Compact and capable: Nikon announces new entry-level D3400 DSLR and a handful of new DX lenses

by Jeremy Gray

posted Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 12:02 AM EDT

If you want the nitty gritty details now, you can skip ahead to our Nikon D3400 first impressions.

Nikon has today announced the successor to its popular entry-level D3300 DSLR, the Nikon D3400. Equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the compact D3400 is compatible with Nikon SnapBridge to help new DSLR users stay connected and be able to easily share their images.

Powered by the same 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and EXPEED 4 image processor found in its predecessor, the Nikon D3400's imaging performance is expected to be similar to the D3300. The native sensitivity range is now ISO 100-25,600, and raw images are recorded as 12-bit compressed .NEF files. Unchanged is the autofocus system, metering sensor, continuous shooting speeds and 1080/60p video recording capabilities.

The camera body itself is mostly unchanged compared to the D3300. With the same dimensions and weighing in at 13.9 ounces (395 grams), the Nikon D3400 is certainly light and compact. Due to its small size and target audience, the camera doesn't include a top information display and has minimal external controls. The three-inch non-tilting 921k-dot display is the same as the D3300 had, but interestingly there are a few things that the D3400 body omits.

New to the Nikon D3400 is built-in Bluetooth Low Energy and SnapBridge compatibility. Once you connect your camera to your compatible mobile device (Android-only for now, but an iOS SnapBridge app is in development) you have an always-on connection that allows you to transfer images from your D3400 to the device and to Nikon's free image sharing Image Space service as soon as you capture them. For all of the details on the camera and to learn what changes Nikon has made to the D3400, check out our preview.

Alongside the D3400, Nikon unveiled two new AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lenses and announced again their AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G lenses. The new telephoto zoom lenses come in VR and non-VR versions: AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED. The AF-P 18-55mm lenses were announced at CES and also comes in two versions: AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G. All four lenses include Nikon's stepping motor, which is designed to make focus during live view faster, smoother and quiet.

The Nikon D3400 will be available in two kits. The first, with a suggested retail price of about US$650, comes with the new AF-P 18-55mm VR lens. The second comes with the aforementioned 18-55mm lens and the non-VR version of the 70-300mm lens and has an SRP of about US$1,000. The decision to include the VR 18-55 and not the VR 70-300 optic in the more expensive kit is puzzling. Nonetheless, both kits will be available in early September and the D3400 comes in black and red color options.