Best Entry Level Nikon Camera - Z30 vs D3500

Not another Mirrorless VS DSLR video.... well kind of.
Nikon Setup Guide: learn.mattgranger.com/courses...
Z30 kit: bhpho.to/3LqOdaJ
D3500 Kit: bhpho.to/44jQr4e
PRIVACY and DISCLOSURE:
* Matt Granger is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
* Matt Granger is a participant in the B&H Photo Video affiliate program that provides an advertising commission if you purchase through our links.
* If you purchase something from our affiliate links will get a small commission with no extra cost to you.
* You can read my complete Ethics and Conduct statement: mattgranger.com/ethics

[@astanisystems]

And folks, this video on top of being really really good, also shows how lenses matter more than the bodies. Both cameras looked like point and shoots with kit lenses, but when Matt used a 105mm on them, they turned into professional cameras instantly. Not only did final images come out sharper, but bokeh was so good. In my opinion, the D3500 had a bit warmer color than the Z30. Maybe I'm wrong, but it looked like that.

[@chiefdenis]

Yep it certainly did

[@matiaserp]

Happy owner of a D3500 here. Shooting live view is terrible with that lag. I use the old conventional user interface instead of the fancier graphics. Eye detection of a mirrorless would be nice but to be honest all of my portraits I use the single point auto-focus closest to the eye and works fine. I keep a spare battery charged and I can shoot all day if I need. Nowadays I shoot mostly product in white background, light tent, add a cheap tripod and the kit lens + D3500 shines in ISO 100. I will keep using it for years to come, maybe in 2030 I will figure out what this mirrorless thing is all about. :P

[@takaharu]

It's surprisingly eerie to hear the muted sections of the video instead of having any background noise/music. There's an interesting amount of trade-offs between the Z30 vs D3500 like the lack of viewfinder but added eye auto-focus. I think it might be a closer match between the Z50 and the D5000 series

[@thiagocursinomusic]

I think he may have removed because of copyright problem.

[@astanisystems]

I'd love to see that comparison.

[@creativityrevealed3659]

My wife got into photography. For a starter kit I bought her a D7100 and 28-300mm VR lens

[@Neopulse00]

Great combo

[@blackdiamondgreg]

Excellent choice. I absolutely adored my D7100 and the 35mm f1.8. I eventually upgraded because of the small buffer size and wanting to shoot sports. Though I would still vouch for the D7100 as a great starter camera with the ais and af-d lens compatibility. With none of the handicaps of the D7200/7500.

[@xophaser]

I have ton of nikon cameras. Currently z7ii and got the z30 as my walk around camera. I like the z30 more than I thought. My first dslr was the d40 which is the same family as the d3500. relatively the z30 is the milc version of the d3xxx series.

[@Travelagent]

As a long time and loyal Pentaxian I recently switched to mirrorless and into the Nikon-Z-system (Nikon Z6 II). What a wonderful camera and - even after such a short time of using it - I am totally convinced it was the right step into the future 🙂!

[@davemil716]

I love my Z30! Always wondered about the 3500... thanks for the video!

[@joerg_koeln]

Very interesting comparison. My wife has the D3500 which was 419,-€ in mid 2020 including the kit lens. A complete steal, very lightweight and capable of very decent pictures. The current street price of the Z30 plus kit lens is around 800,-€, which is almost the double. For low budget I would go for the D3500, for a higher price I agree with some of the others who recommended the D7200 or D7500, they also can deal with Nikon's older AF-D lenses (cheap, but solid build quality), which should be "good enough" for most amateur photographers.

[@ItsPinecone_911]

Seems to me the D3500 has better color in the photos over the Z30.

[@astanisystems]

Slightly warmer, which is what most people prefer more straight out of camera.

[@user-yd5dc8zp5q]

The sensors of D3400/D3500 are much better (ISO100~ISO800). Z50/Z30 performs poorly in outdoor sunlight scenes, and low ISO image quality is not as good as D3400

[@finnharvor6773]

That struck me as well.

[@ruff1draft]

I am Nikon D5500 user and I absolutely love it

[@thiagocursinomusic]

I have the D5300 and the D3300. I prefer to take pics with the D3300. It's lighter, and the focus points are easier to use.

[@manuelcampos5908]

GREAT VIDEO!

[@pratap20011]

Nice work. It is different.

[@skydj100]

Thank you Sir !!

[@Talkaboutit1]

they both look like very capable cameras

[@badger67]

To be honest Matt, I'd rather spend that kind of money on a D7200 and some nice old lenses. Interesting comparison though.

[@ItsPinecone_911]

The D7200 is a great ASP-C camera.

[@astanisystems]

Same. But if I was given the same amount of money, I'd only buy the D500 since I own a lot of F glass.

[@yusif.heybatov]

Which camera you used for video recording? Quality is very nice

[@franckmatt3807]

cool the review i was looking for thanks

[@mattgranger]

Glad I could help

[@franckmatt3807]

@@mattgranger D3500 for photo and Z30 for video

[@chandrakantuikey342]

Iam landscape photography, iam using nikon d3500 around 2019.

[@thiagocursinomusic]

I can't see myself photographing without the viewfinder. Sometimes I even like just seeing stuff through the lens with the camera turned off.

[@M4TR1X]

Started with D5300, upgraded to A73, upgraded to R6, next back to Nikon? :D

[@k8tv546]

i have a question that no one answer yet. Does mirroless handle white balance better. i saw many video that look like if using same lens as nikon f, the color less yellow. i am asian people so i want to know does the color better in z series. i using d750 and i dis like the wb and thinking about change to canon or maybe if using z does color less yellow

[@delukxy]

I know they and the Z9 are different ends of the market but when the image quality of the video is streets ahead of the stills you really notice the difference.

[@guyjordan8201]

With the audio cutting out I feel like I’m missing your descriptive dialogue Matt😮. Can you please address this?

[@miki_marker]

10:30 hehehehe LETS GO! (oooooh I love that light here. I mean not on fotos one)

[@mjak993]

14:00 "focus and recompose" is a time-tested way of getting good shots with reasonably stationary subjects. don't knock it in a video, I'm rather sure you use it in your day-to-day work more than any fancy AF tracking malarkey.

[@mattgranger]

if my camera has tracking AF - I use it. Especially with fast aperture lenses, more reliable than focus and recompose.

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

When a photographer using a kit lens like the 16-50mm notices the difference in bokeh at f/6.3 vs f/5.6, they're ready to upgrade to a better lens!

[@josefpre]

Is he shooting in Auto mode? Why is the flash coming up ? my d3400 flash never comes up in A , S , P or M

[@ajnart_]

Hay Matt, what’s the name of the park where you are in the video ? I thought you lived in Japan

[@mattgranger]

I live in Hong Kong. That’s Victoria park.

[@startrekmelo2749]

Nikon has a camera called d850. It is strictly for photos; However It takes photos unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. Absolutely captivating. I feel it is quite expensive though.

[@mattgranger]

Phenomenal camera. It also records video.

[@astanisystems]

@@mattgranger And it does so in 4K, although C-AF is rather bad for video. Nothing made me more excited than when I opened a box containing my D850. Btw, D850 is chilling right next to me as I'm writing this, lol.

[@Onlinechef03]

Please tell which camera is used to shoot this video it is gorgeously colour eye popping

[@mattgranger]

Z9

[@HR-wd6cw]

I think where you'll see the biggest difference IMO is the lens selection (assuming we stick with DX/APSC lenses only for NIkons). The APSC DSLR lenses (particularly the kit lenses so the 18-55) are no where near as good as Nikon's Z 16-50, which IMO is one of the best kit lenses on the market today, and certainly beats out older designs like Sony's PZ 16-50, and even the latest versions of the F-mount 18-55. The bodies, in comparison, are probably less of a difference minus the AF features (like eye AF) and perhaps in low-light where the Z30 may have the upper hand due to newer sensor technology. The AF may also be slightly better on the Z30 but am not sure (I had a D3500, but never had a Z30 though). But give nthe price of the Z30, if you can live without the EVF, then it's the better deal as I think it's either the same price or less than a D3500 kit, which is getting to be harder and harder to find new, and some are going for as much as $600-$700 I think. Plus if you get the Zmount, then you have access to all Z lenses too, which is where Nikon is headed. Not that there aren't any good lenses for F-mount, but there won't be any new lenses, and what is available, is all that will be available. I just think the Z30 makes more sense, despite them hacking off the EVF to make a cheaper camera.

[@redauwg911]

Just can't use a camera with no viewfinder useless, And there are thousands of F-mount lenses available, New and used that cost much less.

[@bobamarmstrong]

@@redauwg911 exactly. No EVF is a real pain. And also F mount lenses are very good, capable of delivering excellent results and cheaper. All those gimmicks won't make you a better photographer. You can only choose a DSLR or a mirrorless based on your preferences. Otherwise, in terms of image quality, you won't see any difference

[@mjak993]

also the dumbed down GUI of the D3500 has been intruduced in the D40 as well, waaay back in the day, so that's nothing new either. it might not have been touch-responsive back then either, but it was there nonetheless. I have no qualms about how the Z30 is now in many ways better than the D3500, but the comparison is just silly IMO.

[@devilangel4655]

Like to have z50 or z30 body in fullframe!

[@devilangel4655]

@@stuartlester7586 no!

[@Hary622]

How to adapter???

[@miki_marker]

Z30 and d3500 almost has prices for kinda new kits : Z50 /d7200 + d610 not for videos aand d5500-5600? Sooo can we not torture ourselves with the entry levels?

[@cryptobyt2403]

In my country bcs usd rate at launch. Z50 cheaper than z30. Moreso secondhand. For me, buying camera must be bnib with 5-10 years upgrade cycle, then resell at 1/2 the price. Mostly i buy the lens secondhand

[@gregoz6]

how did you use the 1.4 lens on either camera?? D3500 is an F mount and the Z30 is a Z mount, did I miss something? I thought you'd need an adapter?

[@mattgranger]

Yes, via adapter: geni.us/FTZii

[@gregoz6]

@@mattgranger Thanks, it's confusing there are many adapters in the range under $50 and others are around $300, Why is there such a discrepancy between Nikon and the third party? are those 3rd party adapters useful?

[@haeuk]

Hello Mr.Granger. I suddenly have a question popped up in my head. Is there a certain equation that you can simply calculate the level of DOF for a lens would perform by only knowing its focal length and F-number? (and the relation to crop and full-frame body) For example, in the group of50mm F/1.2 vs. 105mm F/1.4 vs. 135mm F/1.8, which of these would have most big bokeh if an object is taken in same magnification ratio on a sensor?

[@igg5589]

Just let those old DX mirrors die :) It would be more nice to compare between Z30 and Z50. Personally still can't decide which is better for me for photography. I like compactness of Z30, and can't talk myself into that i need EVF so badly... Everyone else on YuoTube is comparing them as vlogging cameras and forgeting completely about us, photographers :(

[@glenhar1225]

What did i get from this? Katies forte is video!

[@falconxvid]

The z30 outshine most of the more expensive rig out there because of its size and weight, if anyone don't believe it, go climb a mountain with a D7200 and a prime 300mm lens and you'll see...

[@Layput]

What camera are you using to film this video?

[@mattgranger]

Z9

[@Layput]

@@mattgranger I see. The video is great but that camera is very expensive.

[@starbase218]

Z50 seems like the best of both worlds, no? It has an EVF and even a poppy-uppy flash.

[@MB-dq2gz]

You should have had her freestyle for the intro that was cute. I don't think anyone should really be buying a d3500 unless they have a lot of F mount lenses or something. The Z series is a lot more versatile and future proof snapbridge also works brilliantly for moving photos and videos to mobile devices, video options that are above compare, wired charging, eyeAF, smaller/lighter etc.

[@bobamarmstrong]

It depends. I think it's the right time to get good deals on F mount system. No need to spend a lot of money in order to get a capable camera + good lenses. The differences between a mirrorless and a DSLR lie in features, not in image quality

[@MB-dq2gz]

@@bobamarmstrong I agree with you if you're doing stills only.

[@ellen_artfoto]

Colors bei d3500 is better

[@thiagocursinomusic]

Lol why does the flash want to pop up? Are you using it in auto mode? 😂

[@ariesishizuka8817]

Like what Maverick said , its not plane its d pilot😅

[@TOPP3R1993]

And then again, it‘s the lenses and not the camera that make the look

[@davidjohnson4451]

The Z 30 would be far better. I have two Z fcs and the Z 50 which I use with the 50-250 exclusively. I use the Z 9 a LOT with the 400 f 4.5 Z S lens almost always with the 1.4 TC on DX mode. I use the Nikon Z S 85 f 1.8 and I never would want very shallow DOF. The D 7500 is MY FAVORITE DSLR and I use it almost everyday with the 200-500 f 5.6. CUTE MODEL!

[@user-yd5dc8zp5q]

The CMOS sensors of D3400/D3500 are much better (ISO100~ISO800). Z50/Z30 performs poorly in outdoor sunlight scenes, and low ISO image quality is not as good as D3400

[@scoopoutclub4677]

you cant ignore how good 3500 sensor.

[@90sretroroaster]

I always got the feeling these entry level cameras from nikon have the colors kinda washed out. The higher end d7xxxx series are way better in the color engineering

[@bobamarmstrong]

Nope they are really good. The problem is that some of Matt's photos are overexposed

[@user-lj4dd5bb7n]

D3500 is much better

[@Kurisu-SanYT]

whos here bc of SCP-7122?

[@user-yd5dc8zp5q]

The sensors of D3400/D3500 are much better (ISO100~ISO800). Z50/Z30 performs poorly in outdoor sunlight scenes, and low ISO image quality is not as good as D3400

[@joeldiaz141]

meh who needs an evf?

[@Raj-patil2504]

Worst photographer ever 😂

[@xmeda]

Two horrible cameras in fact. If somehow forced to use Nikon DSLR then D7100/D7200 should be the bare minimum. Rather 2nd hand one than this. And Z system does not have proper APS-C body with IBIS yet, not to mention lenses. They only focused on FF so far and APS-C options are very poor. And me personally? Pentax K3! ;)

[@INSTAFLIXMEDIA]

Hi Matt, watching your video after a long gap. What's your opinion on using the Z30 for street photography? Is it small enough?

[@Avinash-wg7xl]

me too looking for alternatives to ricoh and x100v as these both are unavailable now..

[@astanisystems]

It certainly looks small enough for that. I used to do street photography with my D5300, and people barely noticed it, and it's a bigger camera.