Z30vs FX3
VS
Sony
FX3 (2021)
Starting from £3799 new
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
View FX3
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 Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking — FX3 (2021): The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
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
FX3 (2021)
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Quick take: The z30 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the fx3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | FX3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £3,799 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 715g body only (with XLR handle) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| 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 slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Z30
Camera family history