The Nikon Z30 Is the Best Camera For Moms (And Their Influencer-Aspiring Children)

What Makes the Nikon Z30 Different from Any Other Digital Camera?

The Nikon Z30 is a mirrorless digital camera, which means it doesn’t use a mirror to reflect light to the viewfinder and sensor, like DSLR cameras do. On a more practical level, that makes for a more compact, lightweight camera that’s quieter and tends to have better image stabilization, so your pics tend to be crisper.

The Z30, specifically, is renowned for its video recording and photo quality, featuring an image sensor that’s “several times larger than a smartphone,” according to the brand. It features a 20.9MP camera and can shoot up to 4K, and it has advanced eye-tracking to keep the focus on people (or pets) as you record. That combination makes getting vivid, in-focus images and videos practically foolproof, though it has all of the customization settings (an almost overwhelming amount, honestly) to adjust each frame to your liking. It’s also compatible with Nikon’s 40+ Nikkor Z mirrorless lenses, offering further customization options.

What Comes With It

If you already have a compatible lens, you can buy the body only for $610. But most beginners will need a bundled package with a lens. For most people, the standard 16-50 mm lens—like the bundle I’ve linked to at the bottom of this story—will work for most day-to-day uses, like taking vacation photos, vlogging or capturing that family reunion. There are also bundles that contain multiple lenses (say, if you plan on needing a killer zoom to capture your kid’s lacrosse games) or a full-blown Creator’s Kit (which includes a tripod grip, Bluetooth remote control and microphone). I tested out a two-lens option, so I could channel my inner stage mom and snap everyday, slice-of-life pics.

What Is the Picture & Video Quality Like?

OK, this is what you really want to know, isn’t it? Honestly, the image quality is what sold me. Photos seemed brighter and more vivid than real life at times, which seems ridiculously hyperbolic, but that’s how good the sensor is. (Particularly when shooting automatic, as my manual photography skills aren’t quite there yet.) It feels like stepping down the Yellow Brick Road in Oz, and I couldn’t wait to share my snaps with others. (To that end, it’s easy to upload images to your computer via connector cable. You can also connect wirelessly using the Nikon SnapBridge app, though I found the old-fashioned cable more reliable.)

In terms of video quality, you can adjust the settings to toggle between “normal” and “high”-quality options, recording in up to 4K at 30 frames per second. This will result in huge files though, and for the most part, you probably won’t need such high-res videos (even if you’re dutifully recording all of your daughter’s dance recital videos for her future Miss Americana-esque retrospective documentary).

What Are Its Best Features?

Beyond the image quality, I loved three other aspects of this camera:

• The ergonomic grip – It is very comfortable to hold, and at less than 13 ounces, your wrist doesn’t get tired as easily, even if you’re snapping away while birdwatching, streaming a high school football game or capturing a timelapse of your bread rising (which, btw, why aren’t you using a tripod?!).
• The flip-out viewfinder screen – Selfie-takers and vloggers, this feature is for you. If you want to record yourself, this flip-out screen makes it easy to tell you’re in frame and in focus.
• The noise-reduction feature for recording audio – With a click of a button, you can reduce wind noise, resulting in much clearer sound—perfect for when you’re recording life as it happens. (Or doing man on the street interviews.)