Nikon D3400 – The Basics

The Nikon D3400 is a great entry-level camera with plenty of features.
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How to use the Nikon D3400

1. First and most important! The Nikon D3400 does not come with an SD card. You will need to supply your own. Sizes can range from 32GB to 256GB.
   
2. Putting your SD card into the camera. Open the SD card compartment. If you’re pointing the camera as if to take a photo, it’s on the right side at the bottom.
   
3. Gently slide the cover in the direction of the arrow that’s marked on the door.
   
4. The door is spring-loaded and will pop open. Don’t force it–it’s not very strong.
   
5. Slide the memory card into the slot. The side of the SD card with the label should face the front of the camera. The side with the metal contact points should be facing forward in the direction of the lens.
   
6. Gently push the card down into the camera until it clicks into place. It should stay in place flush with the slot. Don’t force it. If it doesn’t go down easily, the first thing to check is that the card is the right way around.
   
7. Close the SD compartment door by folding it down and gently sliding it back into place.
    
8. Now let's take a look at the external functions of the Nikon D3400.
   
   
   
   
9. Some quick tips!
   • Always check your settings before heading out to take pictures. The sunny-day settings you used yesterday won’t work well for tonight’s low light conditions.
   • Make sure the lens is dust-free.
   • If you’re going to be shooting in a quiet venue (a museum, at a wedding, etc.), go into the setup menu and turn off the beep that indicates when the image is in focus.
   • In the setup menu, make sure Slot empty-release lock is set to Lock so you don’t take pictures when you don’t have an SD card in the camera.
   • Always check your shutter speed, regardless of what exposure mode you’re in, to make sure it’s fast enough to handhold and avoid blurry pictures. I tend to aim for at least 1/125th sec when possible, but others have a steadier hand and can easily shoot at slower shutter speeds.
10. The Mode dial:The Mode Dial is the most important control on the D3400. From here, you choose the camera’s exposure mode. Not only does your choice affect the way in which the camera exposes the image but also what other controls you have access to. 

    

Mode Dial:

P = Program Auto. The camera chooses the shutter speed and aperture setting but you can change other parameters such as exposure compensation (to make the image lighter or darker). This is a good mode to start your exploration of the camera’s features.

S = Shutter Priority. You choose the shutter speed; the camera selects the appropriate aperture setting for what the camera considers a good exposure.

A = Aperture Priority. You choose the aperture (f-stop) setting; the camera selects the appropriate shutter speed.

M = Manual. You have full control.

Guide. Choose the Guide mode for help.

Scene modes. Choose a scene type.

Auto/Auto Flash Off. Camera selects settings.

Effects. Explore special effects.