Compare · 2 products compared
Nikon Z 30vsSony RX100 VII: which camera should you buy?
Both are compact cameras aimed at creators and travelers: the Sony a fixed-lens zoom that slips into a pocket, the Nikon a mirrorless body built around vlogging. The decision comes down to expandability and sensor size versus pocketability, and to a wide gap in fast-action shooting.
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- MOST WINS
NikonBest for Vloggers and first-time system buyers who want interchangeable lenses and longer battery life
9of 15 specs better - Sony
Best for Travelers and action shooters who need a pocketable camera with fast burst shooting and an EVF
6of 15 specs better
Biggest differences
Native ISO maximum
Nikon Z 30 leads
4×
higher is better
- Nikon Z 3051,200 ISO
- Sony RX100 VII12,800 ISO
Max mechanical shutter speed
Nikon Z 30 leads
2×
higher is better
- Nikon Z 304,000 1/s
- Sony RX100 VII2,000 1/s
Weight
Sony RX100 VII leads
−25%
lower is better
- Nikon Z 30405 g
- Sony RX100 VII302 g
Battery life
Nikon Z 30 leads
+27%
higher is better
- Nikon Z 30330 shots
- Sony RX100 VII260 shots
Where each one wins
Nikon Z 30
- Effective pixels
- Sensor format
- Native ISO maximum
- Continuous shooting (mechanical)
- Max mechanical shutter speed
- Screen articulation
- Rear screen resolution
- Battery life
- HDMI port type
Sony RX100 VII
- Sensor type
- Viewfinder resolution
- Weight
- Width
- Height
- Depth
What both have
- Max video resolution4K
- 4K max frame rate30 fps
- Video codecsH.264
- 4K max frame rate (full width)30 fps
- Screen size3 in
- USB charging & power delivery✓
- Minimum operating temperature0 °C
Every spec
Red marks the better value in each row.
| Spec | Nikon Z 30 | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release date | Not published | Not published |
| Launch price | Not published | Not published |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z | Fixed lens |
| High resolution pixel-shift mode | Not published | Not published |
| Sensor & Image | ||
| Effective pixels | 20.9 MP | 20.1 MP |
| Sensor format | APS-C1 | 1-inch |
| Native ISO maximum | 51,200 ISO2 | 12,800 ISO |
| In-body image stabilization | Not published | 4 stops3 |
| Sensor readout speed | Not published | Not published |
| Sensor type | CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
| Aspect ratios | 3:2, 1:1, 16:94 | 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:95 |
| Lens & Autofocus | ||
| Continuous shooting (mechanical) | 11 fps6 | 10 fps7 |
| Continuous shooting (electronic) | Not published | 20 fps8 |
| Max mechanical shutter speed | 4,000 1/s | 2,000 1/s |
| Pre-burst capture duration | Not published | Not published |
| AF subject detection | — | Human, animal9 |
| Video | ||
| Max video resolution | 4K | 4K |
| 4K max frame rate | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Video codecs | H.264 | H.26410 |
| 4K max frame rate (full width) | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Raw video recording | Not published | None11 |
| Video bit depth | Not published | Not published |
| Log profile support | Not published | Yes12 |
| Video dynamic range (log) | Not published | Not published |
| Viewfinder & Screen | ||
| Viewfinder resolution | 0 M dots13 | 2.36 M dots |
| Viewfinder magnification | Not published | 0.59 x |
| Screen size | 3 in | 3 in |
| Screen articulation | Fully articulated | Tilting14 |
| Rear screen resolution | 1.04 M dots | 0.92 M dots |
| Handling & Power | ||
| Battery life | 330 shots15 | 260 shots16 |
| Memory card slots | 1 slots | Not published |
| Weather sealing | Not published | Not published |
| Weight | 405 g | 302 g |
| Width | 128 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Height | 73.5 mm | 58.1 mm |
| Depth | 59.5 mm | 42.8 mm |
| USB charging & power delivery | Yes17 | Yes18 |
| Minimum operating temperature | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| Headphone port | Not published | Not published |
| HDMI port type | Mini | Micro |
Notes on 18 values — test conditions and caveats
- 1Nikon Z 30, Sensor format: DX format is Nikon's name for its APS-C-size sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm).
- 2Nikon Z 30, Native ISO maximum: Settings above ISO 51200 (102400, 204800) are expanded, not native.
- 3Sony RX100 VII, In-body image stabilization: Sony rates the optical (lens-shift) SteadyShot at 4.0 stops at the 200 mm telephoto end, not a body-only CIPA figure.
- 4Nikon Z 30, Aspect ratios: Native DX ratio is 3:2; 1:1 and 16:9 are in-camera crop modes.
- 5Sony RX100 VII, Aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1 sizes are in-camera crop modes over the native 3:2 sensor area.
- 6Nikon Z 30, Continuous shooting (mechanical): Nikon's in-house measured maximum; the rate is approximate.
- 7Sony RX100 VII, Continuous shooting (mechanical): The 'Hi' burst setting is electronic-shutter only; 10 fps ('Mid') is the fastest mechanical-shutter continuous rate.
- 8Sony RX100 VII, Continuous shooting (electronic): Blackout-free 20 fps continuous includes AF/AE tracking; the separate 'Single Burst' mode takes 7 shots at up to 90 fps.
- 9Sony RX100 VII, AF subject detection: Maker names only human and animal recognition (Eye AF / Real-time Tracking); no bird or vehicle categories are listed.
- 10Sony RX100 VII, Video codecs: Both XAVC S and AVCHD recording use MPEG-4 AVC/H.264; there is no HEVC/H.265 option.
- 11Sony RX100 VII, Raw video recording: Sony's movie-format list contains only XAVC S (H.264) and AVCHD; no raw video output is offered.
- 12Sony RX100 VII, Log profile support: S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG log gammas are selectable via Picture Profile presets PP1–PP10.
- 13Nikon Z 30, Viewfinder resolution: The Z 30 has no electronic viewfinder; compose on the rear LCD.
- 14Sony RX100 VII, Screen articulation: Screen tilts up about 180° for selfies and down about 90°; it does not swing outward like a fully articulated display.
- 15Nikon Z 30, Battery life: Figure is for the EN-EL25 battery; shot count differs with EN-EL25a.
- 16Sony RX100 VII, Battery life: 260 shots assume default monitor settings; Sony also lists 310 shots when 'Auto Monitor Off' is set to 2 s.
- 17Nikon Z 30, USB charging & power delivery: In-camera USB charging/power needs Nikon's optional EH-7P or EH-8P adapter.
- 18Sony RX100 VII, USB charging & power delivery: In-body USB charging and power supply work over the Multi/Micro-USB (USB 2.0) terminal — not USB-C.
Sensor and lens system
The Nikon's DX sensor measures 23.5 x 15.7 mm against the Sony's 1-inch chip, and pixel counts are close: 20.9 MP versus 20.1 MP. The bigger area gives the Z 30 an edge in low light and blurred backgrounds, and it reaches a higher native ISO ceiling of 51,200 next to the Sony's 12,800. On pure image quality, the Nikon leads.
The mount is just as decisive. The Z 30 takes Nikon Z-mount lenses, so you can start with one zoom and add glass over the years, while the RX100 VII's lens is fixed for good. If expanding your kit matters at all, that points to the Nikon.
Which is best for sports and action?
This is Sony's home ground. The RX100 VII fires 20 fps blackout-free bursts on its electronic shutter, with autofocus and exposure tracking running, and it recognizes human and animal subjects — a Single Burst mode even grabs seven frames at up to 90 fps for one exact instant. The Z 30's top mechanical rate is 11 fps by Nikon's own measurements, quoted as approximate, and no subject-detection categories are listed for it.
Following long plays also favors the Sony, whose 2.36M-dot built-in viewfinder keeps your eye on the subject, while the Z 30 has no viewfinder at all and frames everything on the rear screen. The Nikon's consolation is shutter speed: a 1/4000 mechanical maximum against the Sony's 1/2000, handy for freezing motion wide open in bright sun. Anyone chasing sports, wildlife or kids at speed gets the clearer action tool in the RX100 VII.
Video and vlogging
The video core is a tie: both record 4K at up to 30 fps in H.264, and the Sony publishes no raw video mode. Grading is where they split, since the Sony offers S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG log profiles through its Picture Profile presets while no log option is published for the Nikon. Editors who color-grade in post should lean Sony.
Framing yourself is easier on the Nikon: its fully articulated screen swings to any angle, and its 1.04M-dot panel is a touch crisper than the Sony's 0.92M-dot display, which tilts up about 180° for selfies but never swings outward. Handheld steadiness goes the other way: Sony rates its lens-shift SteadyShot at 4 stops, measured at the telephoto end, while the Nikon publishes no stabilization figure. Self-shot video favors the Nikon; run-and-gun handheld favors the Sony.
Pocketability and battery life
Size separates them most sharply. The RX100 VII weighs 302 g and measures 101.6 mm across, next to 405 g and 128 mm for the Nikon, which is bigger in every dimension. If the camera has to live in a jacket pocket or a small bag, the Sony wins by default, while the Z 30 needs a strap or a dedicated bag.
Battery life runs the other way: the Nikon is rated for 330 shots per charge against 260 for the Sony, whose figure assumes default monitor settings and climbs to 310 when the screen switches off after two seconds. Neither is a marathon shooter, but the Nikon's longer runtime suits full days out where a top-up isn't guaranteed.
The Verdict
Buy the Nikon Z 30 if you want a system you can add lenses to over time, the low-light advantage of the bigger sensor and longer battery life. Buy the Sony RX100 VII if the camera must vanish into a pocket and you shoot fast action, where its tracking autofocus, long blackout-free bursts and built-in viewfinder leave the Nikon behind.
Where to buy
Nikon Z 30
Best for Vloggers and first-time system buyers who want interchangeable lenses and longer battery life
Sony RX100 VII
Best for Travelers and action shooters who need a pocketable camera with fast burst shooting and an EVF
FAQ
Can you charge the Nikon Z 30 and Sony RX100 VII over USB?
Yes, both support it. The Z 30 requires Nikon's optional EH-7P or EH-8P adapter for in-camera charging or power, while the Sony charges and draws power over its Multi/Micro-USB terminal, which is USB 2.0 rather than USB-C.
How many memory card slots does the Sony RX100 VII have?
Sony's published specifications don't list a slot count for the RX100 VII, so don't plan on dual-card recording. The Nikon Z 30 has a single card slot.
Are the Nikon Z 30 and Sony RX100 VII weather-sealed?
Neither maker publishes a weather-sealing spec for either body, so plan on rain and dust protection with both.
Do these cameras have a headphone jack for monitoring audio?
No headphone port is published for the Z 30 or the RX100 VII, so headphone audio monitoring isn't confirmed in either maker's specifications.
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