Upgrade to Nikon D3400 camera: I am considering buying a new, refurbished, or very good used Nikon DX camera and using my D3400 as a second body. I love the D3400 but find myself...

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

I am considering buying a new, refurbished, or very good used Nikon DX camera and using my D3400 as a second body. I love the D3400 but find myself wanting something that I can have a tilting screen and that will give more tethering options as I would like to try some astrophotography. I would also like a body with better video options. I looked through the archives but couldn't find a previous post to answer my question.

Any thoughts or other references?

Thank you!

User ID

Youre asking a lot from the Nikon DX realm, so go for a used D500. B&H and KEH have a few of them at about 950USD.

My thoughts are that you may need to get away from Nikon DX for your video and astro. A used Z7 and FTZ is about 1400USD and you can put a big fast CF Express-B card in it for your video, and it has bigger sensor for your astro. When using a DX lens it crops to 20MP.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jcryan wrote:

I am considering buying a new, refurbished, or very good used Nikon DX camera and using my D3400 as a second body. I love the D3400 but find myself wanting something that I can have a tilting screen and that will give more tethering options as I would like to try some astrophotography. I would also like a body with better video options. I looked through the archives but couldn't find a previous post to answer my question.

Any thoughts or other references?

Thank you!

You need to get on board with mirrorless. DSLR's are lame when it comes to astrophotography. I would like to see you move on from the past and embrace the future.
Yes, it is a little learning curve but one that will heighten your photographic appreciation.
You can enter the mirrorless world with the Z50 on even a used Z6 or Z7.
Really, you should consider all possible worlds before making a decision.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

billnikon wrote:

You need to get on board with mirrorless. DSLR's are lame when it comes to astrophotography. I would like to see you move on from the past and embrace the future.
Yes, it is a little learning curve but one that will heighten your photographic appreciation.
You can enter the mirrorless world with the Z50 on even a used Z6 or Z7.
Really, you should consider all possible worlds before making a decision.

"DSLR's are lame when it comes to astrophotography."

DSLRs, compared to mirrorless, also tend to be a little lame for video.

BebuLamar

When a DSLR is used in liveview or video it's no longer a DSLR. It's basically a mirrorless with no viewfinder (only the back LCD).

Bayou

The D7500 is the most similar model to your D3400 that has a tilting screen. Note that it has a tilting screen, not the fully articulated "Flippy" screen. I'm one of the few who prefers the simpler tilt screen. It's quicker to tilt, stays square and aligned to the sensor plane when extended, and is less vulnerable to breakage than the full flippy type. The D7500 is a very fine camera in many ways.

The D500 has a similar screen and is larger, heavier, and more capable in terms of speed...great for sports and moving wildlife.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It might help to know what this 'second' camera would be 2nd to relative to your primary body. As others have noted, you'd be better served with a newer / final Nikon DX DSLR, or jumping directly to a DX format mirrorless.

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

I live near the beach on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. It is hot humid, and often breezy with blowing dust and sand.

I often use two lenses a 18-55 mm and my go to lens 70-300 mm. It would be good if I could mount the 70-300 on the new body and the 18-55 on my D3400 and keep the sand and dust out of the equation.

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

CHG_CANON wrote:

It might help to know what this 'second' camera would be 2nd to relative to your primary body. As others have noted, you'd be better served with a newer / final Nikon DX DSLR, or jumping directly to a DX format mirrorless.

I live near the beach on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. It is hot humid, and often breezy with blowing dust and sand.

I often use two lenses a 18-55 mm and my go to lens 70-300 mm. It would be good if I could mount the 70-300 on the new body and the 18-55 on my D3400 and keep the sand and dust out of the equation.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

jcryan wrote:

I live near the beach on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. It is hot humid, and often breezy with blowing dust and sand.

I often use two lenses a 18-55 mm and my go to lens 70-300 mm. It would be good if I could mount the 70-300 on the new body and the 18-55 on my D3400 and keep the sand and dust out of the equation.

At 24MP, the D3400 is more pixel resolution than some of Nikon's later DX models. It's small size pairs well with the small 18-55. The camera was released on 2016 and discontinued in 2018. If you go with this entry-level model, get it used and as cheap as possible. I'd try for one in the sub $200 USD range.

For moveable screen, entry-level, small, and 24MP, look too at the D5500 / D5600 options.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

I have a D3400 and am concidering an upgrade, I'm pretty certain it will be a Zfc with an FTZ adpter. The Zfc has articulating screen rather than tilting, I have no preferance for one over the other. It has 209 focus points vs the 11 of the D3400 which I sometimes find frustrating, face recognition and eye tracking focus. It shoots 11 frames per second continuous, good for sports or wildlife, which is why i'm upgrading my dx camera insted of going full frame which would require longer lenses. DigiCamControl is free software that I use to teather my D3400 to a laptop using a cable if your interested in teathering to a laptop.

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

CHG_CANON wrote:

At 24MP, the D3400 is more pixel resolution than some of Nikon's later DX models. It's small size pairs well with the small 18-55. The camera was released on 2016 and discontinued in 2018. If you go with this entry-level model, get it used and as cheap as possible. I'd try for one in the sub $200 USD range.

For moveable screen, entry-level, small, and 24MP, look too at the D5500 / D5600 options.

My current camera is the D3400. I'm looking to upgrade.

User ID

BebuLamar wrote:

When a DSLR is used in liveview or video it's no longer a DSLR. It's basically a mirrorless with no viewfinder (only the back LCD).

IOW, lame.

User ID

jcryan wrote:

I live near the beach on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. It is hot humid, and often breezy with blowing dust and sand.

I often use two lenses a 18-55 mm and my go to lens 70-300 mm. It would be good if I could mount the 70-300 on the new body and the 18-55 on my D3400 and keep the sand and dust out of the equation.

Looks like youve just prescribed a FF body for the second body, which you just stated will be wearing the 70-300.

My own 70-300 is pretty much monogamous with a very basic FF body. Its an older lens so acoarst its on an adapter. Its an OEM adapter so the weather sealing is maintained.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

jcryan wrote:

My current camera is the D3400. I'm looking to upgrade.

Thanks for the clarification. I misread the OP. Their been suggestions for higher-end DX models are above, whether a DSLR or MILC.