With a price tag of $500, the Nikon D3400 has taken the top spot for the best entry-level digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) for budding photographers.
While the features and the functions of the Canon Eos Rebel T71 is undoubtedly a match for higher tier DSLR, having a price range of $850 for an entry-level unit is a big deal breaker for most photography enthusiasts.
Nikon pushes forward in putting better sensors for their entry level cameras. Although the D3400's Cannon counterpart is also equipped with a 24.2mp sensor, the Nikon unit has the best reliability on the quality of images taken. This kind of sensor will take photos of a Siberian Husky the way an actual person would see the dog, which means photographers-in-training can immediately tell which shot was good from the ones that are not.
Images taken by the D3400 are cleaner whether in a low-light room or in bright outdoors, and especially with wide range landscapes.
Out of the box, the Nikon D3400 is the easiest to use among the long line of entry-level DSLR. It does not have a microphone port and the screen is not touchscreen, but it has the best battery life in the competition. Practicing photography without having to charge for every op is a great experience for beginner photographers.
The camera also has the most decent Auto Focus (AF) system for an entry-level DSLR. Users can even set the system to focus continuously on the same subject, which would be a great way do to a time-lapse photo-op. When recording videos, the camera's 3D tracking system will continue to auto-focus in live view. With the Expeed 4 processing engine, burst shots at 5 frames per second (fps) is every satisfying.
Nikon has also placed a Guide mode on the D3400 for budding photographers who want to learn on their own. The main menu will change into a helpful interface that will help the user capture shots in a specific way.
