Z30vs A7 IV
VS
Which should you buy?
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
Z30 (2022)
- You create video content and want reliable Nikon colour science in a compact body
- You don't need a viewfinder and prioritise the vari-angle flip screen
- You're starting out with interchangeable lenses for content creation on a budget
A7 IV (2021)
- You want a high-resolution full-frame all-rounder for portraits, weddings, or travel
- You're stepping up from APS-C or a DSLR and want the best all-round full-frame body under £3,000
- You shoot a mix of stills and video and need a single body that handles both seriously
- You want access to the widest lens ecosystem in the mirrorless market
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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