Nikon D3400 Review: This Entry-Level DSLR Leads Its Price Tier

2023-01-10 | Yvonne

Tip: The Nikon D3400 gives you everything you need to enter the world of DSLR photography at a surprisingly reasonable price point. If you can’t spend anymore, this is the one to get.

Nikon D3400 review: The Entry-Level DSLR That Leads its Price Tier.The Nikon D3400 offers everything that you will need to get into the DSLR world at an amazingly affordable price. This is the camera for you if money is tight.

Nikon D3400

We like this

Compact design
Above-average dynamic range
Excellent value

The Things We Hate

It is possible to improve Autofocus
Video features are limited
Fixed LCD Screen

With a small body and a reasonable price, the Nikon D3400 is an ideal beginner DSLR.

The Nikon D3400 was purchased by us to allow our expert reviewer to thoroughly evaluate and test it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

It is an entry-level DSLR that does a great job of being one. You get an excellent camera that is functional and easy to use. It also serves as a learning platform for professional photographers. This DSLR is also very small.

The D3400 has its flaws, but that doesn't make them any less capable. There are many features missing from the D3400 that can be found in professional cameras, which cost up to five times as much. Image quality is not the best in digital photography, but neither does Nikon's D3400. Although this sensor is more expensive than you would expect, Nikon has not shown any signs of slowing down in image quality.

Continue reading to learn more about the pros and cons of each product and make an informed decision on your next purchase.

Design: Attractive, space-saving design

Although the D3400 is not an extremely expensive camera, Nikon did not skimp on quality. The materials were as high-quality as the more costly Nikon cameras. The D3400's small size combined with its quality photos made a lasting impression on us when we tried it out for the first time.

You will find a number of familiar features on the front, including a microphone, built-in flash and microphone, function button (Fn), lens release and infrared receiver. You will find the movie record button and power switch on top. There are also shutter, information, exposure, AE-L, AF-L, and shutter buttons. You'll also find an accessory shoe and dials to control functionality while shooting.

Nikon has chosen a very stripped down feature set, which means there is less to discuss here than with other cameras.

You will find Zoom in/out and Menu, Info (i), LIVE VIEW (Lv), Trash, Playback, Trash, Shooting mode, and Live View buttons on the rear. The fixed LCD and Multi-selector dial are also found on the rear. The sides contain the memory card cover, USB and HDMI connectors, as well as the tripod threading and battery compartment.

This is all essentially a table stakes on a DSLR, and it's not surprising. Because Nikon has chosen such a simplified feature set, there is less to discuss here than with other cameras. For beginners this is probably a great thing. There's not much to do and little to master.

Installation Process: No complaints

The D3400's use is as easy as possible. The included wall charger charges the battery. Next, you attach the lens to the camera and insert the memory card. You can start snapping pictures immediately after following a couple of prompts.

This is a great time to read the manual and get to know the basics of DSLR cameras. You might be interested in the differences between AUTO, S, S and M modes. You should also know how to adjust the ISO sensitivity and shutter settings. These are the key elements to controlling how light is captured by your camera when you take a photograph.

The D3400 is equipped with a lot of features to help beginners. You can choose the Guide mode from the dial at the top. The menu button only presents 4 options when you select this mode. Instead of all the options that are available for normal cameras, there is a slew of options. Only four options are available: View/Delete, Setup, Retouch and Shoot.

The D3400 is equipped with a lot of features to help beginners. You can access this mode via the dial at the top.

The user can choose from 'Easy operation or advanced operation when choosing Shoot. The easiest operation offers options like distant subjects, close ups, moving subject, landscapes and night portraits. These modes give a quick description of what shooting situation they are best for but do not explain how or why these options work.

Advanced Operation is a bit more specific with its shooting options, which include soften backgrounds and show water flowing. You can also freeze motion or capture reds in sunsets.

They are helpful in the sense that they explain how they work to accomplish their intended effects. Soften Backgrounds, for example, tells users to choose aperture priority mode and set the f number lower to blur the background. Also, it instructs them to use an 80mm lens for the best results. Although it is not a course in photography, we enjoy the opportunity to show you how to take different kinds of photos.

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Quality Photo: Excellent for the Price

Thanks to an intuitive set of features, the D3400 can produce decent images out of the box. You don't need to worry about too much noise. However, it can reduce detail at higher ISO sensitivities. When capturing high contrast scenes, Active D-Lighting protects detail in shadows and highlights. You have sufficient information to make post-processing adjustments with the 24-megapixel sensor.

Thanks to an intuitive set of features, the D3400 can produce decent images out of its box.

We tested the D3400 using two lenses included in one of the kits available for purchase—the AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED. They aren't necessarily the most beautiful or sharpest lenses, but these lenses offer a great balance between price and focal length coverage. They are a great choice for beginner photographers who want to get started with a complete kit. This allows them to experiment with various focal lengths and gain an understanding of how different shooting conditions work.

If you want more power from your D3400, then consider one of the Nikon DX lenses. If you are willing to make an investment, this sensor can deliver a lot more performance.

Video Quality: Usable video in a pinch

Although there aren't many video options, the D3400 still provides very good 1080p/60fps footage. The D3400 is not designed to be a professional solution for video recording. You won't find any outstanding in-body image stabilization or audio inputs. There's no 4K recording.

We will say this though—the D3400 will easily go toe-to-toe with a lot of dedicated camcorders. Although you may not have all the creature comforts of a D3400, the footage overall is often superior.

Software is better than anticipated

SnapBridge is Nikon's smartphone app which allows you to wirelessly transfer images from your camera to your phone. We were surprised at the camera's quality for a 2016 model, and for one that was very affordable. This feature is not available on many more expensive cameras.

With a variety of camcorders, the D3400 can easily match up with it.

Prices: As Good as It Gets

This is the lowest price anyone can reasonably pay for a DSLR. Nikon advertises the price at $400. You probably won't find it cheaper. The kit cost $500 even with the 2-lens model we tried. This is a great price for a complete, ready-to use kit of photography that can cover many scenarios.

Nikon EOS 2000D vs. Canon EOS 3400 (Rebel T7)

While Canon produces many great cameras, Nikon retains the advantage at this price point with its D3400. EOS 2000D (Rebel T7) is team Canon's closest competitor. It shares many similarities with the D3400 on paper. The cameras share a 24MP sensor, which has a similar feature set to the D3400, however, the D3400's sensor performance is superior, producing sharper images and greater dynamic range.

Final Verdict

This category is the winner of entry-level DSLRs.

We were pleasantly surprised by the Nikon D3400's price range. It also provides a platform that allows beginners to grow and learn. This camera will please both budget-conscious and new photographers.

Specifications

Product name D3400
Nikon Product Brand
MPN: B01KITZRBE
Prices from $499.95
Publication Date: February 2016,
Dimensions of the Product: 3.75x2.24x0.83 in.
Limited Warranty of 1 Year
Compatibility Windows and macOS
Maximum Photo Resolution 24.2 MP
Video Recording Resolution 1920x1080 / 60 fps
Optional connectivity options USB and WiFi

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