Thanks for the Test, but remember, you could goes in Nikons to the picture controls and makes their "filmsimulations" like your taste. Like fujis at some degrees. You could also download Nikon Software to your Computer, to change the settings of every nikon "filmsimulations" and upload your custom "filmsimulation" into your Nikon camera. Better than tuning the colors, contrast, sharpness, and so on in the Nikon camera in the picture control settings. If you tune your nikon picture control the same as, for example fuji provia or eterna, than you could judge the sensors capability more accurate in my opinion, not the jpg engines. It exists also a nikon fan based website with nikon recipes of 40 or more "filmsimulations". Your comparison is very good in that sense, that you mention the shortcomings of your tests, for example the differences in the quality of the kit lenses. Thanks for your videos.
Hi Lynx Werter! Thank you very much. Yes, the tests could be done in a more elaborate fashion as you mention. In this video I tested the cameras the way typical users would use the cameras. Kind regards!
The Nikon D3100 was my first camera and almost got the 3400. Would never have tried going over 1600 ISO. 😅 The D3xxx was a great line for what it offered 👍🏼
Hello Hai it’s Tom! I agree that this is a very nice line of cameras. I typically use my D3400 for macro photography with flash and the camera is always in the ISO 200-400 range. Kind regards!
Thank you for this Tom. On my old D3000, I wouldn't dream of going over ISO 400 as the noise was noticeable, regardless of the lighting conditions. Now that I'm using the D300s, it is better and I can use up to ISO 1600. Yet, both cameras came out in 2009 and both are crop sensor, albeit the D3000 has 10MP and the D300s is 12MP. I love the colours of my Nikon, and personally, I find it easier and smoother to reduce the light than to increase it, as increasing light encourages noise.
Hi badger! Thank you for your message. These are good points. I also try to keep the ISO of my D3400 as low as possible. These days I use it mostly for macro photography with flash at ISO 200 or 400. Kind regards!
@@tom_photo I suppose I will upgrade at some point. I suppose a D7XXX would be the next port of call. I put the disadvantages to my advantage, as I do love my B&W photography, especially the contrast and the 'dirty' 'raw' feel I get in my images. I'm certainly not in any rush to upgrade anytime soon.
@@badger67 Hi badger! Yes, I believe that various cameras possess distinct features, and it is this uniqueness that imparts value to them. The term 'upgrade' suggests that something improves with a change, but in reality, this change doesn't always imply a strictly upward or downward direction. I consider my ancient Fuji X10 to be an excellent camera. Because I have such a strong fondness for it, transitioning back to it from a modern full-frame camera can, in a sense, be seen as an upgrade for me. Cheers!
Correct me if i'm wrong but i always hear that the iso scale fuji uses if different than other brand as shuch you basically need to be 2/3 of a stop higher to be as bright, for exemple you need to be at 5000 ISO to get as bright as 3200 with sony/nikon's therefor when comparing iso from fuji's against non-fuji's camera you shouldn't make X vs X but X+2/3X vs X i think.
Hi Anthony! Thanks for asking this. I think you are correct in that Fuji ISO values are sometimes a bit weird. Theoretically all major camera manufacturers should be using standardized ISO in their cameras. However several different standards exists and I'm not certain what models use what. I think Fuji typically uses SOS (Standard Output Sensitivity) and Nikon should use REI (Recommended Exposure Index). These standards are supposed to be very similar but I'm not sure if they are actually a bit different. Even if there are some differences there, the main conclusion that Fuji images are "smoother" still holds. Nikon D3400 photos look grainy already at ISO 1600, Fuji X-T20 image is almost usable at ISO 12800. The differences are very large. But this topic is certainly interesting. Thank you very much for bringing it up. I will research it further and then I'll produce a video on what I found. I currently have 5 Fuji models and various other cameras so I can do these experiments for you and everyone else. Kind regards!
Hi Andrea! Thank you for asking. This is not an easy question to answer. I'd like to start by asking you what it is that you are currently missing about your D3400 and what part of it needs upgrade? Overall the X-T20 is a bit more capable and also smaller. Once you specify your needs, I can hopefully give you a better answer. Kind regards!
@@tom_photo Hi Tom, just seen your kind reply. Thanks for the information, however I ended up purchasing a pre-owned Canon M50 + 15-45 mm. So far so good :)
To my way of thinking, it would've been much better to compare the outputs using a fixed Kelvin value instead of gambling on the Auto White Balance roulette wheel...
Hi! Thank you for your feedback. This is very true. However, my intention in the video was to see how these cameras behave when white balance is set to auto. This is because most users keep their white balance at auto most of the time. Kind regards!
Thanks, im not im expert, but i have always think that if im going to use a apsc sensor this have to be a Fuji, i like M4/3, and Fullframe or mediun format. But with fuji i dont Mind a APSC. I really like macro, thats why i like m4/3! Thanks again.
Hi NGore-de! This is true, indeed. Fuji is a master of APS-C cameras. Because they are so good Fuji can afford not to make full sensor cameras. Cheers!
If I remember correctly, both the sensors out of the X-T20 and out of the 3400 are the exact same chip from Sony (IMX 271) so ISO performance should be the exact same, besides processing of course. Fuji and Nikon are not using the same ISO standard, and there is about a stop difference between the two. So ISO 6400 on Nikon should be equivalent to ISO 12800 on Fuji.
Hi Uncertain Release! Indeed it's true that the ISO standards are different (and I'm planning to do a separate video on that). Regardless, even when corrected for the standard difference, the Fuji images were much 'cleaner' in my tests. This is attributable to a large degree to the the software differences. But the Fuji X-T20 is using Fuji's own image sensor (X-Trans CMOS III). It has very different architecture from that of the D3400 sensor. So some of the image quality differences can be explained by sensor differences. Kind regards!
Auto white balance on the fuji makes it jump all over the place. Dont use auto on a test. White balance changes if you move the camera just slightly and it is dependent on what the camera was observing right before the photo was taken. Move the camera from the left to the desired scene and you will get a different color on the photo than if you move the camera from the right. I often use the custom setting to lock the white balance so it does not jump around. I am shooting with the Nikon D200 with the 18-105 mm lens these days and I get a lot of crappy photos. Sony a 390 is much better on auto jpegs. The brownish yellow color on the D200 ruins a lot of photos and for landscape the fuji X-T100 is much much better.
Hi Jan-Martin! Thank you for your comments. I fully agree that auto white balance jumps around a lot. This aspect was exactly what I wanted to test in my video. I wanted to know how these two cameras compare in that regard. Since I photographed back to back and from the tripod both cameras had about the same conditions to adapt the the scene. Kind regards!
I would agree. Nothing has changed. On film Fuji strong green. Kodak for skin tone. Its like digital cameras by nikon follow Kodak and fuji follow fuji film.
Very informative and pleasant to watch, thanks Tom!
Hi MR! Thanks so much for watching and giving feedback. Kind regards!
Thanks for the Test, but remember, you could goes in Nikons to the picture controls and makes their "filmsimulations" like your taste. Like fujis at some degrees. You could also download Nikon Software to your Computer, to change the settings of every nikon "filmsimulations" and upload your custom "filmsimulation" into your Nikon camera. Better than tuning the colors, contrast, sharpness, and so on in the Nikon camera in the picture control settings. If you tune your nikon picture control the same as, for example fuji provia or eterna, than you could judge the sensors capability more accurate in my opinion, not the jpg engines. It exists also a nikon fan based website with nikon recipes of 40 or more "filmsimulations". Your comparison is very good in that sense, that you mention the shortcomings of your tests, for example the differences in the quality of the kit lenses. Thanks for your videos.
Hi Lynx Werter! Thank you very much. Yes, the tests could be done in a more elaborate fashion as you mention. In this video I tested the cameras the way typical users would use the cameras. Kind regards!
The Nikon D3100 was my first camera and almost got the 3400. Would never have tried going over 1600 ISO. 😅
The D3xxx was a great line for what it offered 👍🏼
Hello Hai it’s Tom! I agree that this is a very nice line of cameras. I typically use my D3400 for macro photography with flash and the camera is always in the ISO 200-400 range. Kind regards!
Me with my D3300 ❤
Hi Vikram! The D3300 is a wonderful camera. Best of luck to you with your photography!
Great video
Hi! Thank you so much for watching. Kind regards!
Thank you for this Tom.
On my old D3000, I wouldn't dream of going over ISO 400 as the noise was noticeable, regardless of the lighting conditions.
Now that I'm using the D300s, it is better and I can use up to ISO 1600. Yet, both cameras came out in 2009 and both are crop sensor, albeit the D3000 has 10MP and the D300s is 12MP.
I love the colours of my Nikon, and personally, I find it easier and smoother to reduce the light than to increase it, as increasing light encourages noise.
Hi badger! Thank you for your message. These are good points. I also try to keep the ISO of my D3400 as low as possible. These days I use it mostly for macro photography with flash at ISO 200 or 400. Kind regards!
@@tom_photo I suppose I will upgrade at some point. I suppose a D7XXX would be the next port of call.
I put the disadvantages to my advantage, as I do love my B&W photography, especially the contrast and the 'dirty' 'raw' feel I get in my images. I'm certainly not in any rush to upgrade anytime soon.
@@badger67 Hi badger! Yes, I believe that various cameras possess distinct features, and it is this uniqueness that imparts value to them. The term 'upgrade' suggests that something improves with a change, but in reality, this change doesn't always imply a strictly upward or downward direction. I consider my ancient Fuji X10 to be an excellent camera. Because I have such a strong fondness for it, transitioning back to it from a modern full-frame camera can, in a sense, be seen as an upgrade for me. Cheers!
Correct me if i'm wrong but i always hear that the iso scale fuji uses if different than other brand as shuch you basically need to be 2/3 of a stop higher to be as bright, for exemple you need to be at 5000 ISO to get as bright as 3200 with sony/nikon's therefor when comparing iso from fuji's against non-fuji's camera you shouldn't make X vs X but X+2/3X vs X i think.
Hi Anthony! Thanks for asking this. I think you are correct in that Fuji ISO values are sometimes a bit weird. Theoretically all major camera manufacturers should be using standardized ISO in their cameras. However several different standards exists and I'm not certain what models use what. I think Fuji typically uses SOS (Standard Output Sensitivity) and Nikon should use REI (Recommended Exposure Index). These standards are supposed to be very similar but I'm not sure if they are actually a bit different. Even if there are some differences there, the main conclusion that Fuji images are "smoother" still holds. Nikon D3400 photos look grainy already at ISO 1600, Fuji X-T20 image is almost usable at ISO 12800. The differences are very large. But this topic is certainly interesting. Thank you very much for bringing it up. I will research it further and then I'll produce a video on what I found. I currently have 5 Fuji models and various other cameras so I can do these experiments for you and everyone else. Kind regards!
I prefer the cooler look. Easily done in Fuji. Change white balance to red minus 2 and blue plus 4.
Hi Larry! Thanks for the tip. Kind regards!
Would it be worth it to upgrade from the d3400 to the xt20?
Hi Andrea! Thank you for asking. This is not an easy question to answer. I'd like to start by asking you what it is that you are currently missing about your D3400 and what part of it needs upgrade? Overall the X-T20 is a bit more capable and also smaller. Once you specify your needs, I can hopefully give you a better answer. Kind regards!
@@tom_photo Hi Tom, just seen your kind reply. Thanks for the information, however I ended up purchasing a pre-owned Canon M50 + 15-45 mm. So far so good :)
@@andreacignoni4616Hi! This camera is a great choice. Best of luck to you!
I think something major in both shots should be set on your monitor to be exactly the same density, and then we can judge how the rest behaves.
Hello! Yes, for accurate comparison the monitor is very important. Thank you for your feedback. Cheers!
To my way of thinking, it would've been much better to compare the outputs using a fixed Kelvin value instead of gambling on the Auto White Balance roulette wheel...
Hi! Thank you for your feedback. This is very true. However, my intention in the video was to see how these cameras behave when white balance is set to auto. This is because most users keep their white balance at auto most of the time. Kind regards!
Thanks, im not im expert, but i have always think that if im going to use a apsc sensor this have to be a Fuji, i like M4/3, and Fullframe or mediun format. But with fuji i dont Mind a APSC. I really like macro, thats why i like m4/3! Thanks again.
Hi NGore-de! This is true, indeed. Fuji is a master of APS-C cameras. Because they are so good Fuji can afford not to make full sensor cameras. Cheers!
If I remember correctly, both the sensors out of the X-T20 and out of the 3400 are the exact same chip from Sony (IMX 271) so ISO performance should be the exact same, besides processing of course.
Fuji and Nikon are not using the same ISO standard, and there is about a stop difference between the two. So ISO 6400 on Nikon should be equivalent to ISO 12800 on Fuji.
Hi Uncertain Release! Indeed it's true that the ISO standards are different (and I'm planning to do a separate video on that). Regardless, even when corrected for the standard difference, the Fuji images were much 'cleaner' in my tests. This is attributable to a large degree to the the software differences. But the Fuji X-T20 is using Fuji's own image sensor (X-Trans CMOS III). It has very different architecture from that of the D3400 sensor. So some of the image quality differences can be explained by sensor differences. Kind regards!
Auto white balance on the fuji makes it jump all over the place. Dont use auto on a test. White balance changes if you move the camera just slightly and it is dependent on what the camera was observing right before the photo was taken. Move the camera from the left to the desired scene and you will get a different color on the photo than if you move the camera from the right. I often use the custom setting to lock the white balance so it does not jump around. I am shooting with the Nikon D200 with the 18-105 mm lens these days and I get a lot of crappy photos. Sony a 390 is much better on auto jpegs. The brownish yellow color on the D200 ruins a lot of photos and for landscape the fuji X-T100 is much much better.
Hi Jan-Martin! Thank you for your comments. I fully agree that auto white balance jumps around a lot. This aspect was exactly what I wanted to test in my video. I wanted to know how these two cameras compare in that regard. Since I photographed back to back and from the tripod both cameras had about the same conditions to adapt the the scene. Kind regards!
I would agree. Nothing has changed. On film Fuji strong green. Kodak for skin tone. Its like digital cameras by nikon follow Kodak and fuji follow fuji film.
Hi Ian! Yes, these two camera brands are dealing with color quite differently. Both are very valid approaches, just different. Kind regards!