Some cameras let you set an aspect ratio for shooting photos. Many of the more basic cameras come with a default aspect ratio of 4:3. Many of the more advanced cameras come with a standard aspect ratio of 3:2, which, not coincidentally, is the same aspect ratio as 35mm film.
The Nikon D3400 has a sensor that generates images that are up to 6000×4000 pixels, which is an aspect ratio of 3:2.
But what if you want to change that? What if you want to shoot still images that are 16:9, for instance? That is the aspect ratio we’re accustomed to for HD video (most flatscreen TVs and many computer displays have that aspect ratio).
Aspect ratio options on the Nikon D3400
Well, there’s some good and not-so-good news.
First, the not-so-good. There’s no way to adjust the shooting aspect ratio in the D3400. You can change the size, which applies to the pixel measurements, but you can’t actually change the aspect ratio of the images as they’re shot. Regardless of which picture quality and size settings you choose, still images are always shot with the D3400 at a 3:2 aspect ratio (video is always 16:9).
What you can do, however, is crop the images after the fact in the camera. What you need to do is go to the Retouch Menu and then use the Trim function.
There, you’ll find options to crop the aspect ratio to 4:3, 5:4, 1:1, and 16:9. You access each of these preset templates by rotating the options dial at the top right of the back of the camera.
3:2 Aspect ratio
4:3 Aspect ratio
5:4 Aspect ratio
1:1 Aspect ratio
16:9 Aspect ratio
Making adjustments
You can control the position and size of the crop.
To move the crop frame, use the direction buttons around the OK button on the back of the camera.
Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons to resize the crop frame. They’re both on the back left of the camera–the magnifying glass symbols with the plus and minus signs. As you resize the crop frame, you’ll notice the pixel dimensions at the top right adjust. You’ll also notice that the resizing is a fairly blunt instrument because it adjusts in steps rather than smoothly.
Limitations
There are limitations. For one, it only applies to JPG files. If you’re shooting with the RAW NEF files, you can apply the trim and it will save a new JPG file alongside the original NEF. The original NEF will remain untouched.
For another, you can only work on a single image at once, so if you’re hoping to do it for a sequence you’ll find it exceedingly tedious.
So it’s not a true replacement for the option to set a shooting aspect ratio, and it doesn’t work well for multiple images. For more fine-tuned control or to apply the crop to multiple images at once you’ll be better off doing it in post with something like Lightroom. But it does come in handy if you want to share a photo with a different aspect ratio directly from the camera.
Nikon D3400 aspect ratio FAQs
Can the Nikon D3400 shoot panoramas?
The previous model, the D3300, had a built-in panorama mode. Nikon has done away with that in the D3400.
It’s still possible to shoot panoramas with the D3400 by shooting the image sequence and stitching it together using panorama stitching apps. It takes more work and post-processing, but the results are potentially much better.
I’ve put together a guide to shooting panoramas with the Nikon D3400 here.
Hi Thank You for posting this site. It’s answered a lot of questions I have. I’m an amateur photographer and have been playing with my Mom’s Nikon D3400. Love the camera! I have a lot of dumb questions about compression. LOL!!! I’ve been playing with raw and jpg, and raw+jpg. Not realizing after downloading my images on my iPad and my PC that I was losing resolution from editing my images. (Didn’t know you could ruin an image that way?) So if I edit the image-crop, change exposure, etc right on the camera do I still lose resolution or quality? Also the images that I’ve already altered on my pc/tablet, has that affected the images that are on my SD card (lowered quality/resolution?) I know I need a camera for dummies book. Haha haha!
Thanks in advance!!! Yvonne
It depends how the editing is done. If you’re editing the images and resaving it over the top each time, doing that with JPG files will keep degrading the image each time you do it. But some image editing apps, like Lightroom, use a non-destructive workflow that saves the edit instructions in its database and won’t alter the original image (i.e., it treats the originals like master film copies).
How to change mega pixel for Nikon DS 3200
There are a couple of ways to do it. Probably easiest is to use the main menu system on the back of the camera. Go to the Shooting Menu tab (camera icon) and then choose Image Size. You can choose from Large (6016x4000px), Medium (4512x3000px), or Small (3008x2000px). You can find an alternative way to change the image sizing using the Information button here.