Z30vs A7R III
VS
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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.
Landscape, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the a7r iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Z30
Camera family history