Editors' Comments
The Nikon CoolPix 3500 earns consistent complaints about its poor performance, making it one of Digital Camera HQ's lowest-scoring cameras. Recurrent complaints about the camera's low-light performance, lack of an optical viewfinder, and inability to record sound in movie mode should make potential buyers think twice. Bottom line: There are better options available.
Specifications
- 3.2 megapixels (effective)
- 3x optical zoom/3.2x digital zoom
- autofocus only
- program exposure
- JPEG file format
- ISO range 100-400
- proprietary Lithium-Ion battery
- movie mode (no sound)
Nikon Coolpix 3500 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
At this point, my CoolPix 3500 is becoming useless: after a few exposures with a fresh battery, I touch the zoom, and the whole thing shuts down with a dead battry error message. I can temporarily fix it by pulling the battery out and reinserting it. The camera thinks the battery is dead, when it's not.
I note on this forum that 3100 users have reported a very similar battery problem, and some fixed it with a firmware upgrade. I am trying to find out from the Nikon Customer Support Forum, what can be done for a 3500, but so far no response.
Is this a general Nikon problem? Can anyone let me know exactly what have other 3500 users been able to do about it? Bear in mind, this problem surfaces after the warranty expires!
So, it seems Nikon agrees with mbrady's answer, that is, time to toss the camera and buy a new one! Imagine, a $300 disposable camera, but that is Nikon's response.
I may add that some outlets are still selling existing stock of this out-of-production camera, so buyer beware.
I will soon be looking for a new camera, and, I don't think you can blame me, but after this experience, it will not be a Nikon! And I always had thought a camera bearing the Nikon name would be a safe choice ...