Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera Review

Buying a professional camera, whether it’s your very first time or your fifth, can be overwhelming. It’s a big investment, and if you get the wrong one, you could be stuck with a camera that doesn’t fit your needs.

There are many amazing cameras out there, but can they fit your unique shoots? Can they keep up with your creativity? If you’re self-taught, will they be overwhelming?

The Nikon D3400 DSLR is great for a number of different things. Many people use this option as their first camera for professional photography, and it may be the best DSLR camera for you too!

Here’s a rundown of the Nikon D3400 so you can understand all the pros and cons before making a decision.

Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera: The Details

Specs

• Weight: .98 pounds
• How many megapixels: 24.2 megapixels
• Flash Type: Pop-up
• Display Size: 3 inches
• Display Resolution: 1080p and 720p
• Optical Zoom: 1.5x
• Viewfinder Type: Eye-level Pentamirror Single-Lens Reflex

Accessories

On Amazon, the Nikon D3400 DSLR has a bundle with free accessories that include:

• Nikon DSLR bag with online class camera case, which can also hold the D3300, D5500, or D5600.
• 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lens, a lens used for super-zoom.
• “Getting Started with your Nikon DSLR” online class, a 20-minute class that teaches you the basics of the camera and sets you up to take pictures with it.
• AmazonBasics 60-inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, which is a lightweight beginner’s tripod that includes its own bag.
• SanDish 16GB Memory Card, which is used to store the photos that you take.

Features

Light and Portable

The Nikon D3400 is significantly lighter than many other professional cameras.

At just under a pound, it’s portable enough to easily pack and bring with you  and it works well with long photo shoots.

The photographs are still in 1080p, but the camera is pared down to just the basics in order to achieve this weight.

Multiple Lenses

The Nikon D3400 bundle comes with an extra lens, which can be switched out with the main lens very easily.

The main one is meant for everyday pictures and will likely be used most often while the extra is designed for super-zoom, which will let you photograph at great distances with highly crisp quality.

Built-in Bluetooth Connectivity

With the Nikon D3400, you can use the built-in Bluetooth feature, which connects to an app for cloud storage.

This connectivity allows you to move photos instantly from your camera to your phone, so you can share them on the go.

You can even set it up to automatically sync, so even when you’re not actively using your Bluetooth app, people with access to the cloud will be able to see the pictures you’re taking.

This features allows pairing with up to five devices so you don’t have to go through the task of connecting each device every single time.

Simple Autofocus                               

Autofocus has recently become a very important part of professional cameras, and the Nikon D3400 has that technology as well.

The D3400 is able to autofocus on whatever it identifies as the main object of the image, and if you need it to focus on something else, there is a manual focus option.

The viewfinder also allows you to preview images so you can tell if the autofocus is working correctly, and make adjustments as needed.

Fast-Burst Shooting

The D3400 has an extra feature that works well with others, especially the autofocus.

It allows you to take rapid photos bursts of up to 5 FPS, designed to capture actions that would otherwise be gone to the wind.

Perfect when shooting live-action scenes or quick moving subjects.

Accessible Video, No Matter the Lens

This camera provides you with the ability to record high-quality 1080p videos, whether you’re using the lenses that come with the Nikon D3400 or others that are bought separately.

Even the zoom lens will take videos, meaning distance won’t come between you and capturing that perfect moment.

Vibration Reduction for the Main Lens

The 18-55mm lens provided with the D3400 has vibration reduction, which is what Nikon calls their image stabilization.

Unfortunately, the secondary 70-300mm lens does not have the same technology.

Even still, this means if you’re taking a shot on the fly, or are dealing with heavy winds during a shoot, you can trust this camera will provide that extra bit of stability to make the final pictures a success.

Stretch Your Creativity

The Nikon D3400 comes equipped with in-camera effects and simple editing tools so you can add your touches of magic easily.

If you can’t wait to upload your photos to your editing software, Nikon offers a range of effects so you can make your shots a little more artsy on the go.

There’s also a retouch option so you can make small edits if you plan on sharing your photos asap.

Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera Review

The Positives

Very, Very Simple

Unlike some cameras of this quality, it’s not difficult to operate. In fact, if you were careful, even your child could use it.

It has a very basic viewfinder and menu system, and many of its options (especially the focus and flash) are set up automatically so no specific knowledge is required.

This will bring down any apprehension for beginners who fear being overwhelmed.

Professional Help for Beginners

Beyond being simple, most of the features included in this camera are designed to give professional results to the amateur.

Haven’t invested in a tripod yet? That’s fine, because the added stabilizer makes it easy to shoot high quality pictures even while holding it in your hands.

While these features sound great, if you don’t know how to use them, they could do more damage than good. Thankfully, this camera is also setup with a step-by-step guide mode built right into the camera to walk you through its many features.

Haven’t discovered the ins and outs of focus yet? No need to take a class – this camera will greatly help your self-taught efforts.

In the meantime, here’s a video showing a quick walkthrough of the Nikon D3400‘s buttons, dials, and settings.

Perfect for On-the-Go

Because of this camera’s small size, its included bag, and its Bluetooth connectivity, it’s ready to be picked up and taken on an adventure – at any time.

If you’re interested in nature shoots but don’t want to lug around a great deal of equipment, it allows for spontaneity.

If something goes wrong and the camera breaks, your pictures aren’t lost; your phone has been downloading them on the go. Hikers, or photographers with bad luck, will find this to be a godsend.

Great for Nighttime Shots

A lot of people opt for leaving their cameras at home when going out on the town, or when visiting most locations after sun down.

This is mostly because it can be extremely difficult to get a flattering photo without quality lighting.

Thanks to the ISO range on the Nikon D3400 you won’t have to worry too much about shooting in low light. The native ISO ranges from 100 to 25,600 making it a lot easier to nab those magical nighttime shots.

Warranty

Nikon puts you at ease by offering a full 1-year warranty with the purchase of the Nikon D3400.

While Nikons are known for being long lasting, you won’t have to be stuck with a lemon if you do happen to end up with one.

In the case of a manufacturing defect, Nikon will repair or replace your camera with little hassle from you.

The warranty is voided if there is any evidence of damages from the owner so be sure to treat your new camera with care during and after your coverage.

Price

When looking for a camera with professional quality, you can usually expect to pay about a month’s salary depending on its features. And when you’re just starting out, this can be a deterrent.

Nikon showcases this camera, jam-packed with features, at a very competitive price so you won’t have to dig too deep into your savings to only use this camera occasionally.

For its very reasonable price, beginners have everything they need to get started and professionals wont be disappointed by the quality that can be achieved with this camera.

The Negatives

Bluetooth App Rarely Works

With the above ‘pro’ in mind, it’s important to brace yourself. The Bluetooth feature could save your life, or it could decide not to work.

We experienced it as being glitchy at times, while other testers said it wouldn’t work at all.

So if you’re purchasing this camera just for the Bluetooth, it’s wise to keep browsing – but if it’s a nice extra that’s not necessary, this is still a great choice.   

Doesn’t Allow Third-Party Batteries

The Nikon D3400 relies on lithium batteries, but unfortunately, these batteries must be made by Nikon.

There has been some talk by third-party battery manufacturers about finding a way to circumvent it, but so far, nothing has been found.

Can Be Too Light

Weighing in at just under one pound, this camera is definitely light compared to others of its kind.

If you’re planning to attach accessories, this can end up being a bad thing, as it can make the camera unbalanced and harder to keep still.

Overall Verdict

The Nikon D3400 is definitely a great camera, but opinions vary as to whether or not it’s better than the Nikon D3300 – the camera it was upgraded from.

If you’re a newcomer looking for a place in the professional photography world, this could very easily be the best DSLR camera for you!

It takes great pictures and is excellent for those seeking to be self-taught.

However, if you’re primarily a professional photographer and are looking for an upgrade from the D3300, there is a very good chance you won’t be satisfied with the change.

The best audience for this camera is first-time professional camera users, and you should keep that in mind when deciding if this is the right choice to invest in.

Where to Buy the Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera

Nikon is one of the first names people think of when it comes to photography and capturing stellar shots.

And since the Nikon D3300 has received a lot of praise since its release, its no surprise that the D3400 is similar in popularity.

It’s also no surprise that this Nikon upgrade can be found easily in-store or online.

To start, check out the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $599)
• B&H Photo Video (from $496)
• Nikon USA (from $499)

And as mentioned, it’s also available on Amazon.

That about sums up our review on the Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera. Tempted to give it a shot?