With influencers and content creators on the rise, digital camera manufacturers are doing their level best to grab a market share. Nikon has not been left behind as they have released their vlogger dedicated mirrorless camera; Nikon Z30.

The Nikon Z30 is a compact mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens that can record videos upto 4K resolution.

“A real camera with interchangeable lenses is a big leap in a creator’s personal evolution,” stated the Nikon Inc. Executive Vice President Jay Vannater.

The camera comes as an option for vloggers who want a professional look in their videos yet at a price close to that of a smartphone.

Nikon Z30 is nothing new to what we have seen in the best vlogging cameras for beginners. However, there are some unique features that we shall reveal in the course of the Nikon Z30 review.

So keep reading!

Body And Build

Remember when I said  the Nikon Z30 is nothing we haven’t seen before? Well, the looks had alot to do with it as it borrows most ergonomics design from the Sony ZV-E10 which is also a vlogging camera.

Nikon Z30 is really small and extremely light even compared to other beginner vlogging cameras. It has a protruding grip that fits well on small to medium hands. The buttons are well placed within the reach of the fingers and you will notice a dedicated record button.

On the front there is the red tally light to indicate when the camera is recording. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) which is common in most mirrorless cameras is missing on this one. This is because Nikon does not expect you to be taking photos with the Z30. Of course the camera can take 20 MP still photos which can be used for thumbnails.

A fully articulating touch screen is every videographer’s best friend as it offers flexibility when recording creative videos and Nikon Z30 couldn’t miss on that one.

At the top of the Nikon Z30 you will notice two microphones for stereo audio recording. There is also a mic input in case you want to add an external microphone.

Video Quality

With a 20.8 CMOS sensor, Nikon Z30 is capable of collecting more information during a shoot. According to Nikon, this sensor is 14× larger than a smartphone sensor making it a better low light performer. 

The camera can shoot  4K videos upto 30fps without any crop. There is also an option to take 1080p videos upto 120 fps.

Nikon Z30 has a very sharp eye and face detection which gives you a soft background making your videos look more professional. You can turn on the vibration feature for more stable footage.

Audio Quality

It is very important for a vlogging camera to have a good audio quality  to match the video  quality. Nikon Z30 does just that by adding two internal cameras for stereo audio recording. The microphones which are placed on the upper side of the camera can also be covered with a dead cat to reduce wind noise. The wind noise issue can also be solved  by turning on wind reduction feature in the menu. You should also check if the frequency response is set to wide range  and change it  to vocal range.

You also have the option to add an external microphone for even better sound quality.

Connectivity

Nikon Z30 boasts of fundamental connectivity features that every blogger needs. Starting off with Bluetooth and WI-FI connectivity, the camera can easily send the recorded videos and pictures to other compatible devices. 

To top it up, the camera can connect to your smartphone using Nikon’s Snapbridge app. The app can be used to control the camera, instantly saving photos to the cloud storage or just move them from the camera to the smartphone.

Enough of software connectivity capability of the Nikon Z30, the camera also have various ports to connect with some accessories. This includes a micro HDMI port to connect to an alternative screen or to a laptop for live streams. The microphone jack is used to add an external microphone. There is also a USB-C port to transfer files or charge your battery.

Battery

The new mirrorless camera uses the EN-EL25 rechargeable battery, the same as Nikon Z50 and Nikon Z Fc. This battery has a CIPA rating of 330 shots per full charge. 

When shooting Full HD videos, the battery can last for about 2 hours when in full charge. However, when shooting in 4K, the battery can power the camera for not more than 35 minutes.

In case you want to record for more than the battery limit, you will have to use an external  battery or connect it through the USB-C port for in-use charging.

If you have a backup battery, you can load it through the battery door at the bottom of the camera. It is the same place that a single SDHC or SDXC UHS-I memory card is located.

Nikon Z30 Key Features

After going through the Nikon Z30, these are the features that will attract vloggers and content creators;

• 4K without cropping and Full HD video resolution upto 120 fps
• Eye tracking and face detection
• 20.8 APS-C CMOS Sensor
• 100- 51200 ISO
• Tally light
• Inbuilt stereo microphones
• Flip-out 3” Full touch screen
• Upto 2 hours Full HD video recording
• Customizable function buttons
• Extremely light weight (405g)

What Nikon Missed

The Nikon Z30 is a near perfect vlogging camera for beginners except for a few areas. For instance, Nikon missed the headphone jack. How am I supposed to monitor the sound I am recording into my video?

The camera also has a single memory card slot in a generation where digital cameras have dual memory cards.  In case your primary memory card gets full in the middle of a shoot you won’t have a backup to save your work.

Price And Release Date

The Nikon Z30 will be available for purchase from 14th July 2022. For the body only, Nikon Z30 will have a price tag of $709.95, with a NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens for $849.95 or with a second kit lens NIKKOR Z DX 50-240mm f/4.5-6.3 for $1099.95.

Nikon Z30 also has an optional Creators Accessory Kit for $149.95. The kit will have a SmallRig tripod grip, Nikon ML-L7 bluetooth remote control and a Rhode microphone. A dead cat for covering the inbuilt microphones will be retailing at $9.95.

Conclusion On Nikon Z30 Review

With all the technology advancements, Nikon Z30 is a perfect camera for vloggers and content creators. It’s lightweight and ergonomics will make it easier for you to hold it for long without a sweat. The front-facing fully articulating touch screen will also help you in framing your videos and the multidirectional audio will add to the high quality content.

Nikon Z30 auto settings work  quite perfectly. This means the operator does not have to be all knowing to start off with this camera. To make it even more user friendly,  Nikon has added guides to help you understand the various features in the camera.

That being said, I will recommend this compact vlogging camera to content creators who want a professional look in their videos at an affordable cost.