The Nikon Z30 in test
Nikon brought the Nikon Z30 to our house to coincide with my upcoming vacation. The small vlogging camera is very similar in size and technical specifications to the Nikon Z50. The weight of the Z30 is noticeably lighter and the focus performance has been improved even further. Even though Nikon keeps pushing forward with its firmware updates, the Z30's focus is still a bit faster and more precise.
Differences between the Z30 and Z50
The biggest and main differences of the Z30's features to the Z50 in comparison:
- Its eye autofocus in video mode
- The improved microphone
- The Z30 is particularly compact due to the lack of viewfinder gets, thus has a very boxy stature and can be stowed quickly and virtually everywhere
- Panning & rotating display with touch function
- Red LED turns on during video recording and gives information about the low battery level during video recording
Nikon Z30 compared to Nikon Z50
Nikon Z30 + DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
- Nikon Z30 + 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR DX lens
- Eye and animal detection AF
- Next generation vlogs (4K UHD)
- 11 fps
- 20.9 MP
- Tiltable touchscreen
- Clear stereo sound
- Wi-Fi®/BLUETOOTH®
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Flexible lens for vlogging and snapshots.
- Standard zoom for Nikon Z DX cameras
- 16-50 mm wide-angle zoom
- silent AF
- Image stabilizer
- retractable
- flexible application possibilities
- compact and lightweight
Nikon Z30 compared to Nikon Z50
Nikon Z30 on the Zhiyun Crane M3
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VRNikon Z30 with the 16-50 mm lens
The small kit lens offers a good and sharp image in addition to the light weight. The autofocus works wonderfully in combination and even with the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 that I took along, everything worked out wonderfully as expected. The kit lens offers a sufficient aperture for vlogging, and if you stop down to f/4, you still have some room to maneuver in the zoom range without automatically stopping down further due to the restricted aperture.
If you're on the go a lot and shooting your vlog, this lens will also get you solidly close to the object of desire. The close-up limit is solid and the f-stop at 50mm is noticeable, but can be caught very easily via ISO. The little Z30 can easily handle that, I never got above an ISO of 800 during the day or I just didn't need to.
Detail shot frog - Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
Pilgrimage church Maria Gern - Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Detail shot plants - Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VRTest of the Nikon Z30's equipment
The Z30's built-in microphone delivers clear sound, and even without a storm/windshield on the typical selfie/vlogging range, you can use the microphone without a problem. I also tested the microphone next to a stream, with the internal automations. In doing so, the sound is very clear and also bassy and full, which I quite like with the sound of my voice. The swiveling display has been used by me more or less permanently, mostly to have a better view just from positions where I used the camera more or less above my head or hanging in my hand.
I particularly liked the flashing indication during video recording that the battery is about to run out. I was able to document the entire vacation with the camera and had to recharge the battery once. This is compatible with the Z50 and the ZFC. This also begs the question, would I prefer the Z30 over the ZFC for vlogging? Yes. Because the camera is more compact and perhaps less flashy than the other two cameras are. If I were to start vlogging, the Nikon Z30 would probably be my camera of choice, since I'm at home in the Nikon system myself and am therefore used to the simple, intuitive menu.
In between, I pulled the images via. Snapbridge to my phone and could share the moments directly with my friends via WhatsApp. Although only the JPEGs, but yes pictures and first impressions are everything! Also the control of the camera is easily possible with Snapbridge. I count myself as a real fanboy of the Snapbridge, because it gave me an angle during my shoots where I had no view of the display with the Z6.
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
