SLR Digital Camera
Mar 9, 2017 12:50:56 #
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Mar 9, 2017 12:58:35 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Get the D3300 instead of the D3400. Nikon improved nothing on the D3400 and took out the vibrating sensor cleaner: a stupid move IM(not so)HO.
I can't directly help on the Canon comparison. Snapsort.com is one place to start.
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T6-vs-Nikon-D3300
Mar 9, 2017 13:52:46 #
4bcsmith
Loc: Portland, Oregon
I don't have any comments on the Rebel T6, but I have a Canon 7D Mark II. Love it! I've always preferred Canon since DSLR's have been introduced. IMO, Nikon's reputation with film cameras didn't carry over into DSLR's. Don't get me wrong, Nikon is an EXCELLENT camera and share many great features. I just believe that Canon passed Nikon in the beginning of DSLR's and has continued to stay above Nikon with its extra features and user friendliness.
Mar 9, 2017 14:17:21 #
The D3400 or D3300 if you don't care about wifi is a very nice beginner DSLR and in many cases, the most camera many folks will ever need. It is much nicer than the base Canon t6 but not as good as the more expensive t6i or t6s. If cost is a factor, go with the D3400. If cost is not a major factor, the new t7i is the best Rebel series cameras to date. If cost is not a factor, consider a new (or Canon refurbished) 80D. It is an excellent, easy to learn, general purpose DSLR, and a factory refurbished unit will save you around $250.
Mar 10, 2017 06:35:54 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Go to a camera store and check them out. I've used both and find the Canon to have more user friendly menus. That's about the only thing that has kept me buying Canon. Other than that both companies make fine camera products. They are both entry level cameras.
The term SLR has been replaced by DSLR . . . short for Digital Single Lens Reflex. You put the word digital at the end. Just pointing that out to you.
Mar 10, 2017 07:33:49 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu
Mar 10, 2017 08:20:16 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Be sure you check out Tony and Chelsea Northrup's YouTube channel. They have extensive input into this matter.
Get a used/refurbished 3300 instead of the 3400. As MtnMan noted, the 3400 is a step backwards, and the 3300 will cost less!
Mar 10, 2017 08:42:15 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
Choose the camera that feels better in your hands. All the gizmos in one camera or another (of simillar specs) are not as important.
Mar 10, 2017 08:48:31 #
RML wrote:
I am looking to get back into slr digital photography and would appreciate comments comparing the Canon Rebel T6 with the Nikon D3400. Thank you for your insight.
No direct comparison but I'd go with the T6i not the T6, BTW i know a Nikon owner that grabs my Canon every time she gets a chance, Bob.
Mar 10, 2017 09:15:49 #
I have used Canons since 1965 and have never had a problem, right now Nikon has a lot of rumor's going around about buy out coming ??
Mar 10, 2017 10:13:09 #
Google Rebel T6 vs D3400 and you will find a few detailed comparisons. Many will tell you to go to a camera store and handle them. this might make sense for some people but not for me. If you're new to DSLR photography it will take days to really learn the camera. A few minutes in a store isn't enough. Even renting for a day may not be enough, and in a store you risk getting pushed into what they want to sell.
Mar 10, 2017 11:47:19 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Those are their respective company's current most entry-level, lowest cost models.
Canon SL1 is smaller and lighter than T6, but basically the same camera in most specs and functionality.
Canon T6 is about to be superseded by T7. SL1 is about to be superseded by SL2. The earlier models will be on sale, no doubt.
T6i and T6s are more advanced and more expensive models with higher performance autofocus, newer/higher resolution image sensor, articulated LCD screen and more.
T6s is being superseded by the newly announced 77D... No replacement for the T6i has been announced yet, but is probably not very far behind.
This is true... BUT, sometimes one camera or another just "feels" better or their menu seems to make more sense.
I'm a Canon shooter and would buy that system again today. But I know folks who are quite happy with Nikon (and Pentax, and Sony, and Olympus).
One thing I like about Canon... all the EF and EF-S lenses made the past 30 years fit and work on all the APS-C DSLR models. I can basically choose any of the 89 Canon lenses currently offered at B&H Photo and use them on my Canon APS-C cameras, no problem.
With Nikon D3000 and D5000-series, if you want the lens to autofocus you need to buy AF-S or AF-P lenses. AF-D lenses don't have a built-in focusing motor and rely upon one built into the camera body to autofocus. Only the D7000 and D500 series cameras have the in-body motor. Nikon has been gradually converting their lenses over to AF-S (and now some to AF-P)... and there is good selection now, from among about 66 FX and DX lenses currently listed at B&H Photo. (I'm referencing B&H because as one of the largest retailers, they're likely to carry or at least list all currently offered lenses.)
Canon SL1 is smaller and lighter than T6, but basically the same camera in most specs and functionality.
Canon T6 is about to be superseded by T7. SL1 is about to be superseded by SL2. The earlier models will be on sale, no doubt.
T6i and T6s are more advanced and more expensive models with higher performance autofocus, newer/higher resolution image sensor, articulated LCD screen and more.
T6s is being superseded by the newly announced 77D... No replacement for the T6i has been announced yet, but is probably not very far behind.
Quote:
...If you're new to DSLR photography it will take days to really learn the camera. A few minutes in a store isn't enough....
This is true... BUT, sometimes one camera or another just "feels" better or their menu seems to make more sense.
I'm a Canon shooter and would buy that system again today. But I know folks who are quite happy with Nikon (and Pentax, and Sony, and Olympus).
One thing I like about Canon... all the EF and EF-S lenses made the past 30 years fit and work on all the APS-C DSLR models. I can basically choose any of the 89 Canon lenses currently offered at B&H Photo and use them on my Canon APS-C cameras, no problem.
With Nikon D3000 and D5000-series, if you want the lens to autofocus you need to buy AF-S or AF-P lenses. AF-D lenses don't have a built-in focusing motor and rely upon one built into the camera body to autofocus. Only the D7000 and D500 series cameras have the in-body motor. Nikon has been gradually converting their lenses over to AF-S (and now some to AF-P)... and there is good selection now, from among about 66 FX and DX lenses currently listed at B&H Photo. (I'm referencing B&H because as one of the largest retailers, they're likely to carry or at least list all currently offered lenses.)
Mar 10, 2017 12:57:49 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
The problem with asking the "Nikon or Canon" question on a forum like this is that you'll get the Nikon fanboyz and fangirlz recommending their fav... and the Canon shooters like me will recommend their brand. I'm a little surprised no one has spoken up yet for Sony or Pentax or Oly... That will probably happen soon, too. 
Very few people here will have much hands-on experience with multiple brands. (I happen to have and use some Nikon, Pentax, Oly and others... But they're all vintage cameras in my collection. My modern "daily user" DSLR system for work is Canon gear.)
Really, all brands offer very capable, entry-level models like the Nikon and Canon you asked about. Any of them can be learned to use well and take great shots... It's mostly just nuances and small conveniences that set them apart... Such as the lack of a self-cleaning sensor on the D3400 that some people have noted. BTW, actually the Canon T6 doesn't have a self-cleaning sensor either. I believe the similar, but smaller Canon SL1/100D does have one... As do the T6i/750D and T6s/760D and all other current Canon DSLRs. A self-cleaning sensor is a nice feature I personally really wouldn't want to be without! I often find myself shooting in dusty conditions. Even though I use multiple cameras to minimize lens changes and risk of dust getting inside, years ago when using cameras without self-cleaning sensors I had to do manual cleanings fairly frequently... every 1 to 3 months. Now with self-cleaning sensors it's necessary a lot less often... maybe every year or two, with reasonable care.
Whatever brand and model you decide to buy, you can probably get more bang for your $ buying a "kit" that includes one or two lenses. For example, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS STM is usually included with their entry level models and is a decent lens, though a bit plasticky (all lenses will be, at this price level). If you get a two-lens kit, the second lens will nearly always be a telephoto zoom. With entry-level models they often come bundled with either EF-S 55-250mm IS STM or EF 75-300mm lens. AVOID the 75-300mm! It's simply not one of Canon's best efforts. The EF-S 55-250mm IS STM has much better image quality, is closer focusing, has faster/quieter STM focus drive, and has helpful image stabilization. The 75-300mm falls short in all these respects.
Some of the biggest retailers let you design your own "kit". But beware of "bundles" from fly-by-night outfits online. They often substitute lower quality items that really don't add up. Stick with the major, long-established, reputable dealers, to be safe. There are lots of shysters online!
You also should look beyond the basic camera (and kit lens, if you buy that way). What other lenses and accessories that you might eventually want are offered? How good are they and what do they cost? For example, if you also want a wide angle lens Canon has one of the best deals of all: their EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is the smallest, lightest, least expensive by far, and currently the only ultrawide with image stabilization (which really isn't all that necessary on an ultrawide, but is nice to have since it can do no harm and doesn't appear to add cost). The EF-S 10-18mm costs under $300. The most comparable Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm DX costs 3X as much! Almost $900!!! In some other comparisons, you may find that Nikon or another brand has some advantage. My point, though, is to do some comparison beyond the camera itself.
Or, do you want to be able to use vintage gear... such as old manual focus lenses? Many old Nikkors can be used on modern Nikon DSLRs. A lot of old Pentax lenses will work on Pentax DSLRs and vintage Olympus often can be used on modern Oly cameras. Sony (Minolta, Konica-Minolta) and Canon actually cannot use a lot of their own more vintage lenses. However, via simple adapters both Canon and Sony can accommodate a lot of vintage Nikon, Pentax, Oly and other manufacturers' old lenses. In most cases they will be manual focus and aperture control only, of course... but there are literally millions of excellent vintage lenses that might be bought at some savings and can be a lot of fun to use.
Also consider third party products offered that are compatible with whatever system you consider. For example, most third party lens manufacturers make their products to fit Nikon and Canon. A bit less, but many offer Sony compatible items, too. Somewhat less things are offered for Pentax, Olympus and some other brands of cameras. In addition to lenses, you might also want to compare other accessories such as flash, battery grips, etc.
Look for some online reviews and tests of the cameras you're considering. There's a whole lot of info out there about specific models. Professional reviewers have more hands-on experience with a variety of gear and may give you more useful insight than forum participants or user comments on retailer websites. Bryan Carnathian, Tony Northrup, Michael Reichmann... heck, even Ken Rockwell... dpreview.com, techradar.com, imaging-resource.com, cnet.com and many other people and websites offer extensive reviews. Google is your friend (searches for "Canon T6 review" and "Nikon D3400 review" both found over 400,000 results!)
Canon USA has had an online store for several years, where they sell refurbished cameras, lenses and accessories at some savings. That can be a good deal, since their refurbs are often hard to tell from and have the same warranty as new. I think Nikon has recently started doing similar direct sales.
Do be careful, though. I was in the market for two cameras last year and was about to buy them refurbished, when I discovered that between sale prices and bundled items I could actually buy brand new even cheaper. There are various promotions from time to time throughout the year, that might make brand new a better value than used or refurbished!
Have fun shopping!
Very few people here will have much hands-on experience with multiple brands. (I happen to have and use some Nikon, Pentax, Oly and others... But they're all vintage cameras in my collection. My modern "daily user" DSLR system for work is Canon gear.)Really, all brands offer very capable, entry-level models like the Nikon and Canon you asked about. Any of them can be learned to use well and take great shots... It's mostly just nuances and small conveniences that set them apart... Such as the lack of a self-cleaning sensor on the D3400 that some people have noted. BTW, actually the Canon T6 doesn't have a self-cleaning sensor either. I believe the similar, but smaller Canon SL1/100D does have one... As do the T6i/750D and T6s/760D and all other current Canon DSLRs. A self-cleaning sensor is a nice feature I personally really wouldn't want to be without! I often find myself shooting in dusty conditions. Even though I use multiple cameras to minimize lens changes and risk of dust getting inside, years ago when using cameras without self-cleaning sensors I had to do manual cleanings fairly frequently... every 1 to 3 months. Now with self-cleaning sensors it's necessary a lot less often... maybe every year or two, with reasonable care.
Whatever brand and model you decide to buy, you can probably get more bang for your $ buying a "kit" that includes one or two lenses. For example, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS STM is usually included with their entry level models and is a decent lens, though a bit plasticky (all lenses will be, at this price level). If you get a two-lens kit, the second lens will nearly always be a telephoto zoom. With entry-level models they often come bundled with either EF-S 55-250mm IS STM or EF 75-300mm lens. AVOID the 75-300mm! It's simply not one of Canon's best efforts. The EF-S 55-250mm IS STM has much better image quality, is closer focusing, has faster/quieter STM focus drive, and has helpful image stabilization. The 75-300mm falls short in all these respects.
Some of the biggest retailers let you design your own "kit". But beware of "bundles" from fly-by-night outfits online. They often substitute lower quality items that really don't add up. Stick with the major, long-established, reputable dealers, to be safe. There are lots of shysters online!
You also should look beyond the basic camera (and kit lens, if you buy that way). What other lenses and accessories that you might eventually want are offered? How good are they and what do they cost? For example, if you also want a wide angle lens Canon has one of the best deals of all: their EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is the smallest, lightest, least expensive by far, and currently the only ultrawide with image stabilization (which really isn't all that necessary on an ultrawide, but is nice to have since it can do no harm and doesn't appear to add cost). The EF-S 10-18mm costs under $300. The most comparable Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm DX costs 3X as much! Almost $900!!! In some other comparisons, you may find that Nikon or another brand has some advantage. My point, though, is to do some comparison beyond the camera itself.
Or, do you want to be able to use vintage gear... such as old manual focus lenses? Many old Nikkors can be used on modern Nikon DSLRs. A lot of old Pentax lenses will work on Pentax DSLRs and vintage Olympus often can be used on modern Oly cameras. Sony (Minolta, Konica-Minolta) and Canon actually cannot use a lot of their own more vintage lenses. However, via simple adapters both Canon and Sony can accommodate a lot of vintage Nikon, Pentax, Oly and other manufacturers' old lenses. In most cases they will be manual focus and aperture control only, of course... but there are literally millions of excellent vintage lenses that might be bought at some savings and can be a lot of fun to use.
Also consider third party products offered that are compatible with whatever system you consider. For example, most third party lens manufacturers make their products to fit Nikon and Canon. A bit less, but many offer Sony compatible items, too. Somewhat less things are offered for Pentax, Olympus and some other brands of cameras. In addition to lenses, you might also want to compare other accessories such as flash, battery grips, etc.
Look for some online reviews and tests of the cameras you're considering. There's a whole lot of info out there about specific models. Professional reviewers have more hands-on experience with a variety of gear and may give you more useful insight than forum participants or user comments on retailer websites. Bryan Carnathian, Tony Northrup, Michael Reichmann... heck, even Ken Rockwell... dpreview.com, techradar.com, imaging-resource.com, cnet.com and many other people and websites offer extensive reviews. Google is your friend (searches for "Canon T6 review" and "Nikon D3400 review" both found over 400,000 results!)
Canon USA has had an online store for several years, where they sell refurbished cameras, lenses and accessories at some savings. That can be a good deal, since their refurbs are often hard to tell from and have the same warranty as new. I think Nikon has recently started doing similar direct sales.
Do be careful, though. I was in the market for two cameras last year and was about to buy them refurbished, when I discovered that between sale prices and bundled items I could actually buy brand new even cheaper. There are various promotions from time to time throughout the year, that might make brand new a better value than used or refurbished!
Have fun shopping!
Mar 10, 2017 13:03:01 #
I am a Canon person so I can't comment on the Nikons. The T6 is a stripped down budget model that can take very good shots most of the time. I would only get it if $ is critical, otherwise the T6i or T6s would be my choice.
Mar 10, 2017 19:45:39 #
I have the D3300 - very happy with it. I agree that the 3400 is a step backwards by taking out the sensor cleaner. One thing though the lens they introduced around the same time the AF-*P* 18-55 is a very good lens (vs the older AF-*S* version which is also good). I tried to like the Canon's but the have a cheap look and feel about them ("plasticy") I don't know maybe it's just me. The Nikons, even the lowly D3300 seem better constructed than even the mid-range Canons.
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