Nikon - Z 30 4K Mirrorless Camera with NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens - Black

I'm going to preface this by saying I'm reviewing this camera as one for photography, not videography as almost every review only talks about the video capabilities and not the photo capabilities. I am a beginner photographer, so I don't have much experience but I will give the most accurate review I can. What I like: 1. Autofocus. The autofocus is snappy, accurate, the eye tracking works well, very little focus hunting/breathing and a good depth of field with the kit lens. 2. UI, as someone new to cameras the UI was very intuitive and did not take that much getting used to which I appreciate. 3. Size and weight, this this is seriously small and light and very easy to carry around. Carried it around the city for a few hours using the neck strap and was very comfortable the whole time. 4. Picture quality, obviously its a camera and takes good pictures with very good color accuracy, sharpness, dynamic range, and depth of field. Much better than a smartphone camera in most instances, good in low light, good stabilization allowing slower shutter speeds to be used as well. 5. The screen, since there is no EVF you're gonna be using the screen the whole time. It's a good size, sharp, clear, color accurate, and can get very bright (10 different brightness levels.) Did not have any issues at night or in direct sunlight at the default brightness, thought you can change it to your liking. It's also touchscreen, which works very well and you can use it to autofocus or even take photos which is very convenient. Flips out with a good range of motion, too, for those hard to take shots. 6. Video/mic quality, I took a few test videos and autofocus in auto mode worked very well always keeping me in frame and properly exposed. Built in mic sounds very clear and very crisp. 7. USB-C charging, plug this into any usb-c PD charger and you're good to go. I have a MacBook and use the same charger for both which is especially convenient. Also supports data over USB-C for offloading files, and I believe the cable that comes with it (C-A) will support data transfer, however I use an SD card reader which also works just fine 8. Very nice tactile buttons and scroll wheels, changing aperture and shutter speed have their own wheels and ISO is changed by pressing a button and moving the shutter speed control wheel, which is very nice and convenient for fast shooting. What I don't like 1. No EVF, which as a new photographer I haven't used in the past and I also wear glasses which makes it harder to use however having the option is always nice. I've only missed it twice, where the sun hit the screen at such an angle that the shot was very hard to see. 2. The RAW codec used is not compatible in the native Finder app on my Mac (2020, M1) as of the time of this review (8/21/22) which means you can't preview RAW photos. The only way to view them is using a 3rd party app (Nikon's NX Studio works fine) and viewing them there or exporting them as JPEG from that same app. I think this can be fixed in the future but for now I will be shooting in JPEG. 3. No battery percent? This is a nitpick but not having battery percent and only having the three bars is very imprecise and annoying as I never know exactly how much charge I have. I really hope this is fixed with software but not holding my breath. 4. Another nitpick, but it can be mildly frustrating not being able to take photos without manually extending the lens first. Because it can fold down so small and flush, I don't mind too much but would be nice if it was automatic. And that's about it! For a first camera, I am very happy with it and it performs very well. I have camera samples attached and it takes some great pictures. I bought the Nikon Z 50-250 f4-6.3 lens to use for telephoto and that one works like a dream with this camera, nice and sharp and able to maintain sharpness even when cropping thanks to the 20mp sensor. TL;DR If not having a viewfinder doesn't bother you and you're looking for a good low-middle end camera don't discount this one just because it's more made for video. It takes fantastic photos and is easy, comfortable, and fun to use!

I recently bought the Nikon Z30 with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens, and it has exceeded all my expectations. The compact, lightweight design makes it incredibly portable — perfect for travel, vlogging, or setting up a quick podcast recording. The video quality is outstanding — sharp, vibrant, and professional-looking right out of the camera. Paired with the versatile 16-50mm VR lens, it’s great for everything from close-up shots to wider angles. I especially love how easy it is to use; the controls are intuitive, and the autofocus is fast and accurate. For the price, you’re getting incredible value. Whether you’re a content creator, podcaster, or someone looking to upgrade from a smartphone, the Nikon Z30 is an excellent investment. Highly recommend to anyone who wants pro-level results without carrying a bulky camera!

Was looking for a Canon G7X alternative and this camera is pretty good! I like the quality and the size of it. However, the one downside is that is does not come with flash. That is the only reason I rate it four stars. I do not think the price should be lower because of the fact it does not come with a flash. I have tried to find attachable flashes I can use with it, but have not found any success yet. Because of this, the quality of photos in the dark is not that great because of the difficulty to pick up light. That is the only bummer about this camera. Other than that, I am pretty satisfied. I use it for video and photos and I enjoy how smooth the quality is.