Z30vs ZV-E1
VS
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The z30 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the z30 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 405g body only | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Z30
Camera family history