unsure whether they'll stick with it or move their ambition elsewhere in a couple of months? The price of the D3500 makes the risk far easier to take, having a great little kit lens included is a big plus too, although as with ANY camera I always recommend to purchase an extra lens (or two) if funds allow. A camera bag (a Manfrotto bag from £4.99 are a great option), a small Tripod, and an extra battery are pretty much a must buy too.9/10 - Very highly recommended