True confessions time: With my Zfc and my former D5500, I shoot at family events with the screen flipped in the closed position to stop everyone from asking to see the photo I just took. They get very confused looks when I flash the back of the camera and show that it doesn’t have a screen. I really got frustrated with everyone asking me to retake photos. If that makes me evil, I’m okey with that.

Putting an optical viewfinder on the Z30 is just brilliant.

Great Video! Thank you for this.

Thank for a great comparison! I’ve bought Z50 and I’m loving it! Mainly for photography.

im still perfectly happy with my z50, as a compagnon to my z6, could use ibis though, hopefully in next model

I had the ZFC when it came out love it

I’ve had the Z50 for a year now. It’s a brilliant little camera!🇨🇦

I Got the z50 with kit Combo. I also got the Z 24-70 |2.8 S and Use it on the z50 for the perfect wedding combo (36-105mm) full frame equivalent. I enjoy the combo so much I have NOT bought a full frame mirrorless. YET!

Becky, one work around for the z-50 is to mount it in a cage (1/2 only, the botom is uncaged, to use the screen)- this allows any of the 1/4"-20 tpi threaded holes to mount the tripod to, allowing the camera to be upside down, with the screen clear of obstructions, just have to 'invert' the screen & perhaps the footage, for correct orientation of the image , think this is also a feature in some menu setting, just like the portrait/landscape focus point switch feature for stills.

Great video as always guys, have the Z50 and it's great, do want to go full frame but not sure what's next and better. Z8, Z6iii or Z7iii?

Nice comparison video I have three Z cameras, including the Zfc, which is my “fun” camera, which I use like a film camera with FTZ and old vintages lenses. I love the Z 28mm SE and 40mm f2 on the Zfc. I would really love a small fast-ish wide angle prime for DX …a 24 or 28 mm equivalent on the Zfc. Fun street camera. Do I want a ZFc full frame…hmmmm, yes!

Great review and comparison. Each of these cameras has their own specific use, but, can one camera do it all? This is why Nikon makes several cameras, and hopefully more very soon.

Just imagine… Zfc, full frame, 33mpx, Expeed 7, 1tb internal storage(like X2D), 50mm f1.8 SE design lens… a Beautiful Nikon dream 😍🙌🏼

Bought a Zfc earlier this year, just love the feel and style. Photography is all about enjoying the process for me.

Oh yeah... Z-FC is so retro and cool. Getting it with the 28mm f/2.8 and rolling old school. Grew up with knobs and hate anything with a menu. Thank you for the review it really helped me with my decision.

Got both taking the z30 on vacation for the small factor and a DJI mini drone.

So apparently everyone in the comments has a z50 I on the other hand have a Z30 and am loving it

Amazing video quality!😮 Mind if i ask what camera you used in here? Good comparison with these 2 hotties. Thank you, you just help me choose which one to go to.❤

The Z50 was the first camera I brought back in 2018, I wanted the Z6 but they didn’t have a lens for it and the salesperson said buy the lens and they would ship it to me, I was I want to use the camera now. So the Z50 was purchased. I promised myself a camera after going through chemotherapy for cancer. The only thing I was disappointed with is that there is no external Jack for a manual release. I did purchase the L7 for it and I have 2 spare batteries. I own a Z6II now also. I just wish they had fully articulating screens. As I do astrophotography and nighttime photography and my body doesn’t bend as good now in weird positions. I like the Zfc as it brings back that nostalgia of when I got into photography many years ago with a Pentax ME then got 2 Nikon FM 10’s later on for astrophotography. I have owned Olympus OM’s and Canon digital Rebel series also.

Very helpful video! If I were to pick amongst the three, I'd personally go with the Zfc, along with an extra grip attachment 9and the FTZ2 adapter) to make it feel like a newer camera, mainly due to the Z50's tilt screen limitations. I currently have a d5200 that I've owned new since 2013, so I'm guessing I'm due for an upgrade! -Rick W

I bought the z30 partly due to long record time, also for the low cost along with kit lens and 18-140mm so it is a great travel kit also. Doing videos I don't miss the EVF too much. However I have a Z5 for that when I want to use it.

I have the Zfc for awhile now and I love love love it. Viltrox 56 just arrived so looking forward to shooting with it. Also have 16-50 and adapter for my older Nikon lenses. It a great camera looks cool too. Thanks for the review im happy with my choice.

Zfc all day, every day! With the silver 16-50mm, 28mm 2.8 SE, 40mm 2.0 and Viltrox 85mm 1.8. And now I'm waiting on Nikon to give me a wide aps-c zoom! Are you listening Nikon?

Missed VERY feature if you want to use longer lens. the Z 50 is the only camera of the three. I own two Z fcs, but only use the 16-50 kit lens. Thom Hogan emphasizes this on his awesome sans mirror site! I leave a 50-250 kit lens with hood and polarizing filter on the Z 50..

I'm waiting for Zfc 2 with 4k60 and a few more apsc lenses.

I bought the Z50 beginning this year as a travel and general walk around camera. I didn't expect this but I absolutely adore this camera. It is small and light with stunning IQ. Some say this is an entry level camera. But besides the price there is nothing entry level about this camera. It is very capable!

Thankyou, for doing this, esp. in this time, with all that is going on, to all of you, our Wishes, and understanding, hope Charles III is as good a King as QE2 was a Queen.

actually i think i will put an external ovf on a z30 for my still photography

Well I have all three cameras and my choice is the Zfc. I just wished it didn't have the 30 minute time limit. My Z30 is overheating while recording internally 35 to 45 minutes and externally about an hour using Ecamm Live. Of course I live in Texas and it is hot! Stay Safe and Keep Smiling! God Save the King! Cheers!

My D5600 and many DX lenses make me want to look for DX Z camera body. I don't want to use DX lenses on my Z5. It's Z30 or Z50 but maybe it's better to wait for II version of Z50.

Of these three. I have the Zfc ... I ordered it with the 28mm SE lens the day they announced it. I have at that time borrowed a Z50 from Nikon for a couple of weeks, so I knew it was a god camera for the price. And the fact that the Zfc was "the same camera" helped me in my decision to choose that one. Why I my choice was the Zfc? 1. The look of it. I was really blown off my chair with the look. If I ever find a good bargin on a FM2/FM3 camera I will get one ... I love the retro look. And on the package I got when I bought it Nikon Store Europe included a leather strap ... 2. The USB-C and the fact that you can power the camera and run the camera with USB-C. 3. The screen ...I do not know how much sake the team making the Z50 have had before opening their CAD-program and designing the Z50 ... Why did they make the screen go that way? I still love my Zfc. And I use it sometimes as my only camera for weekends and family things. Sometimes as my backup, when I don't want to bring two Z6II with me. And sometimes as third backup camera together with my two Z6ii ... It is small and takes almost no space in my bag :) FOR NIKON! It is time for a Z50II and time do discontinue the Z50 ... Or make a Z40 with the same camera spec but articulated screen like the Z30 but with a viewfinder. And with USB-C charging. Then wait three months and give us a Z60 A DX camera in a Z6ii/Z7ii housing ... make it like a mirrorless D500?

There is a lot of complaining about the pop-down screen on the Z50. Now, let me ask you a question: Why do you think Casey Neystat always uses sunglasses in his videos? He answered and he said: It's because if he looks at the screen on a camera with a flip out screen it looks like he doesn't look AT the camera when vlogging. With a flip-down screen this is less of an issue. Think about that. Just get a thing that let you mount a tripod on the side. As for using it while taking pictures. I actually prefer the Z50 screen. It's more natural to have it tilt the way it does.

What are those red-and-black strap-like attachments on your Z50?

How can the z30 be for vlogging when it doesn't have image stabilization???? And in 2022 none of them has!!!! I own the zfc, it's a beauty but the lack of grip and the lack of IS is just frustrating... And yes there are third party grips, I have bought one, but still it's not the same....

Like my ZFC with the 50-250 lense as not a blogger. Good companion to my Z6 which i understand will no longer be available.

Every time I borrow my wife’s Zfc I get a bit of envy. A full frame version would tip me over the edge and bankrupt me 🤣

Everybody should spend the $8 and get an aftermarket dual battery charger that's takes USB-C. This is the solution. When I'm at the hotel; I can charge BOTH batteries at the same time, and having an external charge is super important; you can be charging the backup battery while you are using the primary one. And this setup; dependent on a USB-C which the cameras are as well; if you are recording and low battery and in a jam; you can plug the USB-C into the camera and power it; or if you aren't recording; powerpack with the charger; and your 2nd battery is topped off.

There should be 2 models of the z30 one with a view finder and one without.. why they didn't include one is beyond me it would be the perfect little all around camera...

I'm using Z30 as a walkabout travel camera

I would like a Z50 with IBIS and a fully articulating screen.

Hi guys & gals, New to Nikon Z series here, which camera did you film the show with?

I use ZFC next to my Z6.

2 things I noticed almost immediately, Z30 has a poor battery. Second, in the bright daylight the lcd screen is unusable. For still photography I would go with the other ones.

For DX video, Nikon needs to deliver wider (17 or shorter) & brighter VR lenses. Unclear if the 12-28 DX will be brighter than f3.5 through its range (assuming it has VR). The current 16-50 is too dark and optically meh.

Z30 comparison with Sony and canon camera for vlogger

one other ommission for video, esp considering the battery life issue, is the Z7-2 or the Z6/6-2 as they all offer a battery grip compatability, but also these have the full 47 MP resolution, so can offer better quality, even if you end up downsizing the footage to the vloging area, the full 15 stop dynamic range and colour space is still there, so more than enough, even if some data is lost through this downsize.

What a luscious man.

The first video i see from you guys. great info.... Background music is too loud and overpowering your voices. I couldn't finish the vid. Work on your audio mix. i look forward to seeing more>

I wish instead of z30 they made z50 mkii, i don't really understand why z30 exists, it's a good/quality camera, killer sensor, resolves most issues of the z50 (apart from headphone jack perhaps) and it deserves an evf, i don't get it, it's not like evf would make it worse or significantly more expensive, or perhaps influencers and bloggers don't like having evf, i don't know man.

These crop sensor cameras from Nikon all look like entry level cameras. When is Nikon going to come up with a REAL mirrorless replacement for the D500? Wildlife photographers would like to know.

You are right Young beauty but if you wanna shoot a Weeding it will be painfully experience if You blow pictures without EVF 🤨 Z-50 is more universal tool to work wit it ..

What about asking Nikon to release a wide angle lens for mirrorless Z cameras, indeed the selection of DX lenses is very poor They seem to have abandoned us who are not willing to spend money on their expensive full frame cameras and lenses What's the point in releasing another DX mirrorless with the same poor selection of lenses?

Nikonians are awaiting the much hyped Z70 / Z90 APSc 26MP/33MP Stacked Sensor as a Pro grade Z series Mirrorless bodies... Nikon shouldn't delay the release any longer... Else customer's will switch to other competitors who are already offering such solutions....

Z50

I think i will use my 👁️ for framing. so i will pick the Z30 😂😂😂.

Z50 has a bulit in flash. Not a big dill, but better than nothing. Actually the flash is not bad for a close range.

Have shot with Nikon all of my life and dx suites me fine and my D500 is going nowhere.So a small compact mirrorless dx would compliment it just fine so what is the problem.I want compact dx lenses from Nikon not being not being expected to use the larger fx glass.The market is shrinking and more customers want small so wake up and smell the coffeee Nikon otherwise Fuji will get my dx compact money.

Just a little thing concerning the Z30, it can record up to 125 minutes only in 1080p 24/25fps, in 4K it will overheat in around 35 minutes and both theses timers are at 25°C. That's a thing that nikon tells us in very little on their website when you check what they wrote about recording time you get a little "5" and when you ckeck said "5" you can read the following : "⁵ In Full HD/24p/25p at 25℃/77℉. The camera’s ability to always achieve the full 125 minutes is dependent on conditions like battery life or the camera’s internal temperature. Approx. 35 minutes of recording time is available in 4K UHD." So yeah... that's kinda sad when the ZV-E10 basicaly never overheat even in 4K...