- This is the new Nikon Z30
and this is a small, compact camera.
That's perfect for creators.
Now, in this video,
I wanna go through all the features around this camera
but I also wanna show you how I use these features
and how I create a story out of one of my videos
when I'm up here exploring the Santa Monica mountains.
All right, let's get into it.
(chill music playing)
So I wanna say a special thanks to Nikon
for sponsoring this video
and giving me a chance to play
around with this camera before it was released.
Now, I only had one day to test this camera.
So I decided to use the Z 30 to make a video
for my second channel.
And it's a story about the cold war
shot in the vlog style.
I'm keeping my gear simple with a Z 30,
a lightweight tripod, small gimbal
and the additional creator pack
that Nikon is offering with this camera.
So when I make these styles of videos,
I really like to give that sense of like
the vlogger aesthetic, but also telling a story
it's kind of that blend of storytelling
mixed with vlogging.
You'll see that a lot of times
I'm gonna be just filming
the hand with the camera stretched out away from me
but I'm also gonna take the camera off
and I'll put it on a tripod,
or put it at a distance away.
So I like using this blend of styles when I'm out filming
to kind of give that aesthetic.
And it's also, you know, super easy to film in this way.
All you need is, you know,
a little vlogger set up and then a tripod,
And that's it.
To be able to create some awesome looking videos.
So this camera was designed
with video creators in mind
it's super compact and lightweight,
and it's just really easy to use.
Now, one thing that a lot of video creators are gonna really
like about this camera is
now you have a flip out screen.
So, you can see yourself
when you're doing vlog style content
and you're filming yourself.
So for this video,
I wanna get some different hiking shots
getting to the location to kind of show the approach.
And so what I'm doing is I have the Z 30 tripod
and I'm just gonna get some different angles
of this hiking trail
and the cool area that we're at.
Because we're up above LA.
And I'm using the road video micro,
which just plugs right into the audio input
on the side of this camera.
And I'm gonna get some ambient sounds
of like the birds, the wind, and just the sounds of hiking.
(birds chirping quietly)
It's always a good idea when you're out filming these kind
of videos to be able to get some of that ambience
'cause you'll use it when you're actually
in the edit to just paint the picture
of where you're at and have those sound effects
and that ambience in the background.
Now this is an interchangeable lens system.
So you can use any of Nikon's mirrorless lenses
with this camera and it has an APSC size sensor.
So if you're newer to continent creation
and you've only been using something
like a cell phone while having a bigger sensor
is gonna give you better lowlight capabilities
and you can do things like get the blurry background
so you can have that shallow depth of field.
All right.
So I'm gonna switch over to do more vlog style content.
As I tell the story for this video
and I'm using the little vlogger tripod that comes
in the creator kit, it has a remote
so that you can control your camera
if you were to put the camera like away from yourself
but it also just makes it easy.
When the camera's just an arm reach away, you can record
and control all your camera, just from your thumb.
Now on the camera itself, there is a stereo microphone.
So you could get good audio, even if you don't
have an external microphone plugged in.
Right now I'm just using the internal microphones
that are built into the Z 30.
And you can hear how clean my sound is out here.
There's, you know, a few sounds in the distance, some birds
and whatnot, and you could still get super clean audio
even if you don't have an attached microphone
but there also is of audio input.
So even if you wanted to add on something
like a wireless microphone or a shotgun microphone
you can just attach it right to the top
of the camera and be able to get clean audio
in any situation that you're in.
So when you're shooting handheld and vlogger style
in this way, well, your image is probably gonna be shaky.
So when you're using this camera, you pair it
with a lens like the 16 to 50 that comes in the kit.
It has VR optical stabilizations.
So you'll always make sure that you have
a stable shot when you're handholding the camera.
One of the things that makes this camera really
easy to use is that the mic input is right here on the side.
So when you pull the screen out
and you flip it to rotate facing you,
well you're not hitting that mic input.
And so that's a little thing
but it does make a difference when you're constantly
flipping the screen back and forth to shoot what's in front
of you and then turn the camera around and film yourself.
You don't wanna have a mic input that's being hit
by the flippy screen.
So I'm at a kind of higher vantage point
and you just have this like epic view
of the valley back here.
What I'm gonna do is, you know, not shoot everything
on a 16 millimeter wide open with this lens,
the 16 50, I've punched into around a 30 millimeter.
And so it's gonna gimme a little bit more compression
of the background and give a different look to the scene.
But also it allows me to like step away from camera
and shoot these shots where I can be in the landscape.
And when I'm shooting, it's mix of, I wanna be close
to camera talking directly to you guys, but also
I like these shots where it feels like a landscape photo
and then you're just a person in that shot.
So right now I'm grabbing some additional B-roll shots.
So I flipped over the camera
to 1080p 120 frames per second
and I'm getting some slow motion pans
of some different spots throughout this location.
And in this camera, you have access to 4k 30.
And then if you want to get more slowmo
you have access to 120 when you get down to HD.
All right so we just got up to the radio tower
and I wanna get a tripod shot where I'm walking
off in the distance, talking about this location.
And one of the cool things about the Z 30 is
that you can connect to SnapBridge, which is Nikon's app
and you can use it as a remote
so you can go a distance away
and control your camera from your phone.
Another really cool feature about SnapBridge is
that your camera can be connected
to it and then automatically be sending the photos
and videos when you're filming.
So you don't even have to think
about it and they're gonna be downloaded onto your phone.
So if you don't want to carry a bigger tripod
this little vlogger stick is actually also a tripod as well.
So just to grab a quick, you know, walking shot
you could easily set this up
get a shot of yourself, walking through frame.
All right.
So I've switched over to the Z 30
and I have the road shotgun on top.
It's just a super easy way to shoot vlog style content.
But the tracking in this camera is set up so
that you could use eye auto focus and be able to
always just lock on to you when you're out filming.
So if I like walk away from camera, well
I'm gonna stay, you know, sharp and in focus.
And as I come forward, you could see
that it locks onto my face pretty quick.
So when you're a solo creator out filming by yourself
you don't wanna be worried about things
like making sure that the auto focus is on all the time.
So having a camera that's reliable just gives you a peace
of mind.
Now, one really cool feature that I personally
really like is there's a tally light
on the front of the camera.
So when you're looking directly at the lens
you could see that you're recording.
It's just right on the edge of the lens.
So you don't actually have to look
at the screen and look for the record symbol on the screen.
So I've switched over to using a small gimble
and the size and compactness of the Z 30 makes it
so you can work with these small, tiny gimbals
and a gimble is basically just gonna allow me to
get some smoother shots of this location.
So I wanna get those shots where it almost feels
like you're floating through the space.
So I'm gonna use this setup
and just walk through all of these different locations
and I'm gonna shoot a few different ways.
I'll shoot it in real time
but also shoot it in slow motion.
Now in this camera, there's no log setting
but Nikon does have a flat setting
which makes your image a little bit flatter so that
if you are someone who is interested in color grading,
well you have a little bit more room
to push around your footage.
So one thing that's great about this camera is
that you don't have a 29 minute limitation.
When it comes to recording,
you can record up to 125 minutes in one continuous stream.
And if you're someone that does live streaming
or you just want to connect it directly
to your computer, well, you could use the USBC
on the side of the camera
and you have no limit when it comes to record time.
It can go as long as you need to.
And the camera pairs perfectly
with Nikon's free web streaming utility software.
Now the USB on the side also delivers continuous power.
So if you're recording for these longer takes
you can have power plugged into the side
or if you just need to charge your battery
you can do it right from the USBC.
Now for me, one of the things I really like
about this camera is how simple it is to use.
On the top you have basically all the controls that you
need to access all the features to control your video
but you also have three user profiles.
So you could set up the different ways you like to shoot
and have them just set right here on the top.
And then on the back, Nikon cameras have a switch that goes
from photo to video mode.
And so this camera, even
though it is geared towards video creators
it still has all the features that you'll typically find
in a Nikon camera.
And so when you need to take your thumbnails
or any other photos, when you're out filming
this is gonna be a great option
and you don't need to bring another camera along.
Now, if you wanna see more information about the Z 30
make sure you head down the description,
I'll include a link to
where you can see more about this camera
and next you should check out this video right here
which goes through my entire process
on how I make adventure videos from beginning to end.
So make sure you check that out.