Canon EOS 80D vs Nikon D3400 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS 80D and the Nikon D3400 are APS-C DSLRs from 2016, and the D3400 is the easier camera to pack for travel. It measures 124 x 98 x 76 mm and weighs 445 g, against 139 x 105 x 79 mm and 730 g for the 80D. Both use an optical viewfinder DSLR design, so framing comes through the lens rather than a screen.

The 80D is the stronger choice for photographing moving subjects, because it offers 45 autofocus points against 11 on the D3400. That larger array gives you more aiming options when you track a runner or a bird. It also shoots at 7 fps instead of 5 fps, capturing more frames as action unfolds.

The 80D also gives a shorter maximum exposure of 1/8000 second, useful for wide apertures in bright daylight, where the D3400 stops at 1/4000. Resolution is a similarity, with both cameras producing 24.2 MP files from an APS-C CMOS sensor. That gives equal cropping room and large print size from the files. Neither body has in-body stabilisation, so steady handheld work rests on the lens.

Video tops out identically, so neither camera offers 4K cropping room for large-screen playback. Both record Full HD, and both reach a maximum of 60 fps. The 80D adds a built-in timelapse function, which the D3400 leaves out.

The 80D also records in MP4 as well as MOV, while the D3400 records only MOV. If your editing software or sharing workflow prefers MP4, the 80D saves a conversion step.

The 80D is far better equipped for awkward shooting angles, with an articulating touch screen that tilts for low or overhead shots. The D3400 has a fixed, non-touch screen. The 80D also offers weather sealing for damp or dusty conditions, plus WiFi for wireless image transfer to a phone or computer.

The D3400 answers with Bluetooth, which keeps a connection to a phone for easy sharing on the road. Both include a built-in flash, support an external flash, offer live view on a 3 inch LCD, and lack GPS, so location tagging needs an external recorder on either body.

The D3400 has the longer rated battery life, at 1200 shots per charge against 960 for the 80D. For a full day of sightseeing without a charger, that rating favours the Nikon under its stated test conditions.

Both use a single SD card slot, so neither offers backup or overflow recording. The 80D's slot is UHS-I compatible, supporting faster card writes during bursts, while the D3400 accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC without that bus speed. Neither camera charges over USB.