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Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57

Portability
70
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68
Nikon D3400 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Nikon D3400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 395g - 124 x 98 x 76mm
  • Released August 2016
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3300
  • Renewed by Nikon D3500
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • Renewed by Sony A58
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Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Nikon D3400 and Sony A57, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the D3400 (24MP) and A57 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3400 was launched 3 years after the A57 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the D3400 matches up versus the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3400 over the Sony A57

 D3400 A57 
IntroducedAugust 2016September 2012More modern by 48 months

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Nikon D3400

 A57 D3400 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D3400 and Sony A57

 D3400 A57 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Display resolution921k921kThe same display resolution
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon D3400 features external dimensions of 124mm x 98mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 395 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D3400 and Sony A57 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the D3400 against the A57.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D3400 and A57 is 70 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The pic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3400 and A57.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D3400 to render more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent D3400 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3400 Portrait photography information
Sony A57 Portrait photography information
80
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3400 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
68
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than average in class (395g)
good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
75
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D3400
Sports photography with Sony A57
69
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (1,200 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3400 Travel photography highlights
Sony A57 Travel photography highlights
69
great battery pack (1,200 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (395 grams)
has bluetooth
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
67
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3400
Landscape photography with Sony A57
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (1,200 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3400 Vlogging advice
Sony A57 Vlogging advice
30
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (395g)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
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Nikon D3400 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3400 and Sony A57
 Nikon D3400Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D3400 Sony SLT-A57
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2016-08-17 2012-09-13
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points 1 3
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 395g (0.87 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 98 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 86 75
DXO Color Depth score 24.8 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 13.0
DXO Low light score 1192 785
Other
Battery life 1200 shots 550 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14a NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $397 $1,000