How to Change Settings on Nikon D3500
If you are learning how to change settings on Nikon D3500, the camera’s interface is simpler than many DSLRs, but it still has multiple paths for adjusting exposure, focus, image quality, and playback options.
This guide explains the exact controls, menu areas, and shooting choices that matter most so you can use the Nikon D3500 with confidence.
The Nikon D3500 is designed to help beginners move beyond automatic mode without overwhelming them, but the real payoff comes from knowing where each setting lives and what it changes.
Know the main controls first
Before changing settings, it helps to identify the Nikon D3500’s main input points.
Most common adjustments happen through the Mode dial, the Multi Selector, the i button, the MENU button, and the shutter-release controls.
The camera does not use a touchscreen, so navigation depends on physical buttons and the rear LCD.
- Mode dial: Selects exposure modes such as Auto, P, S, A, and M.
- i button: Opens a quick settings panel for frequently used options.
- MENU button: Opens the full camera menus for deeper changes.
- Multi Selector: Moves through menu items and confirms choices.
- Info display: Shows current settings and can be used as a status screen.
Use the Mode dial to change shooting behavior
The most important starting point when learning how to change settings on Nikon D3500 is the Mode dial on the top of the camera.
This dial determines how much control the camera gives you over exposure.
Auto mode
Auto mode lets the camera handle exposure, focus, and many scene decisions.
It is useful when you want reliable results quickly, but it limits direct control over more advanced settings.
Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual
These modes are where the Nikon D3500 becomes more useful for creative control.
- P (Program): The camera chooses aperture and shutter speed, while you can still adjust key settings like ISO and white balance.
- S (Shutter Priority): You choose shutter speed, and the camera selects the aperture.
- A (Aperture Priority): You choose aperture, and the camera selects the shutter speed.
- M (Manual): You control both aperture and shutter speed.
If you are trying to reduce motion blur, freeze action, or create shallow depth of field, switching out of Auto is often the first step.
Change settings with the i button
The i button is one of the fastest ways to change settings on Nikon D3500 during shooting.
Pressing it opens a quick-access grid with common options such as image quality, ISO, white balance, autofocus mode, and flash settings, depending on the shooting mode.
To use it, press the i button, highlight the setting you want with the Multi Selector, press OK, then choose a new value.
This method is ideal when you want to make changes without digging through full menus.
Common settings you can often adjust from the i menu include:
- ISO sensitivity
- White balance
- Image quality
- Release mode
- Flash compensation
- Autofocus mode
Adjust image quality and file size
If you want sharper files, more editing flexibility, or smaller file sizes, image quality should be one of the first settings you review.
On the Nikon D3500, image quality is usually set through the i menu or the full shooting menu.
The two main choices are JPEG and NEF, Nikon’s RAW format.
JPEG files are smaller and ready to share, while NEF files preserve more image data for post-processing in software like Adobe Lightroom or Nikon’s own tools.
- JPEG Fine: Best for straightforward shooting and good image quality.
- RAW/NEF: Best for editing exposure, color, and highlights later.
- RAW + JPEG: Useful if you want both a finished file and an editable master file.
If memory card space matters, JPEG may be enough.
If you plan to edit landscapes, portraits, or backlit scenes, RAW is often the better choice.
Change ISO for brightness and noise control
ISO controls how sensitive the Nikon D3500’s sensor is to light.
A lower ISO such as 100 or 200 usually gives cleaner images, while a higher ISO helps in darker environments but can increase digital noise.
To change ISO, press the i button, select ISO sensitivity, and choose a value or Auto ISO.
Auto ISO can be helpful because the camera raises sensitivity when light drops, but manual ISO gives you more predictable results.
A practical approach is to use the lowest ISO possible for the light you have.
For indoor events, evening street photography, or dim rooms, higher ISO values may be necessary to avoid blurred photos from slow shutter speeds.
Set white balance for accurate color
White balance helps the camera render whites and colors correctly under different light sources.
If your photos look too warm or too blue, white balance is likely the setting to change.
On the Nikon D3500, white balance options often include Auto, daylight, cloudy, shade, incandescent, fluorescent, and flash.
Auto white balance works well in many situations, but manual selection can improve color consistency in mixed or unusual lighting.
- Daylight: Use for direct sun or open daylight.
- Cloudy: Adds warmth in overcast light.
- Incandescent: Helps reduce orange color cast from household bulbs.
- Fluorescent: Useful under office or shop lighting.
Control autofocus mode and focus point behavior
Focus settings are essential when learning how to change settings on Nikon D3500 because they affect sharpness, subject tracking, and speed.
The camera typically offers autofocus options such as AF-S for still subjects and AF-F or AF-A depending on live view or shooting mode availability.
For most general photography through the viewfinder, AF-S is a strong choice for portraits, landscapes, and stationary subjects.
For moving subjects, you may need a different autofocus behavior or a more responsive release strategy.
You can also change the autofocus area mode, which determines how the camera picks the focus point.
Single-point AF gives you the most control, while automatic area modes let the camera decide based on detected subjects.
Use exposure settings to shape motion and depth
Shutter speed and aperture are the two settings that most strongly affect the look of an image.
On the Nikon D3500, you can change them directly in S, A, or M mode.
- Shutter speed: Faster speeds freeze motion; slower speeds allow motion blur and more light.
- Aperture: Wider apertures create shallow depth of field; smaller apertures increase depth of field.
If you want action photos, start with Shutter Priority and choose a fast shutter speed.
If you want portraits with blurred backgrounds, Aperture Priority gives you a simple way to open the lens and control depth of field.
Find and change options in the main menu
The full menu is where deeper camera customization happens.
Press the MENU button and move through the tabs for shooting, playback, setup, and retouch options.
This is where you manage settings that are not part of the quick-access panel.
Useful menu areas include:
- Shooting menu: Image quality, color options, noise reduction, and file-related settings.
- Playback menu: Slideshow, display options, and image review tools.
- Setup menu: Language, date and time, formatting, and monitor brightness.
- Retouch menu: Basic in-camera edits such as resizing or red-eye correction.
Menu navigation is simple: use the Multi Selector to highlight an item, press OK, choose the new value, and confirm.
If you ever feel lost, pressing MENU again usually backs you out one level.
Change display and playback preferences
Some of the most practical Nikon D3500 settings are not about image capture at all.
Display and playback preferences affect how easy the camera is to use in the field.
You can adjust items such as image review duration, LCD brightness, and information display behavior.
These settings help when you are checking exposure outdoors or reviewing shots indoors after a session.
- Image review: Controls whether photos appear automatically after capture.
- LCD brightness: Helps visibility in bright sunlight or dim rooms.
- Auto info display: Manages when shooting information appears on the screen.
Reset settings if the camera behaves unexpectedly
If the Nikon D3500 is acting unpredictably, a settings reset can help.
This is useful if a change in white balance, ISO behavior, or shooting mode makes the camera seem “stuck.”
Look in the setup or shooting menus for reset options.
Depending on the setting, you may find choices to restore shooting defaults or to clear custom adjustments.
Before resetting, note any values you want to keep, such as ISO limits or date and time.
Common mistakes when changing Nikon D3500 settings
Many beginners run into the same avoidable problems when adjusting the camera.
A few simple habits can prevent frustration and improve results.
- Leaving the camera in Auto mode and expecting full manual control.
- Using a high ISO when a slower shutter speed or tripod would work better.
- Forgetting to set white balance in difficult indoor lighting.
- Changing settings in the i menu but not confirming with OK.
- Assuming autofocus mode is correct for every subject type.
Once you know where each setting lives, the Nikon D3500 becomes much easier to adapt for portraits, travel, events, and everyday photography.
The fastest path is often the i button, while the most control comes from the Mode dial and the full menu system.