Thanks Jason that was very helpful. Nice to also know that particular gimbal works well with the kit lens. I may get the M3 tho as I also want to buy the compact 40mm F2 lens as well. I find auto ISO and auto WB is pretty reliable on Nikon cameras, its an aspect of their cameras that doesn't get much attention. Also the way that the video/photo switch works by automatically saving your last settings, really speeds up hybrid work.
Great points Mark and I am very impressed with the Z30 so far for sure! Image quality is fantastic and the AF is also very good! I took my son to a bicycle pump track and the hit rate was pretty much the same as my Sony gear. Better than the Canon R10 which I did not expect at all. All the best, Jay
@@Jason_Hermann thanks for the reply Jason. How do you find the battery. I hear it's good for about 45 mins of 4K. I shoot mainly 1080p 50p (I hear the HD is good on the Z30 as well). If I can stretch out an hour of HD I'll be fine l.
Thank you for making this video! I just got the Nikon z30 and was looking for a Gimbal.....and I think I'll be picking up the one you used for this video....seems to be doing a good job! Thanks again!
Just ordered this have 10 days before I get it . New to camera videography photography other than cell phone stuff and I watched both tutorial and this video. Great videos. Able to learn about it before I get it is awesome so I don't get overwhelmed. Thanks alot!
I was so impressed with the z30 that I also picked up a z50 for when I want a EVF. There is some good viltrox apsc lenses available 23mm, 33ml.56ml. That autofocus is very good and locks on tight even with glasses on. This 20.9 MP sensor is very very good.
I'm really impressed so far as well Steve! The AF is incredible and the straight out of the box image quality is fantastic as well I would say. Loving the color science and skin tone accuracy in particular! I wish I had a fast prime lens to play with also, but I only have the two kit lenses for now...
Thank you Victor :) I did find that feature last night when I was digging in the menu. I knew it had to be there somewhere! I think Nikon is just trying to make it less distracting to very "new to camera" users....All the best, Jay
Thank you for sharing ;) I figured it out shortly after this video was recorded and I also mentioned it in the Beginners Guide here: ruclips.net/video/8wvt3TpiK5g/видео.html
Great video! Curios what the run and gun footage would have looked like using the digital stabilization only and not the gimbal. Do you know if the footage is steady-enough without the gimbal? One knock I heard was that it only had 8-bit color, but wondering how noticeable that would be and if it should stop someone from buying this camera?
So, I tried the M2S, the smallest lightest gimbal I could find. But it was just too flimsy, I stuck with the Mini 3 Pro for the sake of a sense of stability.
Thanks, but not sure what I did to trigger the reference? And no it did not stop while I was testing, but I have heard of people complaining it overheats on them if recording for long periods in 4k.
@@Jason_HermannThe scene when you were in the woods, and you were circling the camera around your head. Every Brian De Palma movie I have seen has that move somewhere in his directed movies. Cheers, and thanks for your video!
I have found no dummy batteries for the Zfc and the Z30. I just use the Apple 30w power adapter with a usb c cable to keep it charged. I can now get extra batteries for these cameras. I rather have dummy batteries to power the two Zfcs and Z30 in my studio office. Z30 will overheat and shut down your recording. But hitting the shutter button and it will wake up. Wish it had a high standard like Sony where the ZV-E10 and the A7c which I own have. Love the tally light plus border for the E10 when recording. I use Ecamm Live software for my studio and my cameras do overheat and go to sleep. Z5, Z6ii, Z7ii Zfc's and Z30. I have the Z50 but it is not usb c. I love the dials and the handling/grip of the cameras. i did buy Smallrig Lgrip/handle for one of my Zfc's. I also own the Canon R7, Sony A6100, ZV-E10 and A7c. Enjoy the camera. Z30 is a Z50 without an EVF but has the usb c and no time limit but does overheat. I can get 45 minutes either recording internally or just using it with Ecamm before it shuts down with the overheating.
I appreciate you sharing your experiences Randall and you have a nice variety of gear over there I see ;) It's a shame it over heats... I have not had an issue yet, but still need to do a lot more testing.. What is the ambient temp of your studio where the cameras are over heating? Thanks, Jay
I bought a small, silent desk fan to cool my z30 while livestreaming and it's worked perfectly. No overheating problems after streaming for 3+ hours. The fan I bought is the arctic breeze desktop fan
Just bought a Z30. I don't like the 50-250mm lens zoom gear which is too tight for video. Have a kind of spanner feeling while zooming. So far no other issue other than this.
Yeah I agree the 50-250mm lens has a tight zoom and overall cheap build quality feel to it. However, it's crazy affordable considering the zoom range and optical quality when looking at the photos...
Might be the wrong type of cord is all I can think of. They make separate cords for cell phones and cameras for example, even though they are both 1/8th jacks...
Well it depends on which Rode I suppose, but the on camera audio on this camera is very good. With wind diffusers, which are sold separate it is useable audio for sure. Professional quality audio will always require external mics and stuff like that though...
@@Jason_Hermann Lucky for me I’m not a professional so good enough is good enough. ;) p.s., someone name “Golden McPherson” used screen captures from your complete Z30 guide in the book he published that I bought on Amazon called “Nikon Z30 user manual for experts”. Amazon gave me a full refund without even needing to return the book because it didn’t have any page numbers. self-published
Sorry about that, I fixed the link in the description, but here it is: geni.us/jdtL Since this video however, the DJI RS 3 Mini gimbal came out and I would recommend that unit now: geni.us/aqJ3rx
Yeah, Sony is still on the top of the mountain I would say, but Nikon and Canon are really nipping at the heals with these newer cameras. The Z30 checks all the boxes for content creators and provides excellent video and photo quality straight off the camera in full auto. I really enjoyed using the Z30!
A dummy battery plugs into the wall and powers your camera. The little flap is a door for the dummy battery cord. Here is a dummy battery for the Nikon Z30: geni.us/cfgin
It has a very small speaker, so yeah it's not easy to hear... You can raise the volume while a video is playing by touching the center bottom area of the screen where you should see a little speaker. See here: onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/z30/en/04-03.html
Hey bought nikonZ30 30 but the recording button is disabled*cancelled with a line on screen*so even if l press record button can't work. How can l able it please?
@@Jason_Hermann Auto. Is there a way l can attach a photo for you to see what am meaning. I as well have no memory card in it so it left me wondering couldn't be the reason it won't record
@@bryanhpris Yes 100% that is the reason. The camera needs to write the data it is recording to something and I recommend this card: Sandisk SDXC Memory Card UHS II: geni.us/BfubLow
20 minutes recording more or less anything over 1080p for a full battery, then 9 hours of charging a battery. No dedicated battery charger with the camera, so needs to be charged from a computer or USB device (if you are brave enough to use one that does not brick the camera) the cable that i got with the camera is not even a proper charging cable, its a data transfer cable and is about 6 inches long. My camera battery charging light does not even change colour when the battery is fully charged to tell you that its fully charged, so i expect to have issues later with over charging. Very poor focusing and tracking in low light, even with the "correct settings" auto focus is choppy at anything closer to the lens than about one foot, then you have the choppy tracking making focusing even worse. Over heating issues if you are shooting outside in the sun or trying to squeeze more than 20 minutes of video shooting, i have to say that it was a surprise having a camera from a company like Nikon in 2024 that forces a shut down due to over heating issues, i have never experienced that before with any of the many cameras i have owned. I really regret buying this camera and should have just stuck with my iPhone 13 for recoding basic video and my 10 year old Canon camera for still photo's.
Thanks Jason that was very helpful. Nice to also know that particular gimbal works well with the kit lens. I may get the M3 tho as I also want to buy the compact 40mm F2 lens as well.
I find auto ISO and auto WB is pretty reliable on Nikon cameras, its an aspect of their cameras that doesn't get much attention. Also the way that the video/photo switch works by automatically saving your last settings, really speeds up hybrid work.
Great points Mark and I am very impressed with the Z30 so far for sure! Image quality is fantastic and the AF is also very good! I took my son to a bicycle pump track and the hit rate was pretty much the same as my Sony gear. Better than the Canon R10 which I did not expect at all. All the best, Jay
@@Jason_Hermann thanks for the reply Jason. How do you find the battery. I hear it's good for about 45 mins of 4K. I shoot mainly 1080p 50p (I hear the HD is good on the Z30 as well). If I can stretch out an hour of HD I'll be fine l.
This is also a great example of the gimbal performance. It makes the shots way more stable than the camera can do on its own.
Thank you for making this video! I just got the Nikon z30 and was looking for a Gimbal.....and I think I'll be picking up the one you used for this video....seems to be doing a good job! Thanks again!
Very cool ! My Z30 is arriving today
Nice 👍
Just ordered this have 10 days before I get it . New to camera videography photography other than cell phone stuff and I watched both tutorial and this video. Great videos. Able to learn about it before I get it is awesome so I don't get overwhelmed. Thanks alot!
I was so impressed with the z30 that I also picked up a z50 for when I want a EVF. There is some good viltrox apsc lenses available 23mm, 33ml.56ml. That autofocus is very good and locks on tight even with glasses on. This 20.9 MP sensor is very very good.
I'm really impressed so far as well Steve! The AF is incredible and the straight out of the box image quality is fantastic as well I would say. Loving the color science and skin tone accuracy in particular! I wish I had a fast prime lens to play with also, but I only have the two kit lenses for now...
@@Jason_Hermann those viltrox 1.8 primes are very good for z mount.apsc. 23mm, 33mm, 56mm. I liked the z30 so much I picked up a z50 too for the EVF
Good thing to pickup any camera. I wished I can pickup one also somewhere. ;)
You can disable the Self Portrait mode in the Menu, Jason. Don't know why it's on by Default.
Thank you Victor :) I did find that feature last night when I was digging in the menu. I knew it had to be there somewhere! I think Nikon is just trying to make it less distracting to very "new to camera" users....All the best, Jay
Go to Selfie Mode in Settings and turn it OFF. That way you will get full screen read out when flipped out facing you, including Audio Levels
Thank you for sharing ;) I figured it out shortly after this video was recorded and I also mentioned it in the Beginners Guide here: ruclips.net/video/8wvt3TpiK5g/видео.html
Great video! Curios what the run and gun footage would have looked like using the digital stabilization only and not the gimbal. Do you know if the footage is steady-enough without the gimbal? One knock I heard was that it only had 8-bit color, but wondering how noticeable that would be and if it should stop someone from buying this camera?
Excellent video it has really good image quality I'm waiting for your Canon R10 V Nikon Z30 before I get one
Would love to see it also
Love the majestic slow mo in this video. Thank you for the review and honest opinion 9:26
Loved the slow mo 😍
Great video! I am trying to decide if I should get this camera or Sony ze10. I do mostly sit down videos. I feel Nikon is unrated but a gooood camera
Amazing quality for all auto. I saw another review saying the auto is so good, very few changes needed.
Thanks Jason! Super helpful!! Awesome shirt by the way.
Thank you Brandon 👊
Thanks for the video, it was useful
Which is better for video and photos, Sony ZV1?
nikon z30
I would say the z30, because the sensor is much larger and you have tons of lens options.
internal mic sounds better than the Rhode
gimbal seems to keep background stabilized while your head bob up and down.
That is correct! The "camera" is stabilized not me....
Wow... it's true, I couldn't tell the difference between 4K and 1080p to be honest. :)
Idk which device you are watching it on, but If your not on laptop you cannot have it in 4K
So, I tried the M2S, the smallest lightest gimbal I could find. But it was just too flimsy, I stuck with the Mini 3 Pro for the sake of a sense of stability.
I like that Brian De Palma thing you did there...;). Quick question--did it ever stop/interrupt while you were filming in 4K?
Thanks, but not sure what I did to trigger the reference? And no it did not stop while I was testing, but I have heard of people complaining it overheats on them if recording for long periods in 4k.
@@Jason_HermannThe scene when you were in the woods, and you were circling the camera around your head. Every Brian De Palma movie I have seen has that move somewhere in his directed movies. Cheers, and thanks for your video!
Ahh ok, yeah I definitely copied that move from somebody! Lots of youtubers do that as well, but he was prolly the original master... Thanks Carlos :)
I have found no dummy batteries for the Zfc and the Z30. I just use the Apple 30w power adapter with a usb c cable to keep it charged. I can now get extra batteries for these cameras. I rather have dummy batteries to power the two Zfcs and Z30 in my studio office. Z30 will overheat and shut down your recording. But hitting the shutter button and it will wake up. Wish it had a high standard like Sony where the ZV-E10 and the A7c which I own have. Love the tally light plus border for the E10 when recording. I use Ecamm Live software for my studio and my cameras do overheat and go to sleep. Z5, Z6ii, Z7ii Zfc's and Z30. I have the Z50 but it is not usb c. I love the dials and the handling/grip of the cameras. i did buy Smallrig Lgrip/handle for one of my Zfc's. I also own the Canon R7, Sony A6100, ZV-E10 and A7c. Enjoy the camera. Z30 is a Z50 without an EVF but has the usb c and no time limit but does overheat. I can get 45 minutes either recording internally or just using it with Ecamm before it shuts down with the overheating.
I appreciate you sharing your experiences Randall and you have a nice variety of gear over there I see ;) It's a shame it over heats... I have not had an issue yet, but still need to do a lot more testing.. What is the ambient temp of your studio where the cameras are over heating? Thanks, Jay
I bought a small, silent desk fan to cool my z30 while livestreaming and it's worked perfectly. No overheating problems after streaming for 3+ hours. The fan I bought is the arctic breeze desktop fan
Just bought a Z30.
I don't like the 50-250mm lens zoom gear which is too tight for video. Have a kind of spanner feeling while zooming.
So far no other issue other than this.
Yeah I agree the 50-250mm lens has a tight zoom and overall cheap build quality feel to it. However, it's crazy affordable considering the zoom range and optical quality when looking at the photos...
Would you recommend over iPhone 14 pro, which I already have? For real estate
When I plug in the rode mic my audio goes dead and I can’t find a setting to switch it to recognize the external mic. Any suggestions?
Might be the wrong type of cord is all I can think of. They make separate cords for cell phones and cameras for example, even though they are both 1/8th jacks...
Hey Jason, can u control the camera with the gimbal? taking photos and start recording?
In theory yes, but I did not try that with this camera so you need to make sure the gimbal and camera are compatible on the gimbals specs...
I thought the built-in microphones were just as good as the Rode
Well it depends on which Rode I suppose, but the on camera audio on this camera is very good. With wind diffusers, which are sold separate it is useable audio for sure. Professional quality audio will always require external mics and stuff like that though...
@@Jason_Hermann Lucky for me I’m not a professional so good enough is good enough. ;)
p.s., someone name “Golden McPherson” used screen captures from your complete Z30 guide in the book he published that I bought on Amazon called “Nikon Z30 user manual for experts”. Amazon gave me a full refund without even needing to return the book because it didn’t have any page numbers. self-published
As u use both pls tell which one is better in between nikon z30 or Sony zve10 ???
I still prefer the ZV-E10 out of the two cameras if I had to pick...
@@Jason_Hermann thnk u
And in between r10 and zve10 m asking coz its gonna be my frst camera so I want to invest in tht which is more value for the money pls reply ..
I would still go with the ZV-E10 unless you need that R10 viewfinder for outdoor photography and video shooting in bright conditions...
@Jason_Hermann thnk u so much for ur response I would definitely buy zve 10
Link to the gimbal is broken and takes you to camera....
Sorry about that, I fixed the link in the description, but here it is: geni.us/jdtL Since this video however, the DJI RS 3 Mini gimbal came out and I would recommend that unit now: geni.us/aqJ3rx
Did you shot on flat or this is the regular color profile?
Regular, out of the box full auto
@@Jason_Hermann it’s dang amazing.. I’m so getting it, funny how I was a canon fanboy but now I can’t say the same
Yeah, Sony is still on the top of the mountain I would say, but Nikon and Canon are really nipping at the heals with these newer cameras. The Z30 checks all the boxes for content creators and provides excellent video and photo quality straight off the camera in full auto. I really enjoyed using the Z30!
What is a 'dummy battery' and what is that flap for? 1:31. TIA
A dummy battery plugs into the wall and powers your camera. The little flap is a door for the dummy battery cord. Here is a dummy battery for the Nikon Z30: geni.us/cfgin
does it have a 30 min recording limit? tks!
No It doesnt But IT Does Switch Off Of Overheat
I have this camera but the audio on playback is so bad you can hardly hear it
It has a very small speaker, so yeah it's not easy to hear... You can raise the volume while a video is playing by touching the center bottom area of the screen where you should see a little speaker. See here: onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/z30/en/04-03.html
@Jason Hermann thanks I will try that appreciate the help
Hey bought nikonZ30 30 but the recording button is disabled*cancelled with a line on screen*so even if l press record button can't work. How can l able it please?
I'm not sure what would cause that.... The lens is open correct? What mode is the camera in on the mode dial?
@@Jason_Hermann Auto.
Is there a way l can attach a photo for you to see what am meaning.
I as well have no memory card in it so it left me wondering couldn't be the reason it won't record
@@bryanhpris Yes 100% that is the reason. The camera needs to write the data it is recording to something and I recommend this card: Sandisk SDXC Memory Card UHS II: geni.us/BfubLow
@@Jason_Hermann okay thanks. I will go get it tomorrow. Then try and see .will give you feedback immediately
Nikon imitating Sony 😂
20 minutes recording more or less anything over 1080p for a full battery, then 9 hours of charging a battery. No dedicated battery charger with the camera, so needs to be charged from a computer or USB device (if you are brave enough to use one that does not brick the camera) the cable that i got with the camera is not even a proper charging cable, its a data transfer cable and is about 6 inches long.
My camera battery charging light does not even change colour when the battery is fully charged to tell you that its fully charged, so i expect to have issues later with over charging.
Very poor focusing and tracking in low light, even with the "correct settings" auto focus is choppy at anything closer to the lens than about one foot, then you have the choppy tracking making focusing even worse.
Over heating issues if you are shooting outside in the sun or trying to squeeze more than 20 minutes of video shooting, i have to say that it was a surprise having a camera from a company like Nikon in 2024 that forces a shut down due to over heating issues, i have never experienced that before with any of the many cameras i have owned.
I really regret buying this camera and should have just stuck with my iPhone 13 for recoding basic video and my 10 year old Canon camera for still photo's.