Olympus PEN-F vs Nikon D3400

Cameras
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Olympus PEN-F vs Nikon D3400

4/3 226.2mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus PEN-F Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus PEN-F in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the PEN-F.
Compare Olympus PEN-F image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus PEN-F conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3400 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D3400 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D3400.
Compare Nikon D3400 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D3400 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D3500
Compare D3400 vs D3500
Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Nikon D3500

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Differences

Olympus PEN-F advantages over Nikon D3400

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Longer video battery life
80 vs 60 minutes
Capture more video
Thinner
37 mm vs 75 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.20 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.62x vs 0.57x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.4 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.5 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
39 vs 12 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Nikon D3400 advantages over Olympus PEN-F

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$497 vs $999*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 3.36 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D3400 test data on DxO Mark PEN-F test data on DxO Mark

1,192 vs 894 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D3400 test data on DxO Mark PEN-F test data on DxO Mark

13.9 vs 12.4 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1200 vs 330 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 43 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read PEN-F User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D3400 User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus PEN-F

Body Only (Silver)

Body Only (Silver)
Body Only (Black)

All PEN-F Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon D3400

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)

Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm & 70-300mm Lenses (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm Lens (Red)

All D3400 Deals

Review Excerpt

Highest resolution Olympus 4/3" camera yet; Excellent image quality for its class; Very good dynamic range; Fast autofocus; Fast burst speeds; Lots of fun creative filter options; Built-in EVF, Wi-Fi.
Expensive; No weather sealing; Mediocre battery life; No 4K video; No mic or headphone jacks.
Read our Olympus PEN-F Review

Compact DSLR camera body; Excellent image quality; Reliable single-shot autofocus; Good continuous JPEG shooting performance; New kit lens has improved AF; Great value at current prices.
SnapBridge is slow and limited; Poor continuous autofocus; No built-in Wi-Fi; Mediocre video features.
Read our Nikon D3400 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon T6i

Olympus PEN-F

Canon T6i

$999
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Canon T6i

Nikon D3400

Canon T6i

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Canon T6i

Compared to Nikon D5500

Olympus PEN-F

Nikon D5500

$999
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$597
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

$597
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Nikon D5500

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Olympus PEN-F

Panasonic GX85

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GX85

Nikon D3400

Panasonic GX85

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-PL8

$999
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus E-PL8

Nikon D3400

Olympus E-PL8

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$599
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Olympus E-PL8

Compared to Canon SL2

Olympus PEN-F

Canon SL2

$999
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Olympus PEN-F vs Canon SL2

Nikon D3400

Canon SL2

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

$549
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3400 vs Canon SL2

Compare Other Cameras?