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Nikon Z 30 · Nikon UK body-only front photograph

Nikon Z 30
Photo 1 of 21

Nikon Z 30 · Nikon UK body-only front photograph

Nikon · Nikon Z

Z 30

Released July 2022

A compact APS-C mirrorless camera for video creators, with a front-facing touchscreen, recording lamp and uncropped 4K video.

Type
Mirrorless
Sensor
APS-C
Megapixels
20.9
Lens
Nikon Z mount
Video
3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps
Body weight
350 g

What reviewers say

Both find it a portable, approachable video camera with a comfortable grip, responsive touchscreen and detailed uncropped 4K footage. Both miss headphone monitoring and sensor-shift stabilisation, and criticise the limited DX lens selection available at launch. Photography Blog finds static-subject focusing quick but prefers the Z50's viewfinder for still photography. TechRadar praises reliable app connectivity and self-recording autofocus, but finds Sony's competing autofocus more versatile and the electronic-stabilisation crop restrictive for handheld vlogging.

From photographyblog.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
Mirrorless
Sensor format
APS-C
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor dimensions
23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution
20.9 MP
Largest image
5568 × 3712
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
100–51200
Sensor detail
Nikon DX-format CMOS; 21.51 million total pixels. UK rounds effective resolution to 20.9 MP, while Japan gives 20.88 MP. Image Dust Off reference data requires NX Studio.
Image formats
12/14-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; square and 16:9 still crops available
ISO detail
Expandable to equivalent ISO 102400 or 204800; auto ISO supported. Movie ISO range 100–25600.
Image processor
EXPEED 6 (Photography Blog)

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon Z mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
11 fps
Lens detail
NIKKOR Z lenses; F-mount NIKKOR lenses require an adapter with model-dependent restrictions. Supported VR lenses provide optical stabilisation; no sensor-shift stabilisation.
Autofocus
Hybrid phase/contrast detection with 209 single-point DX positions, eye/animal detection and continuous movie focus. Maker sensitivity −4.5 EV with low-light AF or −3 EV without, in AF-S at ISO 100, 20°C and f/1.8.
Shutter
Mechanical focal-plane, electronic front-curtain and electronic shutters; 1/4000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time. Flash sync 1/200 second; compatible Auto FP supported.
Burst detail
Continuous H extended approximately 11 fps with mechanical shutter and JPEG or 12-bit RAW; Continuous H 5 fps, Continuous L 1–4 fps. TechRadar recorded approximately 30 RAW plus JPEG frames before pausing on its UHS-I card; buffer depth varies with format/card/settings.
Flash
No built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe with compatible i-TTL Speedlights
Exposure controls
Auto/P/S/A/M and three user-setting banks; still compensation ±5 EV and movie compensation ±3 EV. Matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering.

Video

Highest video resolution
3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps
Video detail
UHD 3840 × 2160 up to 29.97p and Full HD up to 119.88p, without additional image-area crop. MOV/MP4 H.264; time-lapse, timecode and electronic VR supported. Maker maximum 125-minute recording claim applies to Full HD 24/25p at 25°C and depends on battery/internal temperature; quoted UHD 4K recording time is approximately 35 minutes. Electronic VR adds a crop; Photography Blog and TechRadar report 1.3×. No Log profile; Flat Picture Control available.
Audio
Built-in stereo microphone or 3.5 mm external microphone, adjustable sensitivity/attenuator; PCM in MOV or AAC in MP4. Optional microphone wind muff; no headphone socket.

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
None
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
1,040,000
Touchscreen
Yes
Tilting screen
Yes
Display detail
Side-hinged vari-angle touch LCD, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; self-portrait mode and front REC lamp. Dots count subpixels.
Viewfinder detail
No built-in viewfinder

Connections and design

Wi-Fi
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)
330 photographs
Body weight
350 g
Release detail
Announced on 29 June 2022; Nikon US specifies first availability in mid-July 2022. Exact first retail day is not established, so month precision is retained.
Recording media
One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot supporting UHS-I, sharing the lower battery/card compartment
Ports
USB-C SuperSpeed USB, HDMI Type D micro connector and 3.5 mm microphone input; no headphone output. Photography Blog's Micro USB wording is incorrect.
Wireless connections
Bluetooth 4.2 and SnapBridge; UK specifies 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, while Japan also lists a/ac and 5 GHz, so regional wireless support should be checked
Battery life detail
EN-EL25; maker CIPA approximately 330 still shots or 75 minutes movie battery life. Photography Blog's 300-shot rating is not used. Current Japan packages may include EN-EL25a instead.
Charging
In-camera USB-C charging and external power while recording; optional EH-7P adapter. No separate battery charger in the published standard UK package.
Dimensions
Approximately 128 × 73.5 × 59.5 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 350 g body only or 405 g with battery/card, excluding body cap
Materials
Maker operating range 0–40°C and humidity up to 85% without condensation; Photography Blog describes magnesium-alloy construction with less extensive weather protection than higher-end bodies
In the box
UK lists BF-N1 body cap, EN-EL25 battery, AN-DC25 strap and UC-E24 USB cable; Japan lists EN-EL25a or EN-EL25 and AN-DC29 strap, so regional/revision package contents vary

Pros and cons

Pros

  • UHD 4K video uses the full sensor width
  • Vari-angle touchscreen and front recording lamp
  • USB-C charging and power while recording

Cons

  • No viewfinder or headphone socket
  • No sensor-shift stabilisation
  • Single UHS-I card slot

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
CanonEOS R10
MirrorlessAPS-C24.2Canon RF3840 × 2160 at 59.94 fps382 gJul 2022
CanonEOS R7
MirrorlessAPS-C32.5Canon RF3840 × 2160 at 59.94 fps530 gJun 2022
FujifilmX-H2
MirrorlessAPS-C40.2Fujifilm X mount7680 × 4320 at 29.97 fps579 gSept 2022

Sources

  1. nikon.co.uk/en_GB/product/cameras/mirrorless/z-30
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/mirrorless/z30/spec.html
  3. nikonusa.com/press-room/z-30-wwa
  4. photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_z30_review
  5. techradar.com/reviews/nikon-z30

Photo: Nikon UK body-only front photograph

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