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Nikon

Z30

Compact APS-C Z mount for vloggers and beginners.

$709

Released Jun 2022

vs

Nikon

Z6 III

First partially stacked full-frame sensor with 6K N-RAW internal video.

$2,499

Released Jun 2024

Z6 III is 2 years newer.

Wins

1categories

Z30

Wins

10categories

Z6 III

Video & HybridSports & Action

1 categories tied

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TL;DR — Key differences

Z30 wins 1 categories·Z6 III wins 4 categories
  • BZ6 III has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BZ6 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 11 fps)
  • BZ6 III has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 30 fps)
  • AZ30 has lower Weight (350 g vs 760 g)
  • BZ6 III has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)

Key specs at a glance

Z30Z6 III
Resolution20.9 MP24.5 MP
SensorAPS-CFull Frame
ISO max51,20064,000
Burst11 fps120 fps
4K30 fps120 fps
IBISNo8-stop
Weight350 g760 g
Battery330 shots380 shots

Size and weight, to scale

Z30

128 × 74 × 60 mm

350 g (0.77 lb / 12.35 oz)

Z6 III

139 × 102 × 74 mm

760 g (1.68 lb / 26.81 oz)

Z30 is 11mm narrower, 28mm shorter, and 15mm thinner than Z6 III.

Z30 is 410 g lighter than Z6 III.

Depth (front-to-back): 60mm Z30 · 74mm Z6 III

Sensor size, to scale

Z30

23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C

369 mm² area

Z6 III

35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame

858 mm² area

2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

Z30

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

Z6 III

✓ more lenses

Nikon Z

90+

native lenses available

40 first-party50 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseZ30Z6 III
Portrait
4.5Fair
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
2.5Limited
8.5Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
2.5Limited
9.0Excellent✓ wins
Landscape
0.0Limited
7.0Good✓ wins
Travel
4.5Fair
5.5Fair✓ wins
Wildlife
3.5Limited
6.5Good✓ wins
Vlogging
5.0Fair
5.5Fair✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

Z30

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 128, 73.5, 59.5

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Weight

    350 g vs 760 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

Z6 III

  • AF low-light limit

    -10 EV vs -4.5 EV — lower is better

  • IBIS effectiveness

    8 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138.5, 101.5, 74

  • Card types

    Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, SD UHS-II

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 11 fps — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, H.265/HEVC

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Birds, Cars, Bicycles…

Both cameras share

  • AA filterBoth support aa filter
  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • TouchscreenBoth support touchscreen
  • Wi-FiBoth support wi-fi

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

Z30

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Vlog features
  • Compact

Cons

  • No EVF
  • No IBIS
  • Single slot

Z6 III

Pros

  • Partially stacked CMOS reduces rolling shutter
  • 6K N-RAW 60p internal — true filmmaking capability
  • 5.76M dot EVF — best-in-class resolution
  • 14fps mechanical burst

Cons

  • EN-EL15c battery life only 380 CIPA shots
  • Smaller lens ecosystem vs. Canon RF

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the Z30 and Z6 III at major authorized retailers.

Full specifications

= category winner

Z30
Z6 III
Resolution
20.9 MP
24.5 MP+17%
Sensor type
DX-format CMOS
Full Frame Partially Stacked CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.7 mm
35.9 × 23.9 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
Z30
Z6 III
AF system
Hybrid AF (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
Hybrid AF (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
AF points / zones
209
273+31%
AF low-light limit
-4.5 EV
-10 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
People, Dogs, Cats
People, Birds, Dogs, Cats, Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Trains, Airplanes
Z30
Z6 III
Burst (mechanical)
11 fps
14 fps+27%
Burst (electronic)
11 fps
120 fps10.9× more
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
No
Yes
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames
Z30
Z6 III
Max resolution
4K UHD
6K RAW
4K max frame rate
30 fps
120 fps4× more
Internal RAW video
No
Yes
Log profile
N-Log / HLG
Codecs
H.264/AVC
N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC
Z30
Z6 III
Weight
350 g−410 g less
760 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
128 × 73.5 × 59.5 mm
138.5 × 101.5 × 74 mm
Weather sealing
No
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, Z30 or Z6 III?

Z6 III scores 7.0/10 versus 0.0/10 for Z30 — Full-frame sensor — wider dynamic range.

What's the resolution difference between the Z30 and Z6 III?

Z30 is 20.9 MP and Z6 III is 24.5 MP, so the Z6 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the Z30 and Z6 III have in-body image stabilization?

Z30 does not have IBIS, while z6 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the Z30 or the Z6 III?

Z30 reaches 11 fps electronic. Z6 III reaches 120 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the Z30 and Z6 III?

Z30 weighs 350 g and Z6 III weighs 760 g, so the Z30 is 410 g lighter.

Do the Z30 and Z6 III record 4K video?

Z30: 4K up to 30p. Z6 III: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p.

Are the Z30 and Z6 III weather sealed?

Z30: No. Z6 III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 330 shots (CIPA) for the Z30 and 380 shots for the Z6 III, giving the Z6 III the edge.

How much does each cost?

Z30 launched at $709 and Z6 III at $2,499. The Z30 is $1,790 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.