Canon 1300D vs Nikon D3400: There’s A Clear Winner

Canon and Nikon often go head to head when it comes to cameras and these two are no exception. Both are great entry-level DLSR with APS-C sensors, but there are a few striking differences I will highlight below.

I have listed the main specs in a table below so you can quickly and easily see them, and then below that are the main differences you should be aware of.

Both cameras are a great way to start your photography without spending a lot of money, so there are no losers here, but one camera does stand out….

The Differences Between Them

Rather than bore you with the details on each camera, I have listed the main differences, starting with what I think are the most important at the start.

If you want to see the prices of the cameras right now, click on the buttons above, or I have some below that take you straight to Amazon for some of the best prices around.

• Weight & Size: The Nikon 3400 is the clear winner here being just a tad smaller, but a whopping 3oz lighter, which for a camera of this size is a lot.
• Battery life: Once you get going with a DSLR you will eventually run out of juice, so when you compare these two, it’s amazing to see that the Nikon gives you 1200 shots vs 500 on the Canon. A huge difference in battery life.
• Sensor Megapixels: You probably won’t notice this unless you plan on blowing your pictures up and hanging them on the wall, but nonetheless, the Nikon has a 24 Megapixel sensor vs Canon’s 18. Quite a difference.
• ISO Range: At the bottom end (lots of light around) both have a 100 ISO, but when it comes to low-light the Nikon has two more settings going all the way up to 25,600 ISO. So, if you plan on shooting in low light, apart from getting a low F-stop lens, this is a great help.
• Burst rate: Again, the Nikon 3400 is slightly better with 5 instead of 3 frames per second. Where does this make a difference? if you are shooting fast-moving objects (cars, sports, animals).
• Video Quality: Both these cameras have full HD, but the Nikon has up to 50 or 60 fps which means you can shoot at this faster frame rate, and then slow down the footage in post when editing :> So, although not as cool as a 120 fps camera (which will cost you a bomb) this is a great way to bring slow-mo to your movies.
• Bluetooth: Nikon has Bluetooth and Wifi, while Canon has Wifi and NFC. For me, the addition of Bluetooth is killer as it means you can connect to your phone.
• Auto Focus: Not a huge difference here, but Nikon has added 2 more spots for autofocus. Every spot helps if you have difficulty focusing on subjects (people, moving objects).
• Price: I am not going to comment on specific prices as they change all the time, but generally with a kit 18-55mm lens, the Nikon tends to be a touch more expensive than the Canon. So, if you like the extra features it brings, I would pay the extra money for sure.

The Nikon is the clear winner here with a lighter, smaller body that has a way bigger sensor at 24 Megapixels. The added bonus of a slightly higher max-frame rate (single shot and on movies) as well as ISO, along with the huge battery life, makes this the clear winner.

Just keep in mind that the Nikon is often a little bit more expensive, but you won’t know until you compare the prices online (which you can do via the buttons below).

Shared Features

Aside from all those differences, what do these cameras have in common?

• Fast focus: even without the better focus on the T7i, Canon excels in this area.
• Wide ISO Range: From 100 – 6400 (Canon) and 25600 (Nikon), you have lots of low light options if your lens does not have a wide enough aperture (always the better option for low light if you ask me)
• Quality LCD: The 3 inch LCD with 9200 dots is going to give you enough detail to create great images, and there is always a viewfinder if you want to save the battery.
• Wide Shutter Speed Range: from a super-high 1/4000 to 30 long seconds, you can shoot just about anything with these cameras
• Video: Sure, it would be nice to have 4K, but 1080p is more than enough for most of us. If you are serious about vlogging, there are better options.
• Kit Lens: The 18-55mm is a good start for any photographer. You can always get a bigger zoom once you learn how much you love photography
• The complete feature set on both cameras will be enough to keep you happy for years to come, or until you become insta-famous and need a better camera :>

Canon 1300D / T6 Review

Nikon D3400 Review

Which Should You Get? Nikon or Canon

For me, if there is not a huge price difference, I would get the Nikon in a heartbeat. The better sensor, way longer battery life, and slightly better ISO and frame rates make it a smarter choice.

The Canon is always a worthwhile choice, although if you are focused more on Canon, then you might want to compare the T7i with the T6i as well.