You can pick up a new Nikon Z30 from Amazon (just check to make sure you’re buying it from Amazon and not some third party vendor). Using my affiliate links helps me keep this free site online and costs you nothing, thank you!
Ever since my youthful adventures with a cheapo 35mm fixed focus camera, I’ve loved pocketable cameras. I first got serious about photography in the mid 2000s with a series of Canon Powershot compact digital cameras, and even as smartphones took over consumer photography, I was still the guy carrying a pocket Canon Powershot to parties.
The emergence of ‘pro’ pocket cameras, like the 1-inch sensor Sony RX100 series and the Canon G5X/G7X line kept the dream alive during the 2010s. I professionally used 1-inch type sensor Canon pocket cameras for behind the scenes work.
But why the heck am I talking about Canon and Sony pocket cameras on a Nikon mirrorless review? Well, it seems like the dream of the perfect compact digital camera is dead. But I still need camera that is affordable, has great video capabilities, and could act as an ultra-compact photography machine in a pinch. After so many disappointing dead ends with the G5X Mk II (wonderful image quality, poor autofocus and limited video capabilities, hasn’t been updated in ages), the Sony ZV-1 (frustrating handling, relatively mediocre video quality), and the Canon M200 (discontinued lens system, brutally limited controls) – I impulse bought a Nikon Z30. If it didn’t work out, I could always return it.
But turns out, I love the Z30. I think it’s one of the best entry-level APS-C cameras ever made, especially for video.
The Z30 does such a good job at cutting out anything not absolutely essential, while keeping all those helpful extras that make a camera a pleasure to use. For example, I didn’t even notice at first that this camera has no focus-assist light, something I constantly find myself turning off on other cameras. That’s gone, but the multiple function buttons around the lens are still there – just like on my other Nikon Z bodies.
The Nikon Z30 feels like a pro camera that just happens to be small and affordable, rather than a hobbled experience for newbies.
Controls and Handling
If anything, I like the control layout of the Z30 slightly better than my daily-driver Z6 (and I really like the Z6!) Unlike other entry level cameras, there are tons of control dials and knobs, along with customizable buttons on the front and back. You aren’t dependent on a touchscreen here, but the touchscreen is fully usable, which comes in handy when the camera is pointed at yourself.
There’s no built-in viewfinder, which is the most obvious way this camera cut down on costs compared to something like the Nikon Z50. This lack of viewfinder makes this camera a bit of a pain to use for pure photography in bright daylight, though people who grew up shooting on phones may find themselves not missing it as much. Thankfully, the screen is very good.
It’s a fully articulating thing that flips around multiple ways. Even better, you can hide it within the camera body, protecting it from scratches in storage. Every single mirrorless camera needs a flippy screen like this, and it’s absolutely bonkers that a high-end Z8 can’t do this, much less my Z6. The limited movement of the back screen is one of the main reasons I can’t use my Z6 effectively as a video tool. Many years ago I used to shoot video on ancient Canon 60Ds that all had this same kind of flippy screen and I don’t know why anybody has used anything else in the decade-and-a-half since.
But yeah, the screen is great. When the camera is pointed at you, you will need to depend on the touchscreen to make any changes. This is mostly fine, but if you have anything plugged in (like power or HDMI cables) it can block your access to the monitor. I’m not entirely sure how to improve this without a fully external monitor but it’s something to note.
Photo Image Quality
This is a crop sensor, so there’s a noticeable drop in dynamic range from a modern full-frame camera. I also noticed the slight drop in resolution. But if you expose well, you can still get awesome results from this camera. I can certainly tell the difference from a Z6 or Z7-type sensor, but if this was your only camera I don’t think you’d notice.
The biggest knock against it for photography is that lack of a viewfinder. This is a video-first camera with some excellent bonus photo capabilities, and that focus helps make it a better camera overall. However, photography is your main focus, I recommend jumping to a full frame Nikon (you could probably get an incredible used Z5 or Z6 for the price of a new Z30). In my opinion, the Z30 shines as a tiny video machine. Which brings us to…
The articulating screen is perfect for video use.
Video Quality
4K 30fps video looks fantastic. I use professional video cameras like the Sony FX9 and FX6 on a daily basis, so I have high expectations.
The one thing to keep is mind is you’re going to need to nail your exposure and color in camera. Beyond a kind of useless flat profile, there’s no log or raw recording on this camera. This would make me nervous to use it for client projects, where that added flexibility in post can be a lifesaver. However, I use my Z30 for low-stakes YouTube projects, and I’ve been delighted with the results.
I was nervous to use a Nikon as a video camera because of how good Sony’s autofocus is on their whole line of cameras, but the Z30 does a great job of locking onto my eyes and staying there. My glasses can sometimes cause issues with cameras, but the Z30 deals with them just fine. I didn’t need to worry about autofocus – it works great.
The Z30 can record beyond 30 minutes, which makes it infinitely more usable as a video camera than the Sony ZV-1 I had been using that enforced a 5 minute clip length. (Also note that the Z50 has that shorter clip length limit too, so there’s really no reason to get that camera if video is your focus). To go with that, I never encountered heat issues with the Z30 in normal room temperature conditions, even after an hour of continuous use.
I get into it a bit more below with deployment, but the video capabilities and ability to stay on for long periods of time without heat issues translates into the Z30 being an excellent webcam. Paired with a USB mic (or microphone interface) it will blow even the highest-end webcam out of the water. Just make sure to grab an Elgato USB HDMI camera dongle (I use this one) to use rather than futzing with Nikon’s software.
I love being able to protect the screen by closing it this way. Yet another advantage of the flippy screen.
Stabilization
This camera does not have in-camera body image stabilization (IBIS). That’s one big knock. I would happily pay a hundred dollars more to have this feature added back into the camera. Unfortunately you can’t jump up to the Z50 that does have this feature without losing some of the things that make the Z30 so great (like that articulating screen), so hopefully this gets addressed in a future revision.
Many lenses have their own VR, but IBIS is very helpful for all lenses, especially since so many mirrorless zoom lenses have insanely slow f6 apertures. We never expected any DSLRs to have IBIS so it’s not the end of the world, but it really helps with handheld video. There’s some digital stabilization that works by cropping into the image, but at that point you might as well do it yourself in post with the Warp Stabilizer. I generally leave it off.
My Nikon Z30 set up as webcam on my PC.
Deployment and Recommendations
I purchased my Nikon Z30 with the kit DX 16-50mm lens, which is delightfully light and compact. However, I find this lens to be way too dark to use outside, well, outside conditions. I’m not a fan of the phenomenon of F6.3 zoom lenses in the mirrorless age – cranking up ISO and depending on post-processing isn’t a workflow I like to depend on. Nikon’s DX lens library is full of these dark zooms (same as cheap mirrorless zooms in other systems) but thankfully there’s a whole world of bright full frame glass that works perfect on the Z30. Also, if you really want to save money, used DX F-mount lenses go for next to nothing these days, though the adapter is clunky at best.
I pair my Z30 with the Nikkor full frame 28mm f2.8 (find it on Amazon), which is fantastically light and makes for a roughly 35mm equivalent field of view on the DX sensor. I use this for my primary video setup, and the light weight of the lens allows it to easily mount onto my Elgato stand with a cheap quick release (I use this one).
In a pinch I’ve slapped my gigantic 24mm-70mm 2.8 zoom to this camera, but the range isn’t as useful for DX cameras on the wide end. I’ve also enjoyed using the Nikkor Z 35mm f1.8 with the Z30 as well as the F-mount DX 10-20mm ultrawide.
Make sure you turn off the automatic timeout (or at least to a less severe setting) or you’ll be driven crazy by the camera turning itself off while you’re framing up a shot. Also, I recommend turning down the red record light on the front (or off completely) as it tends to reflect on surfaces and it’s hard to notice until it’s too late get rid of it.
There’s a world of great cheap f-mount DX lenses you can use if you don’t mind the clunky FTZ adapter.
Conclusion
The Z30 doesn’t feel like an entry-level camera, which is the biggest compliment I can give an entry level camera. If your primary use case is video, and you don’t want to spend a ton of money, this is a no-brainer. If you’re already in the Nikon ecosystem and have a library of lenses, the Z30 is a great extra camera to have on hand as a backup, a video tool, high-end webcam, and more. It’s not hobbled in any obvious way, and the price makes it easily accessible.
If you are looking for a photography-first camera and have a larger budget, I would recommend a used Nikon Z6 if you’re interested in that system (or already have glass for it). You’re starting from scratch and have no loyalty to any system, Sony’s entry level APS-C mirrorless cameras can also produce great results, and the Sony mirrorless system is often better for video use (however, I still greatly prefer Nikon for photography).
You can pick up a new Nikon Z30 from Amazon (just check to make sure you’re buying it from Amazon and not some third party vendor). Using my affiliate links helps me keep this free site online and costs you nothing, thank you!
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