Nov 15: Nikon has released new firmware for the Nikon Zfc. Only listed change is support for a new model of battery that isn’t yet in stores (EN-EL25a).

Nikon has also opted to carry over the same 3-inch display, with a modest 921,000-dot resolution, from the D3400. The screen is fixed, and sits flush with the body – if you want a DSLR with a vari-angle display then you'll need to look further up the range to the Nikon D5600 or at the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D. It's also slightly disappointing to see no touchscreen functionality, a feature that would really lend itself to a entry-level DSLR, with touchscreens having become second nature for anyone using a smartphone. The biggest changes here are the inclusion of the Guide Mode menu, making it easy for entry level photographers to capture a variety of scenes. In ‘easy operation’ mode shooters can select options like ‘moving subjects’ and the camera will automatically adjust to this mode. ‘Advanced operation’ lets shooters refine settings like shutter speed, aperture and ISO. What stands out about the camera?I advise people to buy a cheap camera with a zoom lens, to begin with, and then after having used it a while, after having looked at the EXIF of the images and see what focal lengths they have used a lot decide what to get next. The camera's 'Guide' mode tries to help teach you the camera's functions and how to get the most out of it. The D3500's live view autofocus is much faster and more responsive than we'd expect from a simple contrast-based AF system.

In viewfinder shooting, the 11 AF points are clustered towards the middle of the frame, but if your subject is near the edge it’s easy enough to focus and then reframe before shooting. You can let the camera choose the focus point automatically or select it yourself; either way it’s very fast, and very positive. There's also no microphone port, so you'll need to rely on the D3500's built-in monaural microphones. If you're looking to shoot video regularly, you'll probably want to look elsewhere, but for those who only have need to capture the odd clip or two, it's a perfectly adequate set up. It's silly, into this priceclass, to draw people into DSLMs. A hell old A6000 for instance is sensor-wise inferior to the D3500, end of story. And the EVF is PITA! way worse, than the good EVF with the same 1.44 MP on my V1, which is 2011. With its ergonomic and lightweight body, approximately 1,550 shots on a single charge and convenient features like Nikon SnapBridge 1 and helpful Guide Mode, the Nikon D3500 is a great option for parents, travelers and photo enthusiasts who are eager to take their photography to the next level.

The Nikon D3500 isn't just one of the best entry-level DSLRs you can buy, it's also one of the cheapest – it's an evergreen classic

The D3500 has the same 124mm width as the model it updates, but it's 1mm shorter and 6mm thinner than the D3400, at 97mm and 69.5mm respectively. Again, those are hardly big figures, but even small incremental reductions in size will help the model to stay competitive against a slew of mirrorless rivals. Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D3400: price