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D3400 vs Z50 II

Quick take: The D3400 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the D3400 is the most affordable; only the Z50 II is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

Z50 II — All-Round Photography: Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.

Who should buy what
Z50 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Beginners stepping into the Nikon Z system wanting improved autofocus
  • Content creators who want APS-C Z quality with subject detection AF
  • Z50 owners who want meaningfully better AF performance for people and pets
  • Travel photographers wanting a compact, capable Z body at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification D3400Nikon · 2016Z50 IINikon · 2024
Price £94Best£939
Sensor 24.2MP APS-C CMOS20.9MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 24.2MPBest20.9MP
Video Full HD 1080p/604K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log
Autofocus 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live viewPhase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle)
Stabilisation No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)No stabilisation
Burst Rate 5fps11fps mechanical, 30fps electronicBest
Battery Life ~1200 shots (CIPA)Best~330 shots (CIPA)
Weight 445g (with battery)385g (body only)Best
Dimensions 124 × 98 × 75.5mm127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.85xEVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Nikon F-mount (DX)Nikon Z-mount
Memory Cards Single SD slotSingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB 2.0 (micro-USB), mini HDMI, Bluetooth (SnapBridge)USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
D3400
Z50 II
Portrait
5.6/10
7.2/10
Street
5.9/10
6.4/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
4.8/10
6.3/10
Documentary
4.0/10
7.0/10
Sports & Action
5.0/10
7.9/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
8.1/10
Casual
4.4/10
6.4/10
Food
4.4/10
6.7/10
Macro
3.9/10
6.0/10
Architecture
4.7/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
4.8/10
5.5/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.8/10
Filmmaking
—
6.0/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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