Nikon Z30 vs Sony ZV-E10

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon Z30 and the Sony ZV-E10, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Nikon Z30 was introduced in June 2022 and Sony ZV-E10 was introduced in July 2021. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Nikon Z30 Highlights

      • 20.9 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • No Optical Low-pass Filter
      • 100 - 51,200 Native ISO
      • 209 Focus Points
      • 3.0" 1,040k dot Fully Articulated Screen
      • 11.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 3840 x 2160 Video Shooting
      • 2 h 5 min Video Recording Limit
      • Built-In Wi-Fi
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Sony ZV-E10 Highlights

      • 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 32,000 Native ISO
      • 425 Focus Points
      • 3.0" 920k dot Fully Articulated Screen
      • 11.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 3840 x 1920 Video Shooting
      • 13 h Video Recording Limit
      • HDR-HLG, Sony S-Log 2, Sony S-Log 3
      • Built-In Wi-Fi

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10.

      PROS

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      •   Cheap
      •   Video Capture
      •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Animal Eye Detection
      •   Digital Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
      •   No crop on 4K Videos
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz)
      •   USB Charging
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Cheap
      •   Video Capture
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Animal Eye Detection
      •   Digital Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   Unlimited Video Recording
      •   High Video Recording Limit
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth
      •   Light - 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)
      •   USB Charging
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 440 shots


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      •   Sensor Resolution - 20.9 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   -4.5 EV Min AF Detection
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   32,000 Highest Native ISO
      •   -3 EV Min AF Detection
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
      •   Video Resolution - 3840 x 1920

      Advantage of Nikon Z30

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon Z30 over Sony ZV-E10.

      Nikon Z30 vs Sony ZV-E10
      Higher Native ISO 51,200 vs 32,000
      Higher Boosted ISO 204,800 vs 51,200
      Lower Min AF Detection -4.5 EV vs -3 EV
      Higher Resolution Screen 1,040k dot vs 920k dot
      Higher Flash Sync Speed 1/200 sec vs 1/160 sec
      Lower Min Metering -4 EV vs -2 EV
      Higher Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 3840 x 1920
      Wi-Fi Version Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz vs 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
      Environmental Sealing vs

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon Z30.

      Advantage of Sony ZV-E10

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Sony ZV-E10 over Nikon Z30.

      Nikon Z30 vs Sony ZV-E10
      Cheaper $710 (body), $850 (w/16-50mm lens), $1050 (w/16-50 & 50-250mm lenses) vs $700 (body only), $800 (w/16-50 lens)
      Higher Sensor Resolution 20.9 Megapixel vs 24.2 Megapixel
      Max Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 vs 6000 x 4000
      Higher Max AF Detection +19 EV vs +20 EV
      More Focus Points 209 vs 425
      Higher Max Metering +17 EV vs +20 EV
      Unlimited Video Recording vs
      Higher Video Recording Limit 2 hour, 5 min - 60 fps or less
      3 min - 120/100 fps
      vs 13 hours
      Built-in Microphone Stereo vs Multiple
      Headphone Output vs
      Lighter 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz) vs 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)
      Longer Battery Life 330 shots vs 440 shots

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Sony ZV-E10.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Nikon Z30 Sony ZV-E10
        Cheap$710 (body), $850 (w/16-50mm lens), $1050 (w/16-50 & 50-250mm lenses)$700 (body only), $800 (w/16-50 lens)
        Video Capture
        Many Focus Points209425
        Touch-to-Focus
        Face Detection
        Live View Autofocus
        Animal Eye Detection
        Digital Image Stabilization
        Screen TypeFully ArticulatedFully Articulated
        Touch Screen
        Webcam Functionality
        High USB SpeedUSB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec)USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec)
        HDMI Output Micro Micro
        Built-In Wi-Fi
        Built-In Bluetooth
        Light405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz)343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)
        USB Charging
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Nikon Z30 Sony ZV-E10
        No Image Stabilization
        No Viewfinder
        No Built-in GPS
        Short Battery Life330 shots440 shots

      Screen

      Screen

      Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 have 3.0" Fully Articulated screens with 1,040k dot and 920k dot resolutions respectively. Fully articulated screen makes cameras selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting. Both models feature touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment and most importantly a Touch-to-Focus functionality allowing users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording.

      Image cannot be displayed Image cannot be displayed

      Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 with Fully Articulated screen

      Sensor

      Nikon Z30 features a 20.9 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.7 mm and a total area of 369 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 51,200 and expands to 100 - 204,800 in boosted mode. Sony ZV-E10 features a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 243.4 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 32,000 and expands to 100 - 51,200 in boosted mode.


      Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

      Sensor size chart
      Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
      Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
      Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
      Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
      Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

      Photography Features

      Nikon Z30 is equipped with EXPEED 6 processor and can take pictures up to 5568 x 3712 resolution. Sony ZV-E10 is equipped with BIONZ X processor and can take pictures up to 6000 x 4000 resolution.


      Lens Mount

      Nikon Z30 has Nikon Z lens mount and Sony ZV-E10 has Sony E lens mount. Due to their APS-C sensor their crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is equal to 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


      No Low-Pass Filter on Nikon Z30

      There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Nikon Z30. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.


      No Image Stabilization

      The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Nikon Z30 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Sony ZV-E10 nothing can be done. On Sony ZV-E10 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon Z30 nothing can be done.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      Built-in Wi-Fi

      Cameras have built-in Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac/b/g/n 2.4/5 GHz on Nikon Z30, 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz on Sony ZV-E10) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


      Bluetooth

      Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 have built-in Bluetooth (version 4.2 on Nikon Z30) which lets you to connect the camera to a smartphone or a dedicated remote control device. This allows you to remotely trigger the camera, adjust settings and controls remotely through a paired mobile app. While Wi-Fi is generally faster for transferring larger files, Bluetooth can be used for small, selective transfers, it can provide real-time information about your camera's battery status, memory card capacity, and other key settings directly on your paired smartphone or smartwatch.
        Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in Bluetooth.


      NFC on Sony ZV-E10

      Sony ZV-E10 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.


      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) Type-C inputs for data transfer and battery charging. Nikon Z30 has a Micro HDMI and Sony ZV-E10 has a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Nikon Z30 comes with EN-EL25 battery pack with battery life of 330 shots and Sony ZV-E10 comes with NP-FW50 battery pack with battery life of 440 shots.


      External Storage Slots

      Nikon Z30 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slot. Sony ZV-E10 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo Hybrid (UHS-I) card slot.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 have Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane. shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon Z30, and up to 1/4000 sec on Sony ZV-E10. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 11.0 fps.


      Focusing

      Nikon Z30 has Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF system with 209 focusing points and Sony ZV-E10 has Fast Hybrid AF (Phase-detection / Contrast-detection) system with 425 focusing points. Nikon Z30 has detection range from -4.5 to +19 EV and Sony ZV-E10 has detection range from -3 to +20 EV.


      Exposure

      Exposure meterings of Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 range from -4 to +17 EV and -2 to +20 EV respectively and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon Z30 and exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Sony ZV-E10.


      Flash

      Cameras have no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected to both of them via Hot Shoe to Nikon Z30 and via Intelligent Hot Shoe to Sony ZV-E10. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on Nikon Z30 and 1/160 sec on Sony ZV-E10.

      Physical Parameters

      Nikon Z30 body has dimensions of 128 x 74 x 60 mm (5.04 x 2.91 x 2.36") and Sony ZV-E10 body has dimensions of 115 x 64 x 45 mm (4.53 x 2.52 x 1.77"). Nikon Z30 weighs 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz) and Sony ZV-E10 weighs 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz).

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      128 mm

      74 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      115 mm

      64 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      74 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      64 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      60 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      45 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      Size comparisons of Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10

      Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      GOOD
      82
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      GOOD
      71
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      GOOD
      74
      •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      74
      •   32,000 Highest Native ISO
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Short Battery Life - 440 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      GOOD
      74
      •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Animal Eye Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      72
      •   32,000 Highest Native ISO
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Animal Eye Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Short Battery Life - 440 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      GOOD
      83
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      84
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      EXCELLENT
      88
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz)
      EXCELLENT
      86
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      EXCELLENT
      88
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
      •   No crop on 4K Videos
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
      EXCELLENT
      85
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Video Resolution - 3840 x 1920
      •   High Video Recording Limit
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 440 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10 and give both of them the score of 77 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      OVERALL
      77
      OVERALL
      77

      Sensor

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      AVERAGE
      62
      •   Sensor Resolution - 20.9 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   51,200 Highest Native ISO
      AVERAGE
      62
      •   Sensor Resolution - 24.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   32,000 Highest Native ISO

      Photo

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      GOOD
      70
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/200 sec
      GOOD
      70
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 11.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec

      Video

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      AVERAGE
      65
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   High Video Resolution - 3840 x 2160
      •   No crop on 4K Videos
      •   Webcam Functionality
      GOOD
      80
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Video Resolution - 3840 x 1920
      •   Webcam Functionality
      •   Unlimited Video Recording
      •   High Video Recording Limit

      Focusing

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      EXCELLENT
      92
      •   -4.5 EV Min AF Detection
      •   209 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Animal Eye Detection
      EXCELLENT
      92
      •   -3 EV Min AF Detection
      •   425 Focus Points
      •   Touch-to-Focus
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   Animal Eye Detection

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      EXCELLENT
      85
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 1,040k dot
      •   No Viewfinder
      GOOD
      84
      •   Fully Articulated Screen
      •   Touch Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Viewfinder

      Connectivity

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      EXCELLENT
      94
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth
      EXCELLENT
      97
      •   High USB Speed
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Nikon Z30

      Sony ZV-E10

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 405 g (0.89 lb / 14.29 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
      POOR
      43
      •   No Environmental Sealing
      •   Light - 343 g (0.76 lb / 12.10 oz)
      •   Short Battery Life - 440 shots


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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