Clicky

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
84
Overall
75
Nikon Z30 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Nikon Z30
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 405g - 128 x 74 x 60mm
  • Launched June 2022
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Newer Model is Sony A7 II
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Nikon Z30 versus Sony A7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Z30 (21MP) and the A7 (24MP) is pretty comparable but the Z30 (APS-C) and A7 (Full frame) have totally different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The Z30 was unveiled 8 years later than the A7 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the Z30 matches up against the A7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z30 over the Sony A7

 Z30 A7 
IntroducedJune 2022January 2014Fresher by 103 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Nikon Z30

 A7 Z30 
Screen resolution1230k1040kClearer screen (+190k dot)

Common features in the Nikon Z30 and Sony A7

 Z30 A7 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen size3.00"3"Same screen size

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z30 has got exterior dimensions of 128mm x 74mm x 60mm (5.0" x 2.9" x 2.4") with a weight of 405 grams (0.89 lbs) and the Sony A7 has proportions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon Z30 versus Sony A7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the Z30 against the A7.

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the Z30 and A7 is 79 and 78 respectively.

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the Z30 and A7.

As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The Z30 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony A7 will show greater detail having an extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern Z30 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7 as a Portrait photography camera
82
manual focus
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
82
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Nikon Z30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7 as a Street photography camera
75
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (405g)
79
has a tilting screen
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (474g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Nikon Z30 Sports photography information
Sony A7 Sports photography information
76
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
66
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent MP (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery power (340 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon Z30 Travel photography information
Sony A7 Travel photography information
78
environment sealing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
MP count decent (21MP)
selfie friendly screen
heavier than competitors (405g)
69
lighter than average in class (474g)
environment sealing
decent MP (24MP)
low battery power (340 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.00 inches)
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
no image stabilization
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
low battery power (340 per charge)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z30 Vlogging features
Sony A7 Vlogging features
74
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic port
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (405g)
35
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone socket
lighter than average in class (474 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Nikon Z30 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z30 and Sony A7
 Nikon Z30Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Z30 Sony Alpha A7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2022-06-29 2014-01-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 209 117
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon Z Sony E
Available lenses 35 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3.00 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 405 grams (0.89 lb) 474 grams (1.04 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 74 x 60mm (5.0" x 2.9" x 2.4") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 90
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 2248
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 340 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $650 $798