Nikon Z30: What You Need To Know

Earlier today Nikon announced a new camera aimed at content creators called the Nikon Z30. This will join the Z50 and Z-FC cameras and expand the company’s APS-C lineup. Nikon also officially announced the Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S after allowing several hands-on videos to be released about this new lens last week.

Nikon Z30 background and target audience

The new Z30 is aimed at a somewhat different target audience than the Z50 that was announced back in 2019. While the original is an entry-level stills and video camera, the Z30 is mostly aimed at vloggers and content creators with more emphasis on the video aspect, hence the lack of the viewfinder and the side opening articulated screen (the Z50 has a screen that opens under the camera which is kind of awkward).

Together with the camera Nikon also announced the ML-L7 Bluetooth remote handle which is another indication of the target audience of this new camera (there is even a Creators Accessory Kit with a mic the remote and a handle).

Nikon Z30 main features

In many respects, the Z30 is almost identical internally to the Z-FC but it was designed for a different target market. It lacks the viewfinder and is more video-centric (although you can certainly take stills shots with it if you are OK working with a screen).

It has the same resolution sensor (20.9), an articulating touch screen, a useful tally light to know when you are shooting video if you (or anybody else) are in front of the camera, it has improved internal mic (you can actually hear the quality in some of the videos below) and it has a mic port (although sadly no headphone port for audio monitoring).

The camera is thin but has a deep grip with dials in the front and the back and a video record button on the top and dual-function buttons on the front.

Flip screen and dual-function buttons on the front of the Z30

Nikon Z30 specs

Here are the main specs for the new Nikon Z30 camera:

21MP APS-C CMOS sensor.
4K video at up to 30p (no crop).
1080 video at up to 120fps.
Fully articulating 3.0″, 1.04M dot touch screen.
Tally lamp.
11 fps shooting speed.
UHD 4K 30p (no crop) and Full HD up to 120p.
Eye Autofocus in both stills and video (human/animal).
Powered by USB-C.
EN-EL25 battery with 330 CIPA rating.
UHS-I SD memory support (single SD card slot in the battery compartment).
3-inch fully articulated touch screen.
Weight – 450g.

Nikon Z30 top

Nikon Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S lens

Last week Nikon allowed several photographers to play around and demonstrate the new Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S lens. However for whatever reason Nikon only officially announced the lens today (to be honest we find this type of behavior strange at best).

The Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S lens on the Z7 II

Now that the lens is finally “officially” announced we can give you its full specs and here there are:

Focal length / aperture – 400mm, f4.5, full-frame coverage.
Optical structure – 19 elements in 13 groups (including 1 ED element, 2 Super ED elements, and 1 Short-wavelength Refractive (SR) lens element).
Coatings – fluorine coating & Nano Crystal Coating.
Image stabilization – 5.5 stops
Min focus distance – 2.5m.
Aperture blades – 9.
Filter – 95mm
Weight – 1245g.
Length – 23.4cm.
Teleconverter support – Compatible with Nikon’s 1.4X and 2x teleconverters.

Hands-on look at the Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S lens with Chris Niccolls from DPR

Nikon Z30 and Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S pricing and availability

The Nikon Z30 will start shipping in mid-July for $710 (camera only) and the kit version will sell for $850.

The Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S should be available in July 2022 for $3250.

Nikon Z30 videos from around the web

There are already several early hands-on videos and reviews online of the Nikon Z30 and you can watch a few of them below.

Chris Niccolls from DPR on the Z30

iPhonedo with the Z30

Kai W playing with the Z30

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Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.