Z30vs Z6 II
GearScore™ Verdict — 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.
All-Round Full-Frame Photography — Z6 II (2020): The Z6 II is the Nikon most photographers should buy. It's balanced across every discipline — stills, video, autofocus, weather sealing — without overpaying for megapixels you don't need. The Z-mount glass is superb.
Who should buy what
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
Z6 II (2020)
- Nikon DSLR users ready to move to mirrorless
- Photographers who need a reliable all-rounder without specialising
- Video creators wanting 4K/60p in a weather-sealed body
- Enthusiasts who shoot everything from portraits to travel
Quick take: The z6 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the z6 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | Z6 II (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.5MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Phase-detect, 273 points, Eye AF, subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 14fps mechanical, 14fps electronic (12-bit RAW) |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 705g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | Z6 II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history