The Nikon Z30, the camera giant's alleged budget, mirrorless camera, it might not be too far off if the latest rumors are correct. We recently saw a new Nikon camera registered with Taiwan's official regulator, and it has all the hallmarks of a new version of the Nikon Z50, which is currently the company's only Z-mount camera with an APS-C. (Or as Nikon calls that, DX).
This means that we will soon see the arrival of a Nikon Z50 Mark II or, as rumors suggest, a Nikon Z30., who is said to be under his older brother. This would make the Z30 an affordable, travel-friendly camera for those who love the look of Nikon's growing Z-mount lenses.
We still don't know much about the Nikon Z30, but we've rounded up all the latest rumors below and sprinkled them with our review, so you know if this is a mirrorless camera to watch in the future.
Nikon Z30 launch date and price
While we don't know exactly when the Nikon Z30 will be released, has not been officially announced yet, the latest speculations suggest that we will see it this year. In fact, release could be sooner rather than later, given the recent registration of a new Nikon camera with Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC), which grants the seal of approval to products containing wireless technology.Nikon's digital camera "N2016" has also been registered with Taiwan's NCC. Equipped with Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11b/g/n/a/ac) and Bluetooth, Mout uses UC-E24 (Type C on camera side) for Z and Z for USB cable. SB-5000 Speedlite and ME Stereo Authentication Corresponds to -1. #Authentication information pic.twitter.com/xVuhhg5cXK2 9 April 2021.
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On April 29, the ever-reliable camera announcer Nokishita watched the footage of a new Z-mount DX camera. And while the record doesn't explicitly mention the mystery camera, it uses the same battery as the Nikon Z50, suggesting it will be an interpretation of the same concept. Once products reach the registration stage, they tend to launch within a few weeks, so the release date may not be too far away.
(Image credit: Walmart) As of now, there have been no leaks about the possible price of the Nikon Z30, but we can make an educated guess depending on what type of camera is in the works. The Nikon Z50 arrived in October 2019 for a body-only $850 / €849 / AU$1399, but can currently be found for much less than today's deals. For example, Walmart offers the Z50 for just $600 (body only), while Amazon UK offers it for €659. This is a pretty incredible value and perhaps supports the theory that the recently registered mystery camera is more of a Nikon Z50 Mark II than a new junior companion, with the Z50 potentially being phased out. Still, if the Nikon Z30 arrives as a smaller equivalent of the Z50 without an EVF, it could become one of the best budget cameras if it doubles below the Z50's current prices. Of course, you'll have to factor in the high cost of lenses if you don't already have Z-mount lenses or old F-mount lenses to fit.
Nikon Z30 rumors and features
For a camera rumored since 2019, there have been surprisingly few Nikon Z30 leaks so far. But we have some credible rumors and this recent entry to help get an idea of what kind of camera this could be. In August 2019, Japanese site Design Watch claimed to have discovered a patent for a Z-mount APS-C DX mirrorless camera.. Considering this was even before the release of the Nikon Z50, it looks surprisingly like a Z50 without an electronic viewfinder, which is precisely the kind of camera the Z30 should be.
(Image credit: Design Watch) Our rough mockup at the top of this page also shows a Nikon Z50 without its viewfinder, giving you an idea of just how compact it is with the right lenses. Speaking of which, overseas recording spotted by Nokishita revealed that the camera would come with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR, a stunning crepe lens designed for the Nikon Z50. This again suggests that it is possible that Nikon is preparing to launch a Nikon Z50 Mark II, instead of a NIkon Z30 with a new form factor. But all the same, rumors suggest that the camera will come with a 24MP or 26MP sensor, a single card slot, and surprisingly, a fixed LCD screen.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens is a great companion to the Nikon Z50. (Image credit: Nikon/Laowa) A recent recording in Taiwan also reveals that the Nikon Z30 will likely ship with the same battery as the Nikon Z50, suggesting that it will be the second Z-mount camera to feature a DX sensor. From the same repository, we know that the Nikon Z30 will have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and will be compatible with accessories like the Nikon ME-1 microphone, so we expect the camera, like the Nikon Z50, to have a 3.5mm microphone. .
(Image credit: Design Watch) The biggest rumored feature, though, is the potential lack of an electronic viewfinder. This was backed up by generally reliable rumors from Nikon, which recently stated that on May 3, "I think the new Model Z will probably come without an electronic viewfinder and should be announced within the next 2-3 months."
This minimalist design would likely discourage expert photographers, who tend to spend most of their shooting time in the viewfinder, but could open up the Nikon Z30 to a wider audience, especially those looking to put down their smartphones. It would also drastically lower the price of the camera and could make it the most affordable entry in the Z mount system to date.
We will have to wait for the official information before being sure, but in the meantime, this is what we would like to see from the Nikon Z30.
Nikon Z30: What we would like to see
1. Improved autofocus
Nikon cameras haven't always had top-notch autofocus systems, so they tend to struggle a bit more than their Sony and Canon rivals with subject tracking, and the Nikon Z50 is no exception.
(Image credit: Nikon) However, the Nikon Z50 has made improvements since its launch thanks to firmware updates, which delivered Animal Detection AF in July 2020, and we expect the Nikon Z30 to continue on this path. This will be especially important if the Z30 is marketed as a vlogging camera, as solid video autofocus is a must with alternatives like the Canon EOS M6 Mark II.
2. A fully articulated screen
The first rumors about the Nikon Z30 predicted that it could come with a fixed screen, but we think this is unlikely given that the Nikon Z50 comes with a tilting screen. What we hope is that the Nikon Z30 will go a step further and come with a screen that tilts to the side or a screen that tilts over the camera. The fact that the Z50's screen tilts downward means you can't use it with a tripod while vlogging on the camera, which is a bit frustrating.
The Nikon Z50's screen tilts down, which is fine until you want to mount it on a tripod. (Image credit: future)
If the Nikon Z30 ships without an electronic viewfinder, it seems likely it's leaning towards vloggers, and that means a front-facing screen. The lack of an electronic viewfinder would leave room for a flip-up screen, although this could be blocked by external microphones, so hopefully that will be the case for the side-lid design.
3. An ultra-wide lens
The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR is a great kit lens and is the one that should come with the Nikon Z30 (or Nikon Z50 Mark II) when it launches. But one thing the Z mount lineup lacks is a native ultrawide lens that would be the perfect companion for video and stills on a small DX camera.
(Image credit: Nikon)
Since a Z-mount equivalent of something like the AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR isn't on their roadmap, it seems unlikely that Nikon is planning one. But the native lenses that are ideal companions for cameras like the Nikon Z50 and Z30, rather than full-frame lenses like the Nikon Z6 II, are a bit skinny on the ground, so we're hoping that will change with the release of a new DX. Mount the camera in Z.