After weeks of rumours, Nikon has finally revealed details of its latest APS-C mirrorless camera, the Z30, which is targeted at vloggers.
Angled view of the new Nikon Z30 in use. (Source: Nikon.)
The new camera boasts a 20-megapixel BSI sensor and EXPEED 6 processor and most of the same controls as the Z50 but it has no EVF, which means users have to use the articulating 3-inch, 1.040,000-dot monitor screen for shot composition. The front-facing screen accepts touch controls and offers the ability to swipe, pinch and zoom through playback and menus. A REC lamp on the front of the camera acts as a tally light to confirm recording. In line with competing cameras, the Z30 supports 4K recording at up to 30 fps without frame cropping as well as Full HD at up to 120p for slow-motion playback. The built-in stereo microphone can be augmented by additional input with a more powerful external stereo or directional microphone.
Autofocusing is controlled with a 209-point selectable phase detection system that covers between 85% and 87% of the frame and includes auto-area detection with face/eye detect, animal face/eye detection and subject tracking. Manual focus over-ride in AF mode is available and the focus position is adjustable via the arrow pad. The Picture Control Auto function adjusts the video settings according to the scene, while 20 different types of Creative Picture Controls add creative flair to video and eliminate the need for extra colour grading. There’s also an internal pop-up flash with a maximum synch speed of 1/200 second. Shutter speeds range from 30 sec to 1/4000 second, while the maximum burst speed is 11 fps.
A single memory card slot accepts SD UHS-1 cards and the camera comes with built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac (5Mhz support) and Bluetooth 4.2 as well as Nikon’s SnapBridge interface. The EN-EL25 battery is charged via a USB 2.0 Micro-B connector and is CIPA rated for 330 shots/charge. Physical dimensions for the camera body are 128 mm width, 59.5 mm depth and 73.5 mm height and the body weight with battery and card is 350 grams. The Nikon Z 30 will be available in mid-July 2022 in a variety of kit configurations, plus a body alone. Nikon will also offer a Creators Accessory Kit (shown in the illustration above), which will include a SmallRig Tripod Grip, the Nikon ML-L7 Bluetooth remote control, plus the Rode VideoMicro Microphone. A hot shoe-mounted Wind Muff for the built-in microphone will also be available. Click here for more information.
