While the autofocus system is nothing new, its pairing with the new AF-P kit lens is a successful one: AF performance is impressively rapid, and maintains this speed in low light and even when using Live View. PerformanceĪn immediate and pleasant surprise when shooting with the D3400 is its autofocus performance. Nikon raised a few eyebrows by removing VR and focus switches from the lens barrel, but changing these settings using the camera menus is no real hardship.
NIKON D3200 TARGET MANUAL
Last but by no means least is the new AF-P 18-55mm VR kit lens. It shares the same retractable mechanism as the AF-S 18-55mm VR II lens included with the D3300, but it sports a much-improved manual focus ring, which operates surprisingly smoothly for a budget kit lens. Aside from its lack of touch sensitivity, it nails the basics with good clarity, colour accuracy and viewing angles. The D5500 suffers from the same issue, but where its touchscreen can compensate for physical control shortcomings, the D3400 makes do with the same 3-inch, 921k-dot screen as the D3300.
NIKON D3200 TARGET ISO
Nikon’s continued refusal to add a dedicated ISO button is still frustrating: while the customisable Function button is configured by default to adjust sensitivity, its position directly beneath the flash release means it’s only a matter of time before you pop the flash by mistake. Otherwise, there’s little to complain about ergonomically, with key controls like the exposure compensation button, video record button and single control dial falling within easy reach. It’s a pity Nikon didn’t reshape the D3400 to be more like the D5500, with a deeper recess between the hand grip and lens mount: people with larger paws may find the D3400’s grip to be rather small. Both cameras use the same case design and measure an identical 124 x 98 x 76mm. While there may be some truth to this, it could also be argued that photographers new to SLRs may not be as confident with manual sensor cleaning and will sorely miss automatic dust removal.Įxternal changes between the D3300 and the D3400 are non-existent. Nikon has chosen not to include any image sensor-cleaning capability in the D3400, as it believes novice users won’t change lenses as frequently as photographers who own more glass. However, just as the new camera’s battery performance may not be without drawbacks, the same could be true of this weight saving.
NIKON D3200 TARGET FULL
The choice of plastic construction helps keep weight down to just 445g, however, making the D3400 a full 15g lighter than its predecessor. Obviously the D3400 has to do without a magnesium alloy internal frame, but it feels solid enough all the same. Thankfully, the D3400’s material and build quality is every bit as high as the D5500’s, the next step up in the range, and you’d be hard-pressed to tell the quality of its plastics and rubber inserts apart from even pricier Nikons. Build and handlingĮntry-level SLRs used to feel cheap, even when they cost substantially more than their modern-day equivalents. This has been downgraded from a Guide Number of 12 in the D3300 to a less powerful GN8, placing the D3400 behind the GN9.2 flash in the Canon 1300D. Nikon is claiming the improvement is down to power efficiency tweaks, but that may not be the whole story…Ĭipa battery life testing involves a percentage of shots taken using the pop-up flash. That’s a big increase from the D3300’s 700-shot rating, and no mean feat considering the D3400 is still fuelled by the EN-EL14a lithium-ion power pack used in the D3300. The D3400’s other headline improvement over its predecessor is battery life, which has been boosted to an impressive 1,200 shots.