Don't Overpay for Nikon D3400 SD Memory Cards

The Nikon D3400 uses SD memory cards and is compatible with cards up to 2TB. Any UHS-I card will work well.

128GB is a practical size that balances cost, capacity, and compatibility with other devices.

My Nikon D3400 Lens Recommendations

Nikon D3400 SD Card Compatibility

Any new 32GB or larger SD card will be fast enough for photos and video on the D3400.

The brand doesn’t matter as the most well known ones are leaving the market to make storage for AI data centers. The result is that SD card prices are 2-3 times more expensive than they were 2 years ago.

There is no reason to buy a UHS-II card. The camera cannot use the extra speed, so you would be paying for nothing.

Avoid used cards as well. There is no reliable way to know how much life they have left.

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Lexar Professional 128GB

• UHS-I, U3, V30 rated with sustained 30MB/s write speeds
• Handles photos and 4K video recording
• Available in larger capacities

SanDisk Ultra 64GB

• UHS-I, U1, Class 10 rated with sustained 10MB/s write speeds
• Good for photos and Full HD (1920x1080) video
• Lower price point with sufficient performance
• Available in larger capacities

PNY Elite-X 128GB SD Card

• UHS-I, U3, V30, Class 10 rated with sustained 30MB/s write speeds
• Handles burst shooting and 4K video
• Waterproof, shockproof, temperature-proof, and magnet-proof
• Available in larger capacities

SD Card Compatibility

The Nikon D3400 supports the SD, SDHC, and SDXC standards. Make sure the camera is running the latest firmware. SDUC cards will not work with the D3400.

• SD (Secure Digital) — 128MB to 2GB
• SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) — 4GB to 32GB
• SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) — 64GB to 2TB
• SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) — 4TB to 128TB (not compatible)

How Many Photos Will Fit?

Approximate capacity for high-quality JPEGs from the 24.2 megapixel sensor:

• 32GB — ~4,400 photos
• 64GB — ~8,800 photos
• 128GB — ~17,600 photos
• 256GB — ~35,200 photos
• 512GB — ~70,400 photos

Does the D3400 Have Two Card Slots?

No. The D3400 has a single SD card slot. The dual-slot options listed below (mirror, overflow, RAW*JPEG) apply to Nikon bodies that have two slots and are included here for reference.

• Mirror — both cards receive identical files
• Overflow — the second card fills after the first is full
• RAW+JPEG — RAW files go to one card, JPEGs to the other

Do the cards need to match? No, but using identical cards avoids potential issues. A slower card in a two-slot body can bottleneck the camera buffer.

Speed Ratings Explained

Class Rating

The Class rating reflects the minimum sustained write speed and appears as a number inside a C on the card label. Class 10 cards are typically much faster than 10MB/s in practice, which is why additional rating systems exist for video use.

• Class 2 — 2MB/s minimum
• Class 4 — 4MB/s minimum
• Class 6 — 6MB/s minimum
• Class 8 — 8MB/s minimum
• Class 10 — 10MB/s minimum

UHS Bus Rating

The UHS bus rating appears as a Roman numeral on the card label. The D3400 only supports UHS-I. A UHS-II card will not work, but at UHS-I speeds, making them a waste of money.

• UHS-I — up to 104 MB/s
• UHS-II — up to 312 MB/s (not usable by the D3400)
• UHS-III — up to 624 MB/s (not usable by the D3400)

Card Readers

A card reader with a short tail cable is worth looking for. Readers that plug directly into a port often block adjacent ports.

A UHS-II compatible reader is a good choice if you think you might upgrade your D3400 in the future.