Z30vs A1
VS
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
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.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Z30
Camera family history