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Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Comparison

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Nikon D3400

24 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D3400
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Pentax X90

12 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Pentax X90
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Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon D3400, which was introduced in August 2016 is a Entry-Level DSLR camera with a 24.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Pentax X90, which was introduced in July 2010 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, X90 is 6 years older than D3400. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D3400 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-08-17
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 395g. 124 x 98 x 76 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D3300 Compare

Pentax X90 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-07-06
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 26-676 mm F2.8-5.0 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 428g. 111 x 85 x 110 mm

Nikon D3400 was replaced by Nikon D3500. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D3400
Nikon D3500 vs Pentax X90

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon D3400 over Pentax X90
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 12 MP 100% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 6.400 300% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
11 vs 9 2 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3 vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Weight
395 g vs 428 g 33 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
15.28µm2 vs 2.31µm2 561% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CHECK D3400 PRICE


Reasons to choose Pentax X90 over Nikon D3400
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Internal Storage
31.6 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Flash Coverage
9.1m vs 7.0m 2.1m longer range
CHECK X90 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
LCD Screen Size
2.70" vs 2.70" Small display
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D3400 has external dimensions of 124 x 98 x 76 mm (4.88 x 3.86 x 2.99″) and weighs 395 g (0.87 lb / 13.93 oz) (including batteries). Pentax X90 has external dimensions of 111 x 85 x 110 mm (4.37 x 3.35 x 4.33″) and weighs 428 g (0.94 lb / 15.10 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon D3400 and the Pentax X90. Pentax X90 is 13mm narrower and 13mm shorter than Nikon D3400 but it is also 34mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Pentax X90 has a built-in lens but Nikon D3400 doesn't. Once you put a lens on D3400, its thickness will increase significantly.

Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon D3400 and the Pentax X90 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90.

Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon D3400 and the Pentax X90 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90.
Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon D3400 and the the Pentax X90 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D3400 is 33g lighter than the Pentax X90 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on D3400, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon D3400 nor Pentax X90 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D3400's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Pentax X90's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D3400 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 4 processor. On the other hand, Pentax X90 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Prime processor.

Nikon D3400's sensor provides 12MP more than Pentax X90's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon D3400's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D3400 and X90 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 Cameras


As seen above, Nikon D3400 has a 13.2x Larger sensor area than Pentax X90. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D3400 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax X90 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Nikon D3400 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax X90 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon D3400 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Pentax X90 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1200 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
676 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Nikon D3400 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Pentax X90 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Large Body
395g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
26.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
428g
Body Thickness 110mm
Read the details

Nikon D3400 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Pentax X90 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D3400 vs Pentax X90: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D3400 and Pentax X90 scores compare:

Nikon D3400
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #31 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #267 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Pentax X90
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #83 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #727 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon D3400 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Pentax X90 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon D3400
Nikon D3400
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Pentax X90
Pentax X90
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Pentax X90 vs Nikon D3400 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D3400 Pentax X90
Brand Nikon Pentax
Announced 2016-08-17 2010-07-06
Body Type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size APS-C 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 23.5 x 15.6 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 366.60mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 26-676 mm (26×)
Max Aperture no lens F2.8-5.0
Macro Focus Range no lens 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.70"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder Coverage 95% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.56x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.10 m
Max Flash Sync 1/200s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Optional Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 395g 428g
Dimensions 124 x 98 x 76mm 111 x 85 x 110mm
Battery Life 1200 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 86 not tested
DxO Color Depth 24.8 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 13.9 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 1192 not tested
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