Z30vs A7 IV
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.
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)
- 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
A7 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
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 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — |
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