Nikon D3400

The Nikon D3400 is the latest version of the company's entry-level SLR.

It's a strong performer, as it's built around an excellent 24MP image sensor and includes an 11-point autofocus system that tracks subjects at 5.1fps.

The rear LCD is big and sharp, but it doesn't support touch input, a downer for the smartphone generation.

The D3400 is a small SLR, measuring 3.9 by 4.9 by 3.0 inches (HWD) without a lens, and weighing just 13.9 ounces.

An SLR is only as good as the lens attached. The D3400 is bundled with the AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, which delivers pretty solid performance for a starter lens.

The D3400 includes Bluetooth, which is used for wireless transfer to Android and iOS devices via the SnapBridge app.

I shot our standard studio scene using the D3400.

This is a pixel-level crop from our studio test shot.

The following crops from our ISO test scene show the amount of noise and detail at each full-stop ISO.

To show the D3400 at its best, the ISO scene was shot with a 60mm Micro-Nikkor lens set to f/5.6.

Details hold up quite well through ISO 3200.

There is some smudging of fine lines visible at ISO 6400, but it's still a solid option for shooting in dim light, running circles around what a smartphone or low-cost point-and-shoot can manage.

The JPG output at ISO 12800 and 25600 is noticeably blurry, so avoid those extreme settings when possible.

Raw image capture is an option for more advanced photographers.

The D3400 shoots 12-bit Raw images, a bit less versatile than the 14-bit Raw format used by pricier Nikon SLRs.

The D3400 doesn't apply noise reduction to Raw images, so high ISO shots can look grainy, but not blurry like the JPG output.

Raw images through ISO 3200 show strong detail with not that much grain.

Pushing the camera to ISO 6400 adds a grainy texture to photos, but shows more detail than the JPG counterpart.

At ISO 12800 Raw detail is significantly better than JPG.

At the top ISO 25600 sensitivity the Raw output is quite grainy, to the point where fine details are lost, but it doesn't have the blurred look of the corresponding JPG.