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Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55

Portability
70
Imaging
68
Features
70
Overall
68
Nikon D3400 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Nikon D3400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 395g - 124 x 98 x 76mm
  • Announced August 2016
  • Older Model is Nikon D3300
  • Replacement is Nikon D3500
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Nikon D3400 and Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the D3400 (24MP) and A55 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The D3400 was brought out 6 years after the A55 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the D3400 matches up vs the A55 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3400 over the Sony A55

 D3400 A55 
ReleasedAugust 2016August 2010Newer by 73 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Nikon D3400

 A55 D3400 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3400 and Sony A55

 D3400 A55 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution921k921kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3400 has outside measurements of 124mm x 98mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 395 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D3400 and Sony A55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the D3400 compared to the A55.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3400 and A55 is 70 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the D3400 and A55.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon D3400 to result in greater detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer D3400 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3400 Portrait photography factors
Sony A55 Portrait photography factors
80
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3400 Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
68
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (395 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
77
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3400 Sports photography details
Sony A55 Sports photography details
69
decent megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery (1,200 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
low battery (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3400 Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
70
great battery (1,200 shots)
lighter than average in class (395g)
supports bluetooth
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
62
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3400 Landscape photography features
Sony A55 Landscape photography features
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (1,200 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low battery (380 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D3400
Vlogging with Sony A55
30
includes face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (395 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing mic jack
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
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Nikon D3400 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3400 and Sony A55
 Nikon D3400Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3400 Sony SLT-A55
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-08-17 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 15
Cross type focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 395g (0.87 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 98 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 86 73
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1192 816
Other
Battery life 1200 photographs 380 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14a NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $397 $800