1. Download Center
2. D3500 Online Manual
3. More on Photography
4. Using the Built-in Flash

The built-in flash can be used not only when natural lighting is inadequate but to fill in shadows and backlit subjects or to add a catch light to the subject’s eyes.

• Auto Pop-up Modes
• Manual Pop-up Modes

Auto Pop-up Modes

In i, k, n, o, S, T, U, and ' modes, the built-in flash automatically pops up and fires as required.

1. Choose a flash mode.

   Keeping the M (Y) button pressed, rotate the command dial until the desired flash mode is displayed.

   

   M (Y) button

   

   Command dial

   

2. Take photographs.

   The flash will pop up as required when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, and fire when a photograph is taken. If the flash does not pop up automatically, do not attempt to raise it by hand. Failure to observe this precaution could damage the flash.

   

   

Flash Modes

The following flash modes are available:

• No (auto): When lighting is poor or the subject is backlit, the flash pops up automatically when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway and fires as required. Not available in o mode.
• Njo (auto + red-eye reduction): Use for portraits. The flash pops up and fires as required, but before it fires the red-eye reduction lamp lights to help reduce “red-eye.” Not available in o mode.
• Njr (auto slow sync + red-eye): As for auto with red-eye reduction, except that slow shutter speeds are used to capture background lighting. Use for portraits taken at night or under low light. Available in o mode.
• Nr (auto slow sync): Slow shutter speeds are used to capture background lighting in shots taken at night or under low light. Available in o mode.
• j (flash off): The flash does not fire.

Manual Pop-up Modes

In P, S, A, and M modes, the flash must be raised manually. The flash will not fire if it is not raised.

1. Raise the flash.

   Press the M (Y) button to raise the flash. Note that if an optional external flash unit is attached, the built-in flash will not pop up; proceed to Step 2.

   

   M (Y) button

   

2. Choose a flash mode.

   Keeping the M (Y) button pressed, rotate the command dial until the desired flash mode is displayed.

   

   M (Y) button

   

   Command dial

   

3. Take photographs.

   The flash will fire whenever a picture is taken.

Flash Modes

The following flash modes are available:

• N (fill flash): The flash fires with every shot.
• Nj (red-eye reduction): Use for portraits. The flash fires with every shot, but before it fires, the red-eye reduction lamp lights to help reduce “red-eye.”
• Njp (slow sync + red-eye): As for “red-eye reduction”, above, except that shutter speed slows automatically to capture background lighting at night or under low light. Use when you want to include background lighting in portraits. Not available in modes S and M.
• Np (slow sync): As for “fill flash”, above, except that shutter speed slows automatically to capture background lighting at night or under low light. Use when you want to capture both subject and background. Not available in modes S and M.
• Nt (rear curtain + slow sync): As for “rear-curtain sync”, below, except that shutter speed slows automatically to capture background lighting at night or under low light. Use when you want to capture both subject and background. Not available in modes S and M.

• Nq (rear-curtain sync): The flash fires just before the shutter closes, creating a stream of light behind moving light sources as shown below at right. Not available in modes P and A.

  

  Front-curtain sync

  

  Rear-curtain sync