As always, a thorough and balanced review, Richard! In particular, doing that 4K testing and getting 100 minutes was an impressive result. I think it’s interesting how people received Nikon offering different body styles in their APS-C cameras, compared to how people felt about Fujifilm doing it with everything from their X-Pro cameras to the X-E and cheapest X-Txx lines. In my view, the Nikon crop sensor performs beautifully, and having options for form factor and new bodies extracting even better performance is a net positive. It’s also nice to have something in the Nikon lineup that could nearly serve as a fixed camcorder style body for event documentation; the Nikon video has always looked quite nice, but for a long time AF and record limits have been the bugbears that kept it from being more widely adopted. I could see professionals buying Z30’s as second/third camera angles to complement a Z9, even. I know for sure the Z50 and Zfc intercut beautifully with Z6 footage. Nice pictures, and thanks for the video!
Thank you very much and glad you like the review Re 100 minutes, i do think it is really affected by temperature .. but yes if you recording under same temperature or cooler then yes you could get long recording time as long as you use USB to charge/power the camera.
BEST REVIEW i have seen for this camera in how much detailed info you offered. You helped put my mind at ease a ton on many of the questions left unanswered by dozens and dozens of other reviews i watched on this camera. THANK You! I really needed to know about powering the camera while recording, if usb c was enough, and i also needed to know about recording time with over heating issues i heard about. You also answered several other questions I had too but thanks again
Excellent review, Richard. Thanks for acknowledging the original Nikon strategies vs. silly ranting from reactive reviews that only want to pontificate on issues that don't matter. As an advanced Landscape Photographer who uses Nikon, this goes beyond entry level for my needs to vlog. The Zfc, nice but focused on aesthetics vs. user friendliness (also a miss with the microphone jack location for vlogging), Z50, flip down screen a miss, and so this hits the mark with the fully articulating screen and compact nice. Nicely summarized and kudos to Nikon.
Thanks for watching David and sharing your thoughts. Yes even though it is an entry level camera and no ground breaking tech, I think Nikon did a really pretty good job overall.
@@mistuhgeeZ30 is the same camera as Z5 without viewfinder. The other difference with the Z30 is that it has a fully articulating screen which alllows easier self-vlogging. The Z50 has a screen that flips down is difficult to see on a tripod without a special bracket.
This review was extremely helpful as I’m endeavoring to begin start a youtube channel. I’ve tried a Sony camera years ago and became frustrated because it wasn’t good for a novice creator. Despite the overheating issue, I think it’s worth a try.
Hi Richard, great Review, and great to watch a review from a fellow Aucklander too.. (I thought I recognised the background streets). I think you have convinced me to try this Z30 as a high quality second camera to use alongside my samsung phone for RUclips productions. Great job.
I used to be a Viewfinder guy, but since using the Ricoh GR, I find that it's more dynamic to use the screen. I'm position the camera for more unusual compositions that give unique results when I don't need to bring it to my eye. I have actually been looking forward to light compact high quality LCD only cameras like the Z30, M6II, FX3 and the like. I find that I am more present in a moment when I use the back screen screen.
Thanks for the in-depth info! I hv been contemplating between this and the Sony ZVe10 camera for my YT contents which im currently filming with my Samsung Z Fold 4. After a number of researches im leaning towards the Nikon Z30 😊
From a mostly stills shooter and someone who prefers OVF over EVF the Z30 is something I'm looking at currently as a backup to my D200 and for video. I was looking at the D780 but this does everything for way less, even vs camcorders I was looking at.
@@Joe-kw8hq Yes. Up until maybe BSI and now definitely Stacked Sensor's, it still outperformed most modern camera's. Even Hasselblad. I'd recommend the H4D over the H6D unless you need more resolution which no one does unless you're making $20k, $30k per job and shooting macro products or priceless art. I'd take that old tank vs the newer ones. The Leica M9 is really the camera I want. Leica still fixes any corrosion issues. Top to bottom, best digital camera ever made, it's the M9 for me. D200 and H4D trail. The R-D1s I'd still pay top dollar for. Only 6mp.
Outstanding camera in terms of image quality and low light performance and overall features. The lack of EVF makes it great for small backpacks (mountain biking, hiking, travel..). Amazing value for the price (500€, just monitor your favorite photography webstores). I'm using it much more than I intended, with the 40 mm f2 lens. My belobed Z6 is very jealous now.
@@TheRealRichardWong I see thank you! I used to have a Nikon D3300 with the 18-55 kit lens, so the Z30 with 16 would be a small improvement actually. Currently I have a Lumix G7W with 14mm, but it has a crop when filming at 4K. Both the Z30 and S5 will be a nice upgrade, but the S5 is almost 2.5x the price 🤔
But the S5 does offer a lot more than the Z 30. It is a full frame camera, has IBIS, features like hi resolution mode, and for video, it can do 10 bit video, 4k60, and even RAW external output. The only thing Z30 is better is the more compact size and more stable autofocus. Having said that, most of a lot of my youtube videos in the last year or so were shot with the S5 and i found the autofocus pretty ok.
I think this is an excellent simple video/hybrid camera. Imagine the usefulness for talking-head type RUclipsography... Makeup tutorials, unboxings, talking-head/streamer perspectives... There's a few things that this camera lacks to be the best, but it's a reasonable price in comparison. I'm not sure the OM-5 isn't a better option, but it comes with its own (and different) limitations. If the OM-5 had USB-C PD charging/powering of camera, it would be my pick in this category.
@@Visit50 super cool camera, despite some strange design decisions being made to keep it at a certain price point. It's an incredibly capable camera that will blow away most casual and semi-pro users, depending on your use-case of course.
How is the native audio in the Z30? Passable? I noticed on top of your Z30 you have a Synco lav mic attachment. Did you find the audio quality to be a massive improvement, or is that more for distance?
it is ok. but built-in mic is never good for best audio quality because of the placement, size of the mic. Even a cheap $10 wired lav mic would give you huge improvement, and that's the same for pretty much ANY camera in the market.
I see that you never did any comparison videos of this camera and other "beginners" cameras. Would you still recommend this camera over say the Sony zv-e10?
I just clicked the video but last night I was just looking for your review to come out: "If Richard has something good to say I'll buy it". I was impatient and pulled the trigger before it got out of stock.
Thanks for the review! I'm finally upgrading from shooting photos and videos on my phone, a Pixel 6 Pro. It's excellent, but obviously a smaller sensor than the Z30 where will I notice the biggest upgrade? I'd likely mostly be shooting in auto mode. I shoot a range of photos and videos - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, food, and more. I'm guessing the Z30 will have better depth, better color, and much better video? I'd love your thoughts
You should be able to get better low light performance, better dynamic range, and if you zoom in the photo, you'll find the photo from the Z30 much higher quality. This would become even more noticeable if you try to process the RAW files, you will find lots of flexibility from Z30's raw files
Small rig now has a battery with the same model number. The battery can charge outside the camera via usb c. My personal opinion i think it works better than the original battery. It most definitely charges faster.
What I miss coming from Nikon DSLRs is the old type USB port which I used as a remote cordless shutter release for the Hahnel Captur. I understand the Z50 has one, so why has the Z30 just got a limited use USB-C Port? Yes, I know about the Bluetooth remote and Snapbridge, but they come with Bluetooth time lag, useless for wildlife!
I'm in the market for my 1st (ever) camera to start my RUclips channel with and with the options out and reviews I've been seeing the last few months (yes, it's been months watching RUclips video reviews on different cameras, it's so confusing) your review I really like and seems unbiased. What would you recommend amongst the Canon R10, Sony ZV-E10 and this one the Nikon Z30 as they're similarly priced?
thank you Lloyd! re your question about this vs Canon R10 or Sony ZVE10, since i haven't really use those two cameras long enough so i can't really tell you which one is the best.
Great review. Definately some video features missing from the Nikon lineup. I hope nikon updates a smaller model camera with 4k60 video IBIS & Audio input camera to the lineup.
HEy Richard how are u doing? i wanna buy a new lens for a travel with my wife to Europe, so, we are going to take some pictures and instagram stories, what lens would u buy? Viltrox 13mm 1.4 or VIltrox 23mm 1.4? i have just the kit lens 16-50mm
do you mean compare to the D3/D700? (like i mentioned in the video) No. But i have been shooting weddings and other things with the D700 for many years, I found the very high ISO from the Z 30 a lot more usable.
@@TheRealRichardWong I will know after monday when its delivered! I saw your video last night on the 850 to z7 upgrade, but that is out of my price range. Great videos none the less
The z30 has a much better LCD than the z50 due to the articulation. I like to do nature macro photography, and there I am setting up a lot of low angle shots and shooting from the LCD. In those positions, the limited articulation of the z50 hurts.
When you turn on electronic stabilization vr what do you mean your gonna have to do more cropping ? Like I’ll have to zoom out when editing the video cause it zooms in ??
Electronic/digital stabilisation works by zoom in the image a bit which gives a bit of room to allow the camera to move the image area to cancel or reduce the shake. When you enable EIS , you would notice the camera would crop/ zoom in a bit immediately
Hello Richard from Tauranga! A great review Regarding the lack of IBIS in camera and that board meeting with all the manufacturers. I wonder how much bigger and heavier IBIS would be. Also how much would it add to the price? Surely who ever made one first would get some good sales
Hello there, I ve just came across this review...I m try to choose between buying a sony zve10 or nikon Z30. In your oppinion which should I buy ? Thanks
Does the shutter curtain close when You change lenses? Contacted Nikon and They did not reply. Suspect this could be a problem. Dust on sensor Could be real killer. An advantage of film camera. I still have a Mamiya 6...
@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks I wonder if the hack of taking battery out and shutter curtain closing works. Apparently it does on Z7 2. Might help if changing lenses in dusty live music venues as I do.
I would really against those sort of hacks. It is completely not intended by Nikon so you may accidentally break something when pull out the battery. Also the shutter curtain is not a sensor shield and it's really fragile and expensive to replace if something touches it during lens change and broke it. Sensor dust while we all hate, is a lot easier to deal with.
@TheRealRichardWong When you were testing the duration of recording, I noticed that you had the camera plugged into USB, but the power was drawn from the battery. Is that a glitch with the camera? I thought you could draw power from the USB cable.
oh sorry i think i said it wrong in the video. The camera was using power from USB. As you can see at the beginning and end of the test the battery level is the same
@@TheRealRichardWong ruclips.net/video/P632q0oHIQs/видео.html If you see at this point when you are testing the record time, the battery is in the red. I'm trying to figure out how to use the USB to power the camera because I'm recording a live event next week, and when I tested it this week, the USB was not powering the camera, even though I had the settings set to power USB.
@@esc7ap ah i see what you mean now. I think it's because i was not using a PD USB power when doing that test. I was just using a USB-C power supply on my desk which is not PD. Check the required PD spec for the Z30 (there are many different PD specs!) , as long as your power supply matches the requirement, then it should work fine. Definitely do a test first at home first
I have a couple questions I hope you can answer. When you were vlogging both day and doing b roll, were you in full auto? Also, is there a way to lock down the exposure while filming?
for outdoor, i usually use auto or semi-auto because the lighting just changes too quickly sometimes and i'm also terrible at remember to check/adjust my exposure.
@@jpphotography81 to "lock exposure" i don't think there is an "AEL" lock for video (correct me if i'm wrong please), but you could do that by shoot in M mode. For myself, I would do that when recording in studio with fixed lighting, but almost never do that when recording outdoor as lighting changes all the time.
it definitely can capture better photo than iPhone. But if you don't do video at all, the Z 50 or Z Fc might be better as they have an electronic viewfinder.
Compare with Sony ZV-E10 and Canon R50. Price of Z30 is expensive than other. However kit lens, including 50-250mm, image qulity looks beter than its compatitors. For the 4K video overheating issue, I think it will be worst in summer. Mount a quiet fan such as 12CM 12V or 5V DC fan may help to reduce camera tempture.
Honestly the best video I've seen on this camera, well put together with excellent image quality! I'm using a Canon M50 mark 1 would you say this has better video quality, using the kit lens? thanks
Thank you very much ❤️ the z30 should be much better than the m50 mk1 esp in 4k. Canon has a massive crop which affect the image quality esp low light performance
@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you yeah I don't use 4K in the M50 it's rubbish will the kit lens be okay to record indoors with lights as there isn't much lens for this thanks
I heard that in custom settings, maximising the focusing speed and face detection will improve its auto focus. Is it true. Pls say. Am really confused which one to choose between this and Sony zv e 10 😔😔
For my testing I didn't overheat even when recording 4k so it wouldn't overheat if I record in 1080p. But it really depends on the ambient temperature, most of these cameras without active cooling could overheat when used under 35 degree+ Celsius condition
Sir at 4k vdo sample the night vdo ..u have included some artificial lights and there is noo Rolling effect sir what cam shutter speed and Frame rate u selected and support of Monitor externally over the Hotshot pnt is nt remote
Is the VR useful for hand held video shooting at distance 50mm etc on objects or people - I cant hold my 50mm on a fullframe strady - can I do that on a Z30,.
sorry it is really hard to answer and i don't want to mis-led you. But when you say you can't hold 50mm on full frame ready, does that has any stablisation? and what camrea/lens are you using?
An excellent review, if this had IBIS it would be the best Vlogger on the market easily. Or do one of these cameras with GoPro type image stabilisation.
I can't comment too much about the zv e10 as I only had some brief usage of it. But I like the Nikon 16-50 VR kit lens, it's very compact and also good quality
I would choose the Nikon Z30 because i personally think the EOS-M is a system Canon is phasing out very soon so i would rather invest in a system that will be around for many many years.
Great review as always. I have the same thoughts about the Z30, the lack of IBIS is a missed opportunity especially that it's the last vlogger camera to hit the market, and being late to the party gives an opportunity for differentiation that Nikon didn't benefit from. The price point for the tech inside the body is also a let down. It's still good tech but the price could have been lower as all the parts and the R&D has already paid for itself, there is little to no innovation with this one. I need another body for b-roll and I am considering this camera because it's the cheapest; however, in my country it's only $136 below the price of a full fledged Z fc which is a better camera for photography and I'm not sure that the small price difference is worth the downgrade. Perhaps its only advantage is that higher cap on the continuous video shooting limit; however, I am fine with the 30-minute video limit as it does not affect my use case.
hey Yamen Zein thanks for watching and your always support! yes i really wish the Z 30 has IBIS, it would really make the camera stand out. But re the price, i don't really agree the price should be a lot lower. As a consumer myself of course i wouldn't mind if the price is cheaper, i would love that too. But from the manufacturer's point of view, it is mostly the same as a Z Fc, minus the retro style and EVF, but it has longer recording limits, the new tally lamp and a few minor design changes (and smaller size) that does make it a better camera for vlogging/video content creators. I'm pretty sure the Z 30 is something Nikon has planned when they develop the Z 50/Z Fc so I would argue the initial R&D cost was already spread between these cameras, but even not the case, it is more or less the same as a Z Fc so there isn't much reason for Nikon to sell it much cheaper than what they are currently selling the Z Fc for, especially if the market is happy for the price. (which is something we will have to wait and see)
@@TheRealRichardWong solid arguments, I have nothing to comment on. If we take it from a new comer's perspective, it would make sense because it can adapt Sony E glass as well as more mounts than I care to count in addition to the native Z glass. And the price point is in line with the competition, just marginally more expensive. As you right ly said, we'll have to wait and see.
Is it possible to attach any long power zoom len to it? If attached can we fully extend the lens using the lens control follow by the camera dynamic and digital zoom continuously without stop videoing?
I’m wanting to get my golf RUclips content going (just the Instagram right now). Would this camera be suitable for being able to quickly setup while getting great quality footage?
The mic should only be used for scratch audio or emergency. That goes for every camera. Use a second audio recorder. Takes like 10s in Adobe Premiere to sync all your footage and audio. Use the camera in a way that takes advantage of its good abilities. Don't try making it something that it is not.
So I found out that overheating is HEAVILY dependent on how bright the subject is... I went over an hour filming something regular; but I only got 20 minutes!! before it overheated filming an overhead display that the display was mostly white and had just a few words from the slide show on it...
@@TheRealRichardWong Oic. Wonder why the manuals stated that. And it is funny that Z30 almost exactly same as ZFC and the ZFC manuals stated both 4k and 1080 only 30min
12:10 you have to disable selfie mode, then the audio meters are there. they clearly didn't think it through. the audio meters should be there even in mirror selfie mode when in video mode.
Ah!! So that's how to do it! okay it is a bit weird. Maybe they think the self portrait mode (which is on by default) is really for beginner user, so they don't want to see the audio meters when shooting in selfie position? Yes i agree with you the audio meter really should be there no matter what direction the screen/camera is facing
@@TheRealRichardWong i first encounter this problem on my z50. Isn't it strange how a company as big a nikon can let tiny obvious and easily fixable problems go unfixed for years.
there is a setting inside menu to turn off selfie mode.if you turn it off it will show normal live view with all information including audio levels @@TheRealRichardWong
haha i wish i can! But i don't even have one myself. It was a loan camera I have to return after finish the review. I do do giveaway from time to time.
Also the whole want to see yourself is literally the only excuse people make for the fully articulating screen. Use your smartphone or tablet via snapbridge if you want to monitor yourself. All a vari angle screen does is make these cameras less durable.
like it, but one thing that doesn't work for me is that it has a recording time limit of 125 minutes. I know that sounds like a long time... but there are many situations that this is an issue.
I want to emphasis 125 minutes is not even Nikon's quoted figures, the offical figure is much lower. if you want unlimited recording time, then you may need something like a Panasonic G85 or Panasonic GH5/6 or Nikon Z9
Any tool is what you make of it and how you use it. To say that this is just an entry level camera for beginners, better thatn a phone is just not true. Especially when talking about something as sophisticated as this portable camera. With any kind of tool/camera you can make great photos or art, worth printing, or showing in a gallery. Just imagine if Michelangelo or Vanghog refused to use certain pencils or brushes because they were "entry level"
Hi Eric, I won't say Nikon copied. There were many similar compact vlogging style camera long before ZVE10. Each with slightly different feature set and limitations. For example, Lumix GX8 (2016) has flip out screen, IBIS..etc and even a tiltable EVF.
Butthurt Sony fanboy. Viewfinder? This camera was not designed for someone who wants a viewfinder. This is the kind of guy who will buy a Honda Civic and say, if they just put a HEMI in it, it would have been my perfect car. Award for the most stupid comment.
I hope they don’t add Ibis. It is super overrated, makes the camera bigger, therefore kills the z30 unique selling point being small size and slim. It is good enough for handheld low light anyway. If they want they can add ibis to z50 but if they do a Sony and make their aps-c bodies the same size as their full frame aps-c it will be terrible
The lowlight performance of the z30 is SO good. Far better than it’s competition.
It is very impressive for sure!!
Is the low light better than Sony ZV E10? I own ZV E10
If this camera had Ibis. It would be the best vlogging camera ever.
I use that site to check any camera in the world 👆
it loses focus on subject in low light so what's the point.
As always, a thorough and balanced review, Richard! In particular, doing that 4K testing and getting 100 minutes was an impressive result. I think it’s interesting how people received Nikon offering different body styles in their APS-C cameras, compared to how people felt about Fujifilm doing it with everything from their X-Pro cameras to the X-E and cheapest X-Txx lines. In my view, the Nikon crop sensor performs beautifully, and having options for form factor and new bodies extracting even better performance is a net positive.
It’s also nice to have something in the Nikon lineup that could nearly serve as a fixed camcorder style body for event documentation; the Nikon video has always looked quite nice, but for a long time AF and record limits have been the bugbears that kept it from being more widely adopted. I could see professionals buying Z30’s as second/third camera angles to complement a Z9, even. I know for sure the Z50 and Zfc intercut beautifully with Z6 footage.
Nice pictures, and thanks for the video!
Thank you very much and glad you like the review Re 100 minutes, i do think it is really affected by temperature .. but yes if you recording under same temperature or cooler then yes you could get long recording time as long as you use USB to charge/power the camera.
BEST REVIEW i have seen for this camera in how much detailed info you offered. You helped put my mind at ease a ton on many of the questions left unanswered by dozens and dozens of other reviews i watched on this camera. THANK You! I really needed to know about powering the camera while recording, if usb c was enough, and i also needed to know about recording time with over heating issues i heard about. You also answered several other questions I had too but thanks again
Glad you found this review useful thankyou
Probably the best review of Z30 on RUclips. Thank you for sharing !
Wow, thanks a lot!
Excellent review, Richard. Thanks for acknowledging the original Nikon strategies vs. silly ranting from reactive reviews that only want to pontificate on issues that don't matter. As an advanced Landscape Photographer who uses Nikon, this goes beyond entry level for my needs to vlog. The Zfc, nice but focused on aesthetics vs. user friendliness (also a miss with the microphone jack location for vlogging), Z50, flip down screen a miss, and so this hits the mark with the fully articulating screen and compact nice. Nicely summarized and kudos to Nikon.
Thanks for watching David and sharing your thoughts. Yes even though it is an entry level camera and no ground breaking tech, I think Nikon did a really pretty good job overall.
So, you're pleased with the stills from this camera?
@@mistuhgee My main camera is a Z7, so MPs higher, but otherwise all controls and output similar
@@davidhatton2321 I want to get the Z30 and the Z5. Not sure if that's redundant or which to get first.
@@mistuhgeeZ30 is the same camera as Z5 without viewfinder. The other difference with the Z30 is that it has a fully articulating screen which alllows easier self-vlogging. The Z50 has a screen that flips down is difficult to see on a tripod without a special bracket.
Great review Richard. The sample photos looked superb!
hey Zak! Thank you!!
This review was extremely helpful as I’m endeavoring to begin start a youtube channel. I’ve tried a Sony camera years ago and became frustrated because it wasn’t good for a novice creator. Despite the overheating issue, I think it’s worth a try.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Richard, great Review, and great to watch a review from a fellow Aucklander too.. (I thought I recognised the background streets). I think you have convinced me to try this Z30 as a high quality second camera to use alongside my samsung phone for RUclips productions. Great job.
Kia Ora DIY-CIRCUIT! I think the Z30 would be great for your youtube channel! Btw you got some really useful in-depth DIY videos on your channel!
Nice review from NZealand. Best camera tests that I saw around youtube. Good work Dont Stop. Greeting from Slovakia/Europe.
Thank you very much mrstanlez! :)
I used to be a Viewfinder guy, but since using the Ricoh GR, I find that it's more dynamic to use the screen. I'm position the camera for more unusual compositions that give unique results when I don't need to bring it to my eye. I have actually been looking forward to light compact high quality LCD only cameras like the Z30, M6II, FX3 and the like.
I find that I am more present in a moment when I use the back screen screen.
Thank you Richard, for another wonderful review!
Thanks for watching Bill and your support as usual
Nice review. Thanks Richard. Looks like the perfect studio camera
hey Barry, thanks for watching :)
Thanks for the in-depth info! I hv been contemplating between this and the Sony ZVe10 camera for my YT contents which im currently filming with my Samsung Z Fold 4. After a number of researches im leaning towards the Nikon Z30 😊
Which one you purchased?? How’s your views now ?
I've been amazed with the z30 auto focus. I now think completely different about Nikon. Now looking forward to apsc
hey Steve, have you got a Z 30 already? or you referring to the video footage you saw?
@@TheRealRichardWong I impulse purchased one last week.
Ah I see! Enjoy your z 30. I need a new Z camera. Let's see how long I manage to wait before I upgrade
From a mostly stills shooter and someone who prefers OVF over EVF the Z30 is something I'm looking at currently as a backup to my D200 and for video. I was looking at the D780 but this does everything for way less, even vs camcorders I was looking at.
Wow, someone still using a D200 ?
@@Joe-kw8hq Yes. Up until maybe BSI and now definitely Stacked Sensor's, it still outperformed most modern camera's.
Even Hasselblad. I'd recommend the H4D over the H6D unless you need more resolution which no one does unless you're making $20k, $30k per job and shooting macro products or priceless art. I'd take that old tank vs the newer ones.
The Leica M9 is really the camera I want. Leica still fixes any corrosion issues. Top to bottom, best digital camera ever made, it's the M9 for me. D200 and H4D trail. The R-D1s I'd still pay top dollar for. Only 6mp.
Outstanding camera in terms of image quality and low light performance and overall features. The lack of EVF makes it great for small backpacks (mountain biking, hiking, travel..). Amazing value for the price (500€, just monitor your favorite photography webstores). I'm using it much more than I intended, with the 40 mm f2 lens. My belobed Z6 is very jealous now.
Very good looking camera. Very capable. It looks good and compact with that small lens.
With the kit lenses, will the Nikon Z30 or Lumix S5 have wider angle? Thank you!
Z 30 is 16mm which gives you the standard 24mm wide end full frame equivalent (1.5x), so S5 is quite a lot wider as the kit lens is 20mm-60mm..
@@TheRealRichardWong I see thank you! I used to have a Nikon D3300 with the 18-55 kit lens, so the Z30 with 16 would be a small improvement actually. Currently I have a Lumix G7W with 14mm, but it has a crop when filming at 4K. Both the Z30 and S5 will be a nice upgrade, but the S5 is almost 2.5x the price 🤔
But the S5 does offer a lot more than the Z 30. It is a full frame camera, has IBIS, features like hi resolution mode, and for video, it can do 10 bit video, 4k60, and even RAW external output. The only thing Z30 is better is the more compact size and more stable autofocus. Having said that, most of a lot of my youtube videos in the last year or so were shot with the S5 and i found the autofocus pretty ok.
@@TheRealRichardWong Good points, thank you!
I think this is an excellent simple video/hybrid camera. Imagine the usefulness for talking-head type RUclipsography... Makeup tutorials, unboxings, talking-head/streamer perspectives... There's a few things that this camera lacks to be the best, but it's a reasonable price in comparison. I'm not sure the OM-5 isn't a better option, but it comes with its own (and different) limitations. If the OM-5 had USB-C PD charging/powering of camera, it would be my pick in this category.
What's OM-5?
@@Visit50 OM Digital Solutions OM-5.
@@RyanH0809 oh interesting. I hadn't heard of them.
@@Visit50 super cool camera, despite some strange design decisions being made to keep it at a certain price point. It's an incredibly capable camera that will blow away most casual and semi-pro users, depending on your use-case of course.
How is the native audio in the Z30? Passable? I noticed on top of your Z30 you have a Synco lav mic attachment. Did you find the audio quality to be a massive improvement, or is that more for distance?
it is ok. but built-in mic is never good for best audio quality because of the placement, size of the mic. Even a cheap $10 wired lav mic would give you huge improvement, and that's the same for pretty much ANY camera in the market.
I see that you never did any comparison videos of this camera and other "beginners" cameras. Would you still recommend this camera over say the Sony zv-e10?
sorry i don't have enough experience with the zv-e10 to give you recommendation on which one is better
I just clicked the video but last night I was just looking for your review to come out: "If Richard has something good to say I'll buy it".
I was impatient and pulled the trigger before it got out of stock.
oh thank you so much! I hope this review helped you validate your decision
Would you recommend this over the Canon R50? I continue to go back and forth on the two. Thanks!
I feel they both have their pros and cons so it's hard to suggest one over other
@@TheRealRichardWong I appreciate the response! By the way, great review on the Z30!
Thank you very much!
If you are invested to Nikon lenses or cameras, this is a good complement to what you have.
I have a Z8. Planning to get this one.
Thanks for the review! I'm finally upgrading from shooting photos and videos on my phone, a Pixel 6 Pro. It's excellent, but obviously a smaller sensor than the Z30
where will I notice the biggest upgrade? I'd likely mostly be shooting in auto mode.
I shoot a range of photos and videos - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, food, and more.
I'm guessing the Z30 will have better depth, better color, and much better video?
I'd love your thoughts
You should be able to get better low light performance, better dynamic range, and if you zoom in the photo, you'll find the photo from the Z30 much higher quality. This would become even more noticeable if you try to process the RAW files, you will find lots of flexibility from Z30's raw files
@@TheRealRichardWong thank you! Exactly what I was trying to determine. I appreciate it
🙋🏻♂️🇪🇦 Gracias Richard.
Parece mejor que el ZV-E10 pero no hay muchas lentes disponibles para el Nikon Es lo que me frena para tomar la decisión.
Small rig now has a battery with the same model number. The battery can charge outside the camera via usb c. My personal opinion i think it works better than the original battery. It most definitely charges faster.
What I miss coming from Nikon DSLRs is the old type USB port which I used as a remote cordless shutter release for the Hahnel Captur.
I understand the Z50 has one, so why has the Z30 just got a limited use USB-C Port?
Yes, I know about the Bluetooth remote and Snapbridge, but they come with Bluetooth time lag, useless for wildlife!
Still do not understand
The z6/7 and z6/7 2 still have auto focus
Issues
Is that all fixed in the z70?
Great video as always from you
I own a Z6 II and have no AF issues and the Z70 is still a rumor.
I'm in the market for my 1st (ever) camera to start my RUclips channel with and with the options out and reviews I've been seeing the last few months (yes, it's been months watching RUclips video reviews on different cameras, it's so confusing) your review I really like and seems unbiased.
What would you recommend amongst the Canon R10, Sony ZV-E10 and this one the Nikon Z30 as they're similarly priced?
thank you Lloyd! re your question about this vs Canon R10 or Sony ZVE10, since i haven't really use those two cameras long enough so i can't really tell you which one is the best.
@@TheRealRichardWong that's alright, thank you for the reply 🙂
Great review. Definately some video features missing from the Nikon lineup. I hope nikon updates a smaller model camera with 4k60 video IBIS & Audio input camera to the lineup.
HEy Richard how are u doing? i wanna buy a new lens for a travel with my wife to Europe, so, we are going to take some pictures and instagram stories, what lens would u buy? Viltrox 13mm 1.4 or VIltrox 23mm 1.4? i have just the kit lens 16-50mm
replied to you in the viltrox 13mm video :)
Yes Richard a Z40 with IBIS would give Nikon a very good range, plus 2 or 3 more DZ lenses.
Looks like an awesome setup! Great video 💯🔥🎥🎬
It's not bad for shooting some BTS footage i think ;)
Do you have any testing done to show that the Z30 has better noice control over the full frame cameras?
do you mean compare to the D3/D700? (like i mentioned in the video) No. But i have been shooting weddings and other things with the D700 for many years, I found the very high ISO from the Z 30 a lot more usable.
Thanks bro.
How is the iq for photo, does it match with nikon d7500, butter, worse?
Without comparing side by side, I would guess It can match but I can't answer for sure unless I compare them together
Thanks Richard, you sold me on it!
Hope you enjoy it!
@@TheRealRichardWong I will know after monday when its delivered! I saw your video last night on the 850 to z7 upgrade, but that is out of my price range. Great videos none the less
The z30 has a much better LCD than the z50 due to the articulation. I like to do nature macro photography, and there I am setting up a lot of low angle shots and shooting from the LCD. In those positions, the limited articulation of the z50 hurts.
Great review sir!
Glad you liked it!
When you turn on electronic stabilization vr what do you mean your gonna have to do more cropping ? Like I’ll have to zoom out when editing the video cause it zooms in ??
Electronic/digital stabilisation works by zoom in the image a bit which gives a bit of room to allow the camera to move the image area to cancel or reduce the shake. When you enable EIS , you would notice the camera would crop/ zoom in a bit immediately
Just got my z30 today
Very new to cameras
Enjoy!
Hello Richard from Tauranga!
A great review
Regarding the lack of IBIS in camera and that board meeting with all the manufacturers.
I wonder how much bigger and heavier IBIS would be.
Also how much would it add to the price?
Surely who ever made one first would get some good sales
Kia Ora!! LOL you must be watching too much Camera Conspiracies!
Thats the selfi mode. You can go through the settings and turn it off.
thanks for the info!
Can the USB-C port be used to plug in a headphone via an adaptor?
het Pete, as far as I know, the answer is NO. But I think that would be a great feature, the USB port on the cameras are still heavily underused
Hello there, I ve just came across this review...I m try to choose between buying a sony zve10 or nikon Z30. In your oppinion which should I buy ? Thanks
I am not very familiar with the zve10 so can't really answer this sorry
Does the shutter curtain close when You change lenses? Contacted Nikon and They did not reply. Suspect this could be a problem. Dust on sensor Could be real killer. An advantage of film camera. I still have a Mamiya 6...
No it doesn't
@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks I wonder if the hack of taking battery out and shutter curtain closing works. Apparently it does on Z7 2. Might help if changing lenses in dusty live music venues as I do.
I would really against those sort of hacks. It is completely not intended by Nikon so you may accidentally break something when pull out the battery. Also the shutter curtain is not a sensor shield and it's really fragile and expensive to replace if something touches it during lens change and broke it. Sensor dust while we all hate, is a lot easier to deal with.
@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks for Your thoughts ... I think this is an interesting discussion.
@TheRealRichardWong When you were testing the duration of recording, I noticed that you had the camera plugged into USB, but the power was drawn from the battery. Is that a glitch with the camera? I thought you could draw power from the USB cable.
oh sorry i think i said it wrong in the video. The camera was using power from USB. As you can see at the beginning and end of the test the battery level is the same
@@TheRealRichardWong ruclips.net/video/P632q0oHIQs/видео.html If you see at this point when you are testing the record time, the battery is in the red. I'm trying to figure out how to use the USB to power the camera because I'm recording a live event next week, and when I tested it this week, the USB was not powering the camera, even though I had the settings set to power USB.
@@esc7ap ah i see what you mean now. I think it's because i was not using a PD USB power when doing that test. I was just using a USB-C power supply on my desk which is not PD. Check the required PD spec for the Z30 (there are many different PD specs!) , as long as your power supply matches the requirement, then it should work fine. Definitely do a test first at home first
@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you! Yes, I was using a USB c power supply. I'll look into that.
BTW, loved your video! Thank you for putting it together.
I have a couple questions I hope you can answer. When you were vlogging both day and doing b roll, were you in full auto? Also, is there a way to lock down the exposure while filming?
for outdoor, i usually use auto or semi-auto because the lighting just changes too quickly sometimes and i'm also terrible at remember to check/adjust my exposure.
@@TheRealRichardWong that makes sense. But is there a way to lock exposure if you want to?
@@jpphotography81 to "lock exposure" i don't think there is an "AEL" lock for video (correct me if i'm wrong please), but you could do that by shoot in M mode. For myself, I would do that when recording in studio with fixed lighting, but almost never do that when recording outdoor as lighting changes all the time.
Do u still recommend? Is it better than I phone in terms of photography. Can you compare photographs with iPhone please?
it definitely can capture better photo than iPhone. But if you don't do video at all, the Z 50 or Z Fc might be better as they have an electronic viewfinder.
@@TheRealRichardWong can you please compare pics and videos with the latest I phone please?
@@tush_2870 sorry I don't have the latest iphone
@@TheRealRichardWong can u compare with whatever u hv ? Also with other same range camera
i'll see if i have a chance to do that :)
Compare with Sony ZV-E10 and Canon R50. Price of Z30 is expensive than other. However kit lens, including 50-250mm, image qulity looks beter than its compatitors. For the 4K video overheating issue, I think it will be worst in summer. Mount a quiet fan such as 12CM 12V or 5V DC fan may help to reduce camera tempture.
Hello
Can you advise which one should I choose
Canon m50 mark 2 or nikon z30
For video
Thanks for this video it's really helpful 🙏
I prefer Z30 mostly because the Canon M system may become obsolete/replaced by the R in the very near future
@@TheRealRichardWonghow about video and photo quality?
Esta Z30 es un fantástico complemento de la Z5!!!!!
Honestly the best video I've seen on this camera, well put together with excellent image quality! I'm using a Canon M50 mark 1 would you say this has better video quality, using the kit lens? thanks
Thank you very much ❤️ the z30 should be much better than the m50 mk1 esp in 4k. Canon has a massive crop which affect the image quality esp low light performance
@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you yeah I don't use 4K in the M50 it's rubbish will the kit lens be okay to record indoors with lights as there isn't much lens for this thanks
Are the video and photo having any editing before post?
From memory i didn't do any editing on the video in the review, but for photos, yes
HELLO!
WHICH SPINNING BASE ARE YOU USING AT THE END OF THE VIDEO? SEEMS TO HAVE A SMOOTH AND CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT...
Hi Danlo, it's one of the module the Zeapon PONS PT system: ruclips.net/video/tsUMVKfVdNI/видео.html
How much time the battery lasted for 1080p and any heating issues while 1080p video recording and how is 1080p quality. Pls say. Thanks 🙏
I heard that in custom settings, maximising the focusing speed and face detection will improve its auto focus. Is it true. Pls say. Am really confused which one to choose between this and Sony zv e 10 😔😔
For my testing I didn't overheat even when recording 4k so it wouldn't overheat if I record in 1080p. But it really depends on the ambient temperature, most of these cameras without active cooling could overheat when used under 35 degree+ Celsius condition
Nice review. Thanks!
Thanks for watching @Vladimir!
Sir at 4k vdo sample the night vdo ..u have included some artificial lights and there is noo Rolling effect sir what cam shutter speed and Frame rate u selected and support of Monitor externally over the Hotshot pnt is nt remote
Is the VR useful for hand held video shooting at distance 50mm etc on objects or people - I cant hold my 50mm on a fullframe strady - can I do that on a Z30,.
sorry it is really hard to answer and i don't want to mis-led you. But when you say you can't hold 50mm on full frame ready, does that has any stablisation? and what camrea/lens are you using?
@@TheRealRichardWong no it doesn't have any camera or lens stabalisation - will i be able to do that with a Z30
It would be much better than no stabalisation at all!
I think Nikon is updating the Z50 series with the Mark 2, with a rotating screen using IBIS inside the body.
You can just add an external OVF like many photographers used to do.
An excellent review, if this had IBIS it would be the best Vlogger on the market easily. Or do one of these cameras with GoPro type image stabilisation.
Yes i really want to see a small-ish camera that has IBIS.
Perfect review. Thanks 🙏
Thank you very much!
@@TheRealRichardWong I will buy this instead of Sony zv e10 . What about the lens kit between both of them? Thanks.
I can't comment too much about the zv e10 as I only had some brief usage of it. But I like the Nikon 16-50 VR kit lens, it's very compact and also good quality
@@TheRealRichardWong thanks
Wich camera would be better when you come from a mobile phone ? Canon eos m50 mark ii or this nikon z30
I would choose the Nikon Z30 because i personally think the EOS-M is a system Canon is phasing out very soon so i would rather invest in a system that will be around for many many years.
Great and helpful review!
Glad it was helpful P.H!
Hey Richard, what is that rotating thing in the last shot on which the camera is placed?
that's the Zeapon motorised PAN head for their slider system. But I use it by itself as a product turntable quite often
@@TheRealRichardWong hey got it, thanks a lot!
Great review as always. I have the same thoughts about the Z30, the lack of IBIS is a missed opportunity especially that it's the last vlogger camera to hit the market, and being late to the party gives an opportunity for differentiation that Nikon didn't benefit from. The price point for the tech inside the body is also a let down. It's still good tech but the price could have been lower as all the parts and the R&D has already paid for itself, there is little to no innovation with this one. I need another body for b-roll and I am considering this camera because it's the cheapest; however, in my country it's only $136 below the price of a full fledged Z fc which is a better camera for photography and I'm not sure that the small price difference is worth the downgrade. Perhaps its only advantage is that higher cap on the continuous video shooting limit; however, I am fine with the 30-minute video limit as it does not affect my use case.
hey Yamen Zein thanks for watching and your always support!
yes i really wish the Z 30 has IBIS, it would really make the camera stand out.
But re the price, i don't really agree the price should be a lot lower. As a consumer myself of course i wouldn't mind if the price is cheaper, i would love that too. But from the manufacturer's point of view, it is mostly the same as a Z Fc, minus the retro style and EVF, but it has longer recording limits, the new tally lamp and a few minor design changes (and smaller size) that does make it a better camera for vlogging/video content creators. I'm pretty sure the Z 30 is something Nikon has planned when they develop the Z 50/Z Fc so I would argue the initial R&D cost was already spread between these cameras, but even not the case, it is more or less the same as a Z Fc so there isn't much reason for Nikon to sell it much cheaper than what they are currently selling the Z Fc for, especially if the market is happy for the price. (which is something we will have to wait and see)
@@TheRealRichardWong solid arguments, I have nothing to comment on. If we take it from a new comer's perspective, it would make sense because it can adapt Sony E glass as well as more mounts than I care to count in addition to the native Z glass. And the price point is in line with the competition, just marginally more expensive. As you right ly said, we'll have to wait and see.
Fantastic review.
Thanks for watching Greg!
Is it possible to attach any long power zoom len to it? If attached can we fully extend the lens using the lens control follow by the camera dynamic and digital zoom continuously without stop videoing?
Hi there, What power zoom lens are you referring to?
@@TheRealRichardWong example Sony SELP 18105G. Any converter to attach it to Nikon Z30?
IBIS Is good for photo, not so for video. In other Nikon Z cameras the IBIS makes crazy things in video, warpy image and corners
See the IBIS on something like a Panasonic G9- the IBIS is awesome on video.
@@wakeywarrior oh yes! But in the Nikon realm IBIS is not good for video
Hi Richard
Can z30 have settings like canon in video mode, while recording video z30 can change aperture shutter and iso??
Yes you can if your shoot in m mode
Wow, amazing gel effect from that IBIS...
Please tell me why the VIBRATION REDUCTION function is not enabled for me. I have a Nikon Z30 with lens Viltrox 13 mm 1.4
You need a gimbal. The z30 and the viltrox don't have vr. The kit lens has vr.
@@barryobrien1890 Thank you, I have RS3 GIMBLE :)
Another great review.
Thank you very much Josua!
Thank you so much! Great vid!
Glad it was helpful Corey!
I’m wanting to get my golf RUclips content going (just the Instagram right now). Would this camera be suitable for being able to quickly setup while getting great quality footage?
Are you using a phone right now for your video and photos? If yes, then the z30 should be a big upgrade for you
@@TheRealRichardWong yeah using my phone. Huawei p30pro and it’s lacking even at 4K
i'm using the p30 pro too. Thee Z30 would be much better especially under more challenging lighting condition (high contrast, low light..etc)
@@TheRealRichardWong thank you
Can we do photography with this?
Yes of course. In this review I shared some photos I shot with the camera and it's kit lens :)
Great Video
Thank you Lumix S1 NP!
The mic should only be used for scratch audio or emergency. That goes for every camera. Use a second audio recorder. Takes like 10s in Adobe Premiere to sync all your footage and audio.
Use the camera in a way that takes advantage of its good abilities. Don't try making it something that it is not.
Is this better than canon eosm200
Yes its wayy better
So I found out that overheating is HEAVILY dependent on how bright the subject is... I went over an hour filming something regular; but I only got 20 minutes!! before it overheated filming an overhead display that the display was mostly white and had just a few words from the slide show on it...
That is interesting 🤔 I would thought it's mostly depends on Ambient temperature and the camera body temperature (like if it's under direct sunlight)
How could it record 4k non stop 100 minutes since it stated 4k is only around 30min record limit?
There is no 4k recording limit with the Z30, it is only limited by the temperature/battery life and memory card.
@@TheRealRichardWong Oic. Wonder why the manuals stated that. And it is funny that Z30 almost exactly same as ZFC and the ZFC manuals stated both 4k and 1080 only 30min
Debating between z30 and canon eos r10
Thanks for the review
Thanks for watching shimon afargan
Did he just say Kellogg good morning...
🧐🤪🤣🤣😅😅😅
"Kia Ora"
12:10 you have to disable selfie mode, then the audio meters are there. they clearly didn't think it through. the audio meters should be there even in mirror selfie mode when in video mode.
Ah!! So that's how to do it! okay it is a bit weird. Maybe they think the self portrait mode (which is on by default) is really for beginner user, so they don't want to see the audio meters when shooting in selfie position? Yes i agree with you the audio meter really should be there no matter what direction the screen/camera is facing
@@TheRealRichardWong i first encounter this problem on my z50. Isn't it strange how a company as big a nikon can let tiny obvious and easily fixable problems go unfixed for years.
there is a setting inside menu to turn off selfie mode.if you turn it off it will show normal live view with all information including audio levels
@@TheRealRichardWong
You rock Richard! :-)
Thank you Peter!!!
Hi would this camera be worth buying when I have an iPhone 14 pro? What is the photo quality like? Thanks :)
I would say the Z 30 is much better once you zoom in the photo and look at the details, or shoot under low light.
Iphone loses to Z30 specially if you print the pictures or view it on monitors.
12:35
To stop you from looking at the screen from time to time and just make the video 📹
Awesome review. When u doing giveaway to me this camera 😃
haha i wish i can! But i don't even have one myself. It was a loan camera I have to return after finish the review. I do do giveaway from time to time.
This or Sony ZV-E10 and why ??
Both very similar. Go try both and Choose the one you like more :)
Also the whole want to see yourself is literally the only excuse people make for the fully articulating screen. Use your smartphone or tablet via snapbridge if you want to monitor yourself. All a vari angle screen does is make these cameras less durable.
Bro 👍🏻 good
Thank you so much 😀
like it, but one thing that doesn't work for me is that it has a recording time limit of 125 minutes. I know that sounds like a long time... but there are many situations that this is an issue.
I want to emphasis 125 minutes is not even Nikon's quoted figures, the offical figure is much lower.
if you want unlimited recording time, then you may need something like a Panasonic G85 or Panasonic GH5/6 or Nikon Z9
@@TheRealRichardWong thanks!
Any tool is what you make of it and how you use it. To say that this is just an entry level camera for beginners, better thatn a phone is just not true. Especially when talking about something as sophisticated as this portable camera.
With any kind of tool/camera you can make great photos or art, worth printing, or showing in a gallery.
Just imagine if Michelangelo or Vanghog refused to use certain pencils or brushes because they were "entry level"
Ps, I have all kind of cameras including full frame, and have been photographing professionally for 30 years.
man im stuck between the z 50 and this one
Do you need the flip out screen? And how important is the evf?
Cn we do wedding shoots?
Yes sure
Thank you Sir
Nikon just copied ZVE10. I just wish they put a viewfinder, it could have been my perfect travel camera for photo and video.
Hi Eric, I won't say Nikon copied. There were many similar compact vlogging style camera long before ZVE10. Each with slightly different feature set and limitations. For example, Lumix GX8 (2016) has flip out screen, IBIS..etc and even a tiltable EVF.
Butthurt Sony fanboy. Viewfinder? This camera was not designed for someone who wants a viewfinder. This is the kind of guy who will buy a Honda Civic and say, if they just put a HEMI in it, it would have been my perfect car. Award for the most stupid comment.
He said everything except the seals in the body.
I hope they don’t add Ibis. It is super overrated, makes the camera bigger, therefore kills the z30 unique selling point being small size and slim. It is good enough for handheld low light anyway. If they want they can add ibis to z50 but if they do a Sony and make their aps-c bodies the same size as their full frame aps-c it will be terrible
There is no viewfinder on this camera. This makes it a hard pass for me.