Nikon Launches Second APS-C Mirrorless Camera

2022.06.29

Nikon just revealed the second Z-mount Mirrorless Digital Camera with an APS-C sensor. Following the original Z50, launched in 2019. This was followed by a global pandemic and so camera releases slowed down with only two new Nikon mirrorless cameras introduced each year, all Full-Frame until now.

The Nikon Z30 is a highly compact mirrorless designed for vlogging. The archetype vlogger records videos with the camera pointed at herself and prefers a rotating LCD to preview the video while filming. They also demand quality audio capture and generally opt for an external microphone. Nikon built the Z30 precisely to towards this audience.

This Mirrorless Digital Camera is built around a 20 Megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor with builtin Phase-Detect Autofocus. The sensor is completely fixed to the camera body to provide better heat dissipation but it also means that the Z30 does not offer builtin Image-Stabilization or even automatic sensor-cleaning. The same sensor as the Z50 in the Z30 delivers a standard ISO 100-52100 sensitivity-range, which is expandable to ISO 204800. A typical 1/4000s to 30s shutter-speed range, plus bulb exposure is available.

Video capabilities have been rounded out on the Nikon Z30. The camera can capture 4K Ultra-HD video at 30 FPS and 1080p Full-HD at 120 FPS. It supports much slower capture to create Time-Lapse video directly from the camera. Internal camera audio capture has been greatly improved, plus there is also a stereo mini-jack for using an external microphone.

The compact form-factor of the Z30 comes at the sacrifice of a viewfinder. Not only is there no viewfinder of any kind on the Z30, there is also no provision to add one. This makes it a hard-sell for photography but it serves the needs of vloggers well. Recording happens to standard and widely-available SDXC cards, while power can be continuously provided via USB-C.

Nikon expects to ship the Z30 in July for around $710 USD or $880 CAD. Kits with the Nikkor Z DX 16-550mm F/3.5-6.3 will be sold too. Both Adorama and B&H Photo are already accepting preoderes.

• Digital Camera