Which to Buy: Nikon Z50 vs D3500 Comparison

May 2020

The Z50 is 5 year(s) old while the D3500 is 6 years old. These are both DX cameras and there are additional similarities but also some glaring differences that the buyer needs to be aware of before pulling the trigger.

The similarities between these two cameras are:

Compact design
DX / APS-C sensor
Support JPEG and 12-bit RAW images
Matrix metering
Hotshoe
HDMI jack
30-1/4000th sec. mechanical shutter speeds
Bulb shutter
Built-in flash w/GN of 23 ft
1/200th sec. flash sync speed
Built-in WiFi to pair the camera with a smartphone
Nikon SnapBridge
Self-timer

The advantages the D3500 has over the Z50 are:

24 MP sensor vs 21 MP (greater resolution)
No anti-aliasing filter/optical low pass filter
Much longer rated battery life at 1550 shots vs 320 shots
Lighter at 365g (12.9 oz) vs 397g (14 oz)
Price

The advantages the Z50 has over the D3500 are:

21 MP sensor vs 24 MP (for better light gathering)
Mirrorless camera design
Backside-illuminated CMOS sensor
Support for 14-bit RAW images
Native ISO 100-51200 vs 100-25600
Highlight-weighted and center-weighted metering
Dedicated Fn (function) buttons
3.2 in. 1040k-dot TFT LCD monitor vs 3 in. 921k-dot
Touchscreen monitor
Tilting monitor
11 frames-per-sec. vs 5 fps
External microphone jack
4K UHD video, 30 fps
1080p video, 120 fps vs 60 fps
Slow motion video - 1080p, 120 fps
2360-dot EVF vs pentamirror optical viewfinder
Auto FP High-Speed flash sync
100% viewfinder coverage vs 95%
209 AF points vs 11 points
Eye autofocus (Eye-AF)
Electronic silent shutter
On sensor phase detect AF
UHS-II card slot vs UHS-I
Auto-exposure bracketing
Timelapse photography support
High dynamic range mode
Built-in Bluetooth to pair the camera with a smartphone
EXPEED 6 image processor vs EXPEED 4
Compatible with Z- and F-mount lenses
Sealing against the elements

Neither camera has:

IBIS
Dual memory card slots
Built-in GPS
Headphone jack
Top-side control panel
Built-in NFC to pair the camera with a smartphone
Optional battery grip accessory
Panorama Mode

See these comparisons: