Nikon has unveiled the 20.9-megapixel APS-C Z30, its smallest and lightest Z-series digital camera but. Designed for vloggers and creators, it affords a flip-out show, 4K 30p video and an extended 125-minute video document time when plugged in — however lacks an digital viewfinder. 

The Z30 is Nikon’s third APS-C (DX) mirrorless digital camera to this point, after the Z50 and Z fc fashions. It makes use of the identical big Z-mount as the corporate’s full-frame fashions, which successfully dominates the comparatively small physique. It has a easy however efficient management setup with a mode dial on prime, entrance and rear dials to set publicity, a photograph/video selector change, and buttons for ISO, publicity compensation, AF-lock and taking pictures mode. A brand new function over the opposite DX fashions is a tally gentle on entrance so vloggers can see once they’re recording.

The hand grip is deep for such a small digital camera, however because of the giant mount, there’s not a ton of room between the lens on your fingers. As talked about, it has a fully-articulating 3.0-inch display screen that prompts self-portrait mode when flipped out, letting you set key controls like publicity compensation with the digital camera at at arm’s size. Other key options embody built-in stereo mics, a microphone enter and a single UHS-I SD reminiscence card slot. Unfortunately, it lacks a headphone jack which is a detrimental for video creators. 

The Z30 competes with Sony’s ZV-E10 vlogging digital camera and has one benefit over its rival. It can shoot 4K at as much as 30fps utilizing the total width of the sensor, the place Sony’s mannequin has a 1.23x crop at 30fps. That’s pretty necessary for vlogging, as a crop makes it tougher to get your self into the shot. It can even shoot 1080p at as much as 120 fps for slow-mo, however not like the ZV-E10, would not help log seize — solely a “flat” profile. Like its Sony rival, the Z30 has no built-in IBS — solely digital stabilization.

Nikon guarantees reliably quick and sharp hybrid phase-detect autofocus with face, eye and animal AI detection. It’s seemingly much like the AF on the Z50 and Z fc fashions, that are respectable however lag behind Sony’s APS-C cameras when it comes to AF velocity and accuracy. It affords an image management auto operate relying on the scene, together with 20 artistic profiles. However, there is no one-click “product showcase” or bokeh choices like Sony affords on the ZV-E10. 

It has a comparatively small battery (the identical on the opposite two DX fashions) giving it a 330 shot CIPA score. Unlike the Z50 and Z fc which have been restricted to half-hour, the Z30 can document as much as 125 minutes of 1080p video and about 35 minutes of 4K. To get these figures, although, you may must plug the digital camera’s USB-C port to energy. 

Nikon guarantees good images efficiency as nicely, however it’s already behind the 8-ball in that space with out an digital viewfinder. Still, you get taking pictures speeds as much as 11 fps (mechanical shutter, JPEG/RAW), hybrid phase-detect AF and even the power to shoot a photograph whereas recording video. 

The Z30 arrives in mid-July at $710 for the physique solely, $850 with a equipment Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens, or $1,200 with the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 lens. Another possibility coming in November is the 14-140mm f/3.5-6.3 lens for $1,150. Nikon can even provide a Creators Accessory Kit for $150 with a SmallRig tripod grip, Nikon ML-L7 Bluetooth distant and a Rode VideoMicro microphone.

Along with the digital camera, Nikon additionally unveiled a brand new full-frame Z-mount lens, the Z400mm f/4.5 VR S. Nikon says it is the lightest lens in its class at 2.55 kilos, affords dust- and drip-resistant efficiency and a focus-breathing compensation operate for video recording. It arrives in July 2022 for $3,250.