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Nikon Z30

 
Nikon Z30 front
 
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 405g - 128 x 74 x 60mm
  • Launched June 2022
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
84
Overall
75

Nikon Z30 overview

Nikon Z30 is Nikon's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera initially launched on June of 2022. The camera houses a 21MP, CMOS APS-C size sensor with a peak resolution of 5568 x 3712.

The Z30 places at #11 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and all around #89 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can use our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your personalized factors.

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Here is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon Z30 family

The Nikon Z30 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the full list below.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-Z30 front thumbnailNikon Z3021MPAPS-C11.0 fps2022
Nikon-Z-fc front thumbnailNikon Z fc
Z30 vs Z fc
21MPAPS-C11.0 fps2021
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Nikon-Z50 front thumbnailNikon Z50
Z30 vs Z50
21MPAPS-C11.0 fps2019

Nikon Z30 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of pluses and minuses of the Nikon Z30 based on aspects that are typically seen as crucial in a camera.

comes with HDMI port
comes with mic port
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
focusing manually
good sized screen (3.00 inch)
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
MP count good (21 megapixels)
nice clear screen (1,040 k dot)
provides face detect focusing
provides tracking focus
screen articulates fully
selfie friendly screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports bluetooth
supports phase detect AF
touchscreen functionality
very good ISO range (51,200)
very good min ISO (100)
weather proof
heavier than average (405 grams)
lack of image stabilization
no headphone port
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Nikon Z30 Sensor specs

The specification of the sensor in the Nikon Z30 is 23.5mm x 15.7mm (APS-C). The 369 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 5568 x 3712 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 21 megapixels and delivers a native ISO range of 100 - 51200. The ISO can also be extended digitally to a maximum of 204800. RAW format is saved which means that you have more room to maneuver in post.

Nikon chose to omit the anti aliasing filter inside the Nikon Z30. This might result in more sharp pictures but could create moire under some circumstances.

The picture below displays the Z30's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The Z30 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is shown in green.

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To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon Z30 dimensions

Nikon Z30 is 0.89 lb (405 grams or 14.29 oz) and the dimensions of the camera is 128mm x 74mm x 60mm (5.0" x 2.9" x 2.4"). The weight of general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 grams so the Nikon Z30 is weightier as compared to other rivals.

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Listed below is a visual of the Nikon Z30 alongside a soda so you're able to have a feel for its size.

Nikon Z30 dimensions scale

The top view below will illustrate the button layout on the Z30.

Nikon Z30 topview buttons dials

Nikon Z30 Lens details

The Z30 works with the Nikon Z mount and has 31 lenses to pick from. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the Z30.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-58mm-F0.95-S-Noct lensNikon Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 S Noct58mmf/12000g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-24-200mm-F4-6.3-VR lensNikon Nikkor Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR24-200mmf/4-6.3 570g
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Nikon-Nikkor-Z-50mm-F1.2-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.2 S50mmf/1.21090g
Samyang-MF-85mm-F1.4-Z lensSamyang MF 85mm F1.4 Z85mmf/1.4740g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-MC-50mm-F2.8 lensNikon Nikkor Z MC 50mm F2.850mmf/2.8 260g
Nikon-Nikkor-Z-100-400mm-F4.5-5.6-VR-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S100-400mmf/4.5-5.6 1355g
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Nikon-Nikkor-Z-35mm-F1.8-S lensNikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.8 S35mmf/1.8370g
Photography Glossary

Nikon Z30 Connectivity

The Z30 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to send pictures and sometimes adjust settings with no need to connect physically with the camera.

Certain apps also give a Liveview and press the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external display. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery using the USB socket.

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Nikon Z30 Video details

The highest video quality in the Nikon Z30 is 3840 x 2160 and it can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 2160p delivers a outstanding quality for video. You can easily downsample to Full HD in order to get clearer video. Be mindful of the huge file sizes and make sure you have decent SD cards with good write speed. Although the body includes a mic socket, it is lacking a headphone socket which means that you will not have the ability to keep an eye on your sound levels.

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Nikon Z30 Weather Sealing

Nikon Z30 comes with weather sealing making it a excellent candidate to use during tough environments. This is especially beneficial whenever you are unsure about the conditions you may face during outdoor photography.

Nikon Z30 Display and Viewfinder

The Nikon Z30 is equipped with a 3.00" fully articulated display screen having a resolution of 1,040k dots.

The display is selfie friendly to shoot self portraits and group photos when required. Moreover the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can easily set focus point and adjust settings by using your fingertips.

Nikon Z30 screen and viewfinder President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The ViewFinder specs regarding Nikon Z30 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are pretty handy during bright outdoor conditions which can make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Nikon Z30 Shutter details

Nikon Z30 has the capability to shoot continuously at 11.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Nikon Z30 Flash and Hot shoe details

Nikon Z30 includes external flash ability but does not have built in flash.

Nikon Z30 Autofocus details

Nikon Z30 includes both Phase Detect AF along with Contrast Based AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier and exact as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera supports Face detect which can be handy for portraits.

The AF system supports 209 focus points to choose from. Nikon Z30 has touch to focus. You can use your fingers in order to adjust focus. It also features Tracking AF for objects on the move. Nikon Z30 supports manual focusing if required during low light or you require more exact control on focusing.

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Nikon Z30 Battery life

The battery power (EN-EL25) on the Nikon Z30 is fashioned to last for 330 images as per the CIPA requirements which is about the same as its competitors. The typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 offers the highest (750) battery life within this group of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras having the strongest battery life:

Nikon Z30 for different categories of photography

The following graph provides a overview of the Nikon Z30 for different categories of photography. To understand more, check out the specific section below.

Nikon Z30 Portrait photography information

The Nikon Z30 gets a score of 82 which is terrific, meaning that it is a great option for portrait photos. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos along with the flexibility to work with off-camera flash.

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you can focus manually
good resolution (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files

Nikon Z30 Street photography info

Getting a nice score of 75, the Nikon Z30 is a very decent option to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera has a perfect balance of image quality plus portability.

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fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (405g)

Nikon Z30 Sports photography advice

A tremendous sports photography points tally of 76 means the Nikon Z30 is a excellent fit for taking photos of sports. A camera needs very good autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization

Travel photography with Nikon Z30

Weight is pretty crucial when choosing a travel camera. Over-all, the Nikon Z30 gets a very high 78 as a travelling camera which is a great pick to purchase for your holidays.

Photography Glossary
weather proof
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (405g)

Nikon Z30 as a Landscape photography camera

For anyone looking to buy a camera for landscape photos, the most significant aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon Z30 and it's great grade of 80 for a landscape camera is a brilliant option within the current market.

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manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.00")
good MP (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
lack of image stabilization

Nikon Z30 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera ought to posses a moving screen, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Nikon Z30 is a good pick for vlogging as it delivers a very good rating of 74.

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selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (405g)

Nikon Z30 Alternatives

If you are in the market for alternatives to the Z30, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall within the category of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line chart here shows you a summary of the Z30 vs it's highest ranking rivals listed above.

Following are several cameras you may see as alternate options. To read a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model type
Nikon Z30
Type
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched
2022-06-29
Body design
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area
369.0mm²
Sensor resolution
21 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
5568 x 3712
RAW format
Maximum native ISO
51200
Maximum boosted ISO
204800
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points
209
Lens
Lens mount type
Nikon Z
Available lenses
35
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Range of display
Fully Articulated
Display sizing
3.00 inch
Resolution of display
1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed
11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash modes
Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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
Maximum video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
405 gr (0.89 lbs)
Dimensions
128 x 74 x 60mm (5.0" x 2.9" x 2.4")
Other
Battery life
330 images
Battery form
Battery Pack
Battery ID
EN-EL25
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage slots
1
Retail price
$650