Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World
Mike Harris

I captured a solid sports image on a Nikon D3500 to prove that camera gear should never stand in your way

Panning image of a superbike .

In my mind, the Nikon D3500 sits firmly within the pantheon of legendary cameras because it arguably introduced more people to the world of digital photography than any other camera (Canon EOS Rebel T7 (EOS 2000D) aside). But far from being one of the best cameras for beginners, it’s also an extremely versatile little camera that’s perhaps capable of far more than you might think.

To prove just how capable this little camera really is, I took it to a local race circuit to photograph a superbike race and captured the image (above) with the Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G. I do the occasional motorsport photography talk, and this image sits within my presentation as an example of how you should never let gear (or lack of it) stand in the way of your photography.

The Nikon D3500 is a more capable camera than you might think (Image credit: Future)

Sure, I had to crop into this image a bit, and if I’d been using a high-resolution camera, more detail would have been present. A longer lens would have reduced the need to crop altogether, and if it was a good-quality optic, the subject might have been sharper. Maybe a more advanced image-stabilization system would have helped me capture a sharper subject, too. And with more frames per second, perhaps I could have selected a more dynamic moment. But all that aside, this is still a solid motorsport photography image.

I’ve no doubt that a beginner with an interest in sports photography could put together a formidable portfolio with just a Nikon D3500 and a healthy dose of determination. Don’t get me wrong, gear does matter when it comes to photography – however much I hate to admit it – but it’s certainly a law of diminishing returns.

If you can’t capture a decent photo on a Nikon D3500, you’re not going to suddenly capture a decent photo on the best Nikon camera money can buy. Whatever photography gear you have, don’t let it get you down. Look upon it positively and you might just capture your best images ever.

You might also like...

Put the Nikon D3500 in the hands of a skilled street photographer and this happens – here’s how Chris Aldred set out to take creative street photos with an entry-level camera. The Nikon D3500 might be discontinued, but you can pick the Nikon Z fc up for a very good price nowadays. And if you’re looking for budget buys, here are the best cheap cameras.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.