Z30vs A1 II
VS
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 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.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The a1 ii has the highest resolution at 50mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the a1 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Z30
Camera family history