Nikon D3500 vs Olympus Stylus 1

The Nikon D3500 and the Olympus Stylus 1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2018 and October 2013. The D3500 is a DSLR, while the Stylus 1 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D3500) and a 1/1.7-inch (Stylus 1) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 11.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D3500		Olympus Stylus 1
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon F mount lenses		28-300mm f/2.8
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		11.8 MP, 1/1.7" Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600		ISO 100-12,800
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0 LCD, 921k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
5 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
1550 shots per battery charge		410 shots per battery charge
124 x 97 x 70 mm, 365 g		116 x 87 x 57 mm, 402 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D3500 and the Olympus Stylus 1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D3500 and the Olympus Stylus 1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus Stylus 1 is notably smaller (16 percent) than the Nikon D3500. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D3500 nor the Stylus 1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the Stylus 1 has a lens built in, whereas the D3500 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D3500 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D3500 gets 1550 shots out of its EN-EL14a battery, while the Stylus 1 can take 410 images on a single charge of its BLS-5 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D3500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	365 g	1550	n	Aug 2018	429
2.		Olympus Stylus 1	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	410	n	Oct 2013	699
3.		Canon SX740	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	299 g	265	n	Jul 2018	399
4.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
5.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799
7.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549
8.		Fujifilm X-A5	117 mm	68 mm	40 mm	361 g	450	n	Jan 2018	399
9.		Fujifilm X20	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	353 g	270	n	Jan 2013	599
10.		Nikon A1000	114 mm	72 mm	41 mm	330 g	250	n	Jan 2019	429
11.		Nikon D3400	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	445 g	1200	n	Aug 2016	499
12.		Nikon D5500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	420 g	820	n	Jan 2015	899
13.		Nikon D3300	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	430 g	700	n	Jan 2014	499
14.		Olympus Stylus 1s	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	450	n	Apr 2015	699
15.		Olympus XZ-2	113 mm	65 mm	48 mm	346 g	340	n	Sep 2012	599
16.		Panasonic TZ95	112 mm	69 mm	42 mm	327 g	380	n	Feb 2019	449
17.		Panasonic TZ90	112 mm	67 mm	41 mm	322 g	380	n	Apr 2017	449
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D3500 features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus Stylus 1 a 1/1.7-inch sensor. The sensor area in the Stylus 1 is 88 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 4.5. The sensor in the D3500 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the Stylus 1 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 24MP, the D3500 offers a higher resolution than the Stylus 1 (11.8MP), but the D3500 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 1.91μm for the Stylus 1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the D3500 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 10 months) than the Stylus 1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D3500 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D3500 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus Stylus 1 are 19.8 x 14.9 inches or 50.4 x 37.8 cm for good quality, 15.9 x 11.9 inches or 40.3 x 30.2 cm for very good quality, and 13.2 x 9.9 inches or 33.6 x 25.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D3500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus Stylus 1 are ISO 100 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D3500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
2.		Olympus Stylus 1	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.7	11.6	179	51
3.		Canon SX740	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
5.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
7.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
8.		Fujifilm X-A5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..	..
9.		Fujifilm X20	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
10.		Nikon A1000	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
11.		Nikon D3400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	13.9	1192	86
12.		Nikon D5500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1438	84
13.		Nikon D3300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.8	1385	82
14.		Olympus Stylus 1s	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
15.		Olympus XZ-2	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.4	11.3	216	49
16.		Panasonic TZ95	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
17.		Panasonic TZ90	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	19.1	10.6	106	36

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the D3500 provides a higher frame rate than the Stylus 1. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Stylus 1 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the D3500 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the Stylus 1 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the D3500 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the Stylus 1 has a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.57x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D3500 and Olympus Stylus 1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D3500	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
2.		Olympus Stylus 1	1440	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX740	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y
4.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
5.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
7.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-A5	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
9.		Fujifilm X20	optical	n	2.8	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
10.		Nikon A1000	1166	n	3.0	1036	tilting	Y	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
11.		Nikon D3400	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
12.		Nikon D5500	optical	n	3.2	1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
13.		Nikon D3300	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
14.		Olympus Stylus 1s	1440	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0	Y	Y
15.		Olympus XZ-2	optional	n	3.0	920	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic TZ95	2330	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic TZ90	1166	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The Stylus 1 has a touchscreen, while the D3500 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Olympus Stylus 1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D3500 and the Stylus 1 write their files to SDXC cards. The D3500 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the Stylus 1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D3500 and Olympus Stylus 1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D3500	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y
2.		Olympus Stylus 1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon SX740	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Fujifilm X-A5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Fujifilm X20	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon A1000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Nikon D3400	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y
12.		Nikon D5500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Nikon D3300	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Olympus Stylus 1s	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Olympus XZ-2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic TZ95	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
17.		Panasonic TZ90	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the Stylus 1 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D3500 does not provide wifi capability.

The D3500 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the Stylus 1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the Stylus 1 was succeeded by the Olympus Stylus 1s. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D3500 and the Olympus Stylus 1? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon D3500:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 11.8MP) with a 45% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1550 versus 410) on a single battery charge.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 10 months of technical progress since the Stylus 1 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus Stylus 1:

• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.57x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the D3500 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x87mm vs 124x97mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2013).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the match-up finishes in a tie (13 points each). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D3500 and the Olympus Stylus 1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D3500 or the Stylus 1. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D3500	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	429
2.		Olympus Stylus 1	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	699
3.		Canon SX740	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2018	399
4.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
5.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	399
6.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
7.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
8.		Fujifilm X-A5	..	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2018	399
9.		Fujifilm X20	4/5	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	599
10.		Nikon A1000	..	+ +	..	3.5/5	3/5	Jan 2019	429
11.		Nikon D3400	4/5	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499
12.		Nikon D5500	5/5	+	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	899
13.		Nikon D3300	3/5	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	499
14.		Olympus Stylus 1s	..	..	..	..	..	Apr 2015	699
15.		Olympus XZ-2	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	599
16.		Panasonic TZ95	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	..	Feb 2019	449
17.		Panasonic TZ90	..	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	449
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon D3500 vs Olympus Stylus 1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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