Upgrade Guide
Nikon D810→Nikon Z30
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D810. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Z30
-
Burst rate11fps vs 5fps
-
Generation8 years newer (2022 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution21MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D810 | Z30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | +1.9 | ||
| Travel | +1.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.0 | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.2 | ||
| Landscape | -1.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | +4.5 | ||
| Food | +2.3 | ||
| Macro | +2.0 | ||
| Architecture | -0.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D810 | Z30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £348 | £479 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2022 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.3MP full-frame CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 21MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1200 shots (CIPA) | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 980g (with battery) | 405g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon Z-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Z30 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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