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Nikon D3400

 
Nikon D3400 front
 
Portability
70
Imaging
68
Features
70
Overall
68

Nikon D3400 overview

Nikon D3400 is Nikon's Entry-Level DSLR digital camera first launched on August of 2016. The camera has got a 24MP, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Nikon launched this model in order to upgrade the older Nikon D3300 (Read Full Comparison) and then introduced the updated Nikon D3500 (Read Full Comparison) in order to upgrade this model.

The D3400 comes in at #19 out of 80 in Entry-Level DSLR cameras and all around #184 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can try out our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your customized requirements.

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Below is a chart of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon D3400 history

The Nikon D3400 comes with a history of related cameras. Below, you can take a look at all earlier and most recent models along with key specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-D3500 front thumbnailNikon D3500
D3400 vs D3500
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2018
Nikon-D5600 front thumbnailNikon D5600
D3400 vs D5600
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
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Nikon-D3400 front thumbnailNikon D340024MPAPS-C5.0 fps2016
Nikon-D5500 front thumbnailNikon D5500
D3400 vs D5500
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2015
Nikon-D3300 front thumbnailNikon D3300
D3400 vs D3300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
Nikon-D5300 front thumbnailNikon D5300
D3400 vs D5300
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2014
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Nikon-D5200 front thumbnailNikon D5200
D3400 vs D5200
24MPAPS-C5.0 fps2013
Nikon-D3200 front thumbnailNikon D3200
D3400 vs D3200
24MPAPS-C4.0 fps2012
Nikon-D5100 front thumbnailNikon D5100
D3400 vs D5100
16MPAPS-C4.0 fps2011
Nikon-D3100 front thumbnailNikon D3100
D3400 vs D3100
14MPAPS-C3.0 fps2010
Nikon-D3000 front thumbnailNikon D3000
D3400 vs D3000
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2009
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Nikon-D5000 front thumbnailNikon D5000
D3400 vs D5000
12MPAPS-C4.0 fps2009
Nikon-D60 front thumbnailNikon D60
D3400 vs D60
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Nikon-D40X front thumbnailNikon D40X
D3400 vs D40X
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2007
Nikon-D40 front thumbnailNikon D40
D3400 vs D40
6MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Nikon D3400 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of good and bad points of the Nikon D3400 based on aspects which are usually seen as essential in a digital camera.

better than average battery power (1,200 shots)
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
doesnt have low pass filter
exports RAW files
flash built-in
great ISO range (25,600)
great min ISO (100)
has bluetooth
high resolution screen (921 k dots)
includes HDMI out
lighter than average (395 grams)
manual focus
offers face detection autofocus
offers tracking autofocus
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic support
lack of headphone support
lack of Time Lapse recording
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
no articulating screen
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Nikon D3400 Sensor info

The Nikon D3400 features the Expeed 4 processor chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Nikon D3400 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels at aspect ratios of 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 24 megapixels and provides a standard ISO range of 100 - 25600. RAW photos are supported so you have wider room to maneuver in post.

Nikon chose to skip the low pass filter with the Nikon D3400. This may result in more sharp pictures but may introduce moire in certain conditions.

The graphic underneath displays the D3400's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The D3400 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.

Nikon D3400 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon D3400 dimensions

Nikon D3400 has a weight of 0.87 lbs (395 gr or 13.93 ounces) and the over all size of the camera is 124mm x 98mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0"). The weight of general Entry-Level DSLR camera is 540 gr so the Nikon D3400 is lighter compared with other rivals.

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Underneath is a picture of the Nikon D3400 alongside a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its scale.

Nikon D3400 dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button arrangement on the D3400.

Nikon D3400 topview buttons dials

Nikon D3400 Lens info

The D3400 fits the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses to select from. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our database which will work with the D3400.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-150-500mm-F5-6.3-DG-OS-HSM-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM150-500mmf/5.0-6.3 1780g
Carl-Zeiss-Distagon-T2-28-Nikon-F-FX lensCarl Zeiss Distagon T 22828mmf/2.0 520g
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Sigma-150mm-F2.8-EX-DG-OS-Macro-HSM-Nikon-F-FX lensSigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS Macro HSM150mmf/2.8 1180g
Nikon-AF-S-Nikkor-800mm-f5.6E-FL-ED-VR lensNikon AF-S Nikkor 800mm f5.6E FL ED VR800mmf/5.6 4590g
Nikon-AF-S-Micro-Nikkor-60mm-f2.8G-ED lensNikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8G ED60mmf/2.8 425g
Nikon-AF-S-Nikkor-28mm-f1.8G lensNikon AF-S Nikkor 28mm f1.8G28mmf/1.8 330g
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Tamron-28-300mm-F3.5-6.3-Di-VC-PZD-Nikon-F-FX lensTamron 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD28-300mmf/3.5-6.3 540g
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Nikon D3400 Connectivity

The D3400 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras that consist of NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to send images and oftentimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.

Certain applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external display. Nearly all cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.

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Nikon D3400 Video info

The highest video quality in the Nikon D3400 is 1920 x 1080 and it can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality delivers a great balance between video quality versus file sizes but FULL HD won't give you much room to crop. The camera doesn't include a mic and headphone socket so you get no control over your audio. It is probably best to look into a different model should you need decent audio in your videos.

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Nikon D3400 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing in the Nikon D3400 so you need to be cautious in wet or dusty conditions.

Nikon D3400 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon D3400 has got a 3" fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 921k dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Nikon D3400 screen and viewfinder Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

The ViewFinder specs regarding Nikon D3400 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentamirror)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 95 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.56x

In those sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders are pretty valuable.

Nikon D3400 Shutter info

Nikon D3400 has the capability to shoot continuously at 5.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Nikon D3400 Flash and Hot shoe info

Nikon D3400 has got both in-built flash plus external flash ability. The max flash sync is 1/200 sec.

Nikon D3400 Autofocusing info

Nikon D3400 has got both Phase Detect Auto Focus and Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier and exact compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has got Face detection which can be helpful for taking portraits of people.

It has got 11 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for subjects that move. Nikon D3400 has got manual focus in case it is needed during low light or you require more accurate control on focus.

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Nikon D3400 Battery life

The battery power (EN-EL14a) in the Nikon D3400 is fashioned to last for 1200 photos with respect to the CIPA requirements making it higher than the usual when compared to its class. The typical Entry-Level DSLR camera battery life is 589. Pentax K-x features the highest (1900) battery life within this class of cameras.

Below is a number of Entry-Level DSLR cameras which have the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Nikon-D3400 front thumbnailNikon D34001200 yesnoyes
Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL3 front thumbnailCanon SL3
D3400 vs SL3
1070 yesnoyes

Nikon D3400 for varying forms of photography

The following graph displays a summation of the Nikon D3400 for varying forms of photography. To read more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Nikon D3400 Portrait photography information

The Nikon D3400 receives a rating of 80 which is brilliant, meaning that it is a great pick for portrait images. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor resolution, RAW support & ability to work with off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats

Nikon D3400 Street photography details

Coming in at a very good rating of 68, the Nikon D3400 is a fine pick to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (395g)
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization

Nikon D3400 Sports photography info

A nice sports photography rating of 69 indicates the Nikon D3400 is a respectable fit for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have good autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (1,200 per charge)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization

Nikon D3400 Travel photography highlights

Size is super critical in choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Nikon D3400 gets a nice 70 for a travelling camera which makes it a respectable choice to take on your trips.

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better than average battery (1,200 CIPA)
lighter than competition (395 grams)
supports bluetooth
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen

Nikon D3400 as a Landscape photography camera

When you're planning to pick a camera for landscape photos, the most vital aspect is going to be image quality. The Nikon D3400 and it's very good score of 75 as a landscape camera is a fine fit in the current market.

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has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (1,200 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function

Nikon D3400 Vlogging details

A vlogging camera should posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering all things, the Nikon D3400 is not appropriate as a vlog camera as it delivers a lousy score of 30.

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offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (395g)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of mic support

Nikon D3400 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the D3400, below is a list of the highest ranked cameras that fall within the category of Entry-Level DSLR.

The diagram here gives you a bird's eye view of the D3400 compared to it's top scoring competitors mentioned above.

Following are additional cameras you may see as alternate options. To read through a complete comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Nikon
Model
Nikon D3400
Class
Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced
2016-08-17
Physical type
Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Expeed 4
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Full resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW images
Max native ISO
25600
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
11
Cross focus points
1
Lens
Lens mounting type
Nikon F
Number of lenses
309
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Resolution of screen
921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage
95 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.56x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
86
DXO Color Depth score
24.8
DXO Dynamic range score
13.9
DXO Low light score
1192
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings
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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize
1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
395 grams (0.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions
124 x 98 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.9" x 3.0")
Other
Battery life
1200 shots
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL14a
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
1
Cost at launch
$397