Nikon Z30 vs ZFC (12-28mm vs 16 50mm) Best Vlogging Camera + Lens

What's the best budget camera for youtube creators and vlogging? Nikon Z30 is aimed at vloggers being so tiny, flippy screen, good autofocus etc. But the Nikon ZFC is cooler looking with its vintage dials, it's only 40 grams heavier, and has a viewfinder. They are the same camera inside. But which lens is best for vlogs? Just the 16-50mm 3.5-6.3 kit lens? Or the new 12-28mm f3.5-5.6? Let us battle them!
Thank you www.adencamera.com for lending me the 12-28mm! Let's all go to Aden Camera tonight!
And thank you Steinbeck for the ZFC and kit lens! Let's all subscribe to his channel / @jurytrialmentor
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Nikon Z30 amzn.to/3RbQ8nM
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Nikkor Z 40mm f2 amzn.to/3QYqm57
Nikkor Z 40mm f2 SE amzn.to/3T4Q3nk
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[@cameraconspiracies]

Thank you www.adencamera.com for lending me the 12-28mm! Let's all go to Aden Camera tonight! And thank you Steinbeck for the ZFC and kit lens! Let's all subscribe to his channel www.youtube.com/@jurytrialmentor If you buy today's gear through my affiliate links, your cat will love your vintage camera so much, he'll only eat foods made in the 70's. Nikon Z30 amzn.to/3RbQ8nM Nikon Z 12-28mm f3.5-5.6 amzn.to/46shAC8 Nikon ZFC amzn.to/3sRrEXu Nikkor Z 40mm f2 amzn.to/3QYqm57 Nikkor Z 40mm f2 SE amzn.to/3T4Q3nk Instagram instagram.com/vegetablepolice/ All my gear and recommended products can be found in my affiliate shop, thanks for shopping around! www.amazon.com/shop/vegetablepolice Topaz Video AI for enhancing and slowing down footage! www.topazlabs.com/topaz-video-ai/ref/1640/

[@arpitkumargahlot]

Nikkor 40mm f2 has similar optical formula as Voigtlander 27mm f2 APS-C Fuji lens. Yes this is a rare cheap Nikkor that has ridiculously good 3D pop, specially on full frame(try on the Zf if you can rent one).

[@DarrellYoung]

I'm glad you are finally using a Nikon.

[@Labunga43]

Regarding the loss of contrast while you were outside, you should be using a lens hood to prevent stray light from entering the lens (the HB-112 is specifically designed for this lens). I had the exact same issue with a few of my nikon lenses, and it was solved with the use of a lens hood. Especially at longer focal lengths.

[@SteveAEee]

That Nikkor Z 40mm f2 certainly popped - HUGE 3D pop, if just a tad green, but still, looked damn nice!

[@moneyshift8190]

The nikon 40mm 2.0 is underrated its a great lens. Especially on the ZF.

[@davehansen5092]

The Nikon Z 40/2 is an amazing little lens. I love it. Really looking forward to the next set of APS-C cameras from Nikon hopefully they stay light, but add physical stabilization.

[@paulthomas8986]

Fantastic Nikon colors and exposure. Well done Sir. You made a fine choice.

[@IliasKoureas]

I LOVE my Zfc. Doing KZbin, weddings, travel and everything in between with it. If it had dual card slots it would be complete for my use case. Also the video quality is awesome if (unless you overexpose the highlights, it can't recover them at all lol) Also that kit lens is the sharpest kit you can find in any mirrorless system. Buttttt you need a grip if you plan on holding it more than an hour

[@tech-utuber2219]

Looks like Nikon has the best facial exposure algorithms in the business. It does quite well when conditions change.

[@RichardoBrit]

Now do one using the ZF - full frame, Z8 autofocus, IBIS, flip screen

[@photo-markus]

I also Love Nikon, I’m glad you discovered it. Zfc is better. You could get a prime lens-like 20 or 24 1.8 in addition to the kit lens. Image quality is much better than in other videos you did with other cameras.

[@wespellum]

I just got the Z30 after watching your videos. Made my first KZbin video using it yesterday. Still suck at editing but I am loving the set up. Taking it to Ireland in 2 weeks to vlog with. I use the 40mm on my Z6ii for street photography and love that little dude. Z8 is great for video but crippled by the screen (not flippy). 50mm f1.8 has been on sale for a while and I love that lens for wedding portraits. May be a good video lens for in studio when you fully convert. You know you want to! haha.

[@petersuvara]

Nice one. Do you use the a Z8 also?

[@wespellum]

@@petersuvara I do! It's my main camera with the z6ii as my second body. Shooting a wedding this weekend with this set up. Third one. I love the z8!

[@MTBD80]

I'm totally getting Z8 for video unless the Z6 III can do 4k60 FF and 4k120 FF.

[@wespellum]

@@MTBD80 the z6ii can't do 4k 120 but I just shot a wedding video with it and it performed admirably for that. Great low light performance and good AF. Z8 is definitely the better choice there.

[@WORTHITORNOT]

The Squirrel Whisperer has returned

[@neklamp2431]

I can't be objective because I own the Zfc and I love it!

[@smashingfables6307]

Z30 12-28 is in a different league compared to the ZFC. In studio it looks like the expensive cams and outdoors it look great too.

[@petersuvara]

As someone who shoots Nikon exactly like this. I’m glad I sold my Sony gear. The Z30 is such a little beast for the price.

[@NJ_Galactic]

I have 40mm f2 and 28mm f2.8 2 z7 and a z30. Honestly the little nikkor lenses with the z30 are insane good for a cheap setup

[@victorlim5077]

The 12-28mm vr is definitely the better lens. Flare control and contrast so much better than the 16-50mm vr. And the 12-28mm vr has power zoom function as well.

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

Indeed the cinema was ours thanks to Nee-con! I love the deeper contrast and that last segment was near perfection! Took a long road for you to get to the Nee-con land, but looks like you found a winner! Eating meat you are a bit more aggressive, but also at peace with the camera world. Hope you branch out into other cameras as well! The zfc is just a beautiful camera, but the Z30 seems to be the strongest! Thanks for sharing and enlightening us all!

[@vladimirmalchev202]

My combo - Z30 + 40mm T2 - best street combo ever!

[@glen95]

For me the 2.8mm f2.8 and the z30 works evan better for street! I love that little z30...and i almost only do photografie...

[@mindapothecary]

The Z30 colour science, I like. Clear winner. And the 3d pop is real

[@qbukhari]

Love your reviews bro, keep up the good work. Noobs like me need your reviews

[@baconcrusader8382]

Thank you for this! The 12-28 looks great, but the pop with the 40/2 for a

[@AndrewBassonZA]

i mean that z30 plus 40f2 just looks so pleasing.

[@AprilClayton]

The squirrel footage was my favorite part.

[@randallbrander8157]

The Nikkor 24mm f/1.7 is a gem. 12-28mm is fantastic. Try the Full Frame 26mm f/2.8 Pancake lens w/ the 28mm f/2.8 and the SmallRig Grip does make a difference for the Zfc. I have an extra one if you want it. Just contact Peter Gregg. Cheers!

[@Kapulot]

1:25 transition of the year award goes to…

[@gavinlagrange6322]

The 40 f2 is my current fave lens. On a full frame body it has old school magic and new school sharpness/AF.

[@Digmen1]

Hi Casey I have been watching your videos for 5 years now. This must be the first time you have even tried Nikons and even bought one! I'm a casual Nikon fanboy, I have a Z6ii and I bought a mint green Zfc as our going out camera.My g/f want to vlog but she never has! I agree with out about the zfc having no grip - but its supposed to be a retro camera, and the originals never had grips. I bought the Smallgrip grip and base plate and it makes it easier to hold as I have small or medium hands.

[@BrendanMacWade]

Making the case for Nikon APS-C cameras. Dare I say they are better than Canon's current APS-C models? yes!

[@SamGrimes93]

Im so glad you're in Nikon land and you bought the 40mm! As much as id love for you to get a Zf, it's a super heavy brick.

[@alanjedwards]

Would be great if you can try the Nikon ZF. People are loving it. Problem is they only made 1000. Massive wait list.

[@SamGrimes93]

Not true in the UK. It's in stock in most stores 😬

[@felm.974]

Fake news, the camera is in some stores.

[@u2be2000]

Here we can see how the lenses can change the image look. The kit lens gives a redish skin tone, while the other two lensen give a more neutral skin tone. The ZFc has exactly the same body appearance of the Nikon FM that i had when i was young.

[@RobDTom]

Really enjoying seeing some Nikon love from Kasey

[@hawkkim1974]

I have to say Nikon's color is so attractive to my eyes.

[@AquiAndo]

What did you put in the lens that the Nikon 30 has? nd filter or a polarizer? I loved the video, congratulations!!!

[@AcuraTechMan]

The colors look amazing

[@vangelisevangelou4545]

Nikon have the best sensor s ...best colour !

[@colinhoward2200]

Hmm - interesting change in perspective from you here. The Fujifilm X-T5 fills in some gaps in here for me - although admittedly at a higher price. And of course has no floppy screen. If I were starting again from scratch though - would give both of these a look. Good videos (and amusing!) as ever :)

[@filmstudiojapan]

Have you tested low light in video yet? Z6 was already an A7sIII killer with just 8bit in many regards, particularly wide range low light ISO performance. I knew you'd get to Nikon eventually, fun to watch you enjoying the ride. I left my Z6 for gfx but picked up a Z50 and it is without a doubt the fun camera.. sorta therapy after using the GFX.

[@mkoenig57]

Another great video. Do you typically use an ND on the Z30 outside to keep the Toneh?

[@Getoffmycloud53]

Keep the Zfc, best of two worlds. …and maybe one day you’ll even like the Zf 😂

[@TosseneMike]

Imagine telling Casey to get a Nikon 3 years ago and now finally we're here and he's gonna go get the Sony a1 III with a global shutter instead.

[@LTPottenger]

So in essence, we're all the same inside but it's what's outside that counts.

[@lavapix]

Ben Stiller interrupted the squirrel eating a macnut in slow motion. Get the 10.5 fisheye. My favorite lens when I shot Nikon APS-C.

[@blainemitchell]

That 40mm looks fantastic. I have been looking at the Z30 for a few weeks now. I just found out that Nikon takes trade-ins for a new camera. I may have to do that. I would be getting the kit lens though.

[@rdphoto2]

Enjoy your videos tremendously. Question, that Backpack FalCam Clamp in your video - you got a link to where I can get one?

[@cameraconspiracies]

www.ulanzi.com/products/falcam-f38-quick-rlease-backpack-strap-clip-2271?aff=595

[@Bill-NM]

12-28 looks better. Plus wider. Nice. And the 40/2 - wow. Very nice.

[@C5drummer]

Nicon Z30 w/ that 12-29mm ---> The look is outstanding! And wider IS better. Just ask your fiance'! Plus, thumbs up on the Gordon Laing look at the end. Just stellar!

[@dontcallmebrave]

The 40mm f2 is one of those lenses that just have that special something

[@Finite-Tuning]

Wider is always better in my opinion, unless it's a fisheye, god I hate that look. But the wider lens pulls double duty as a talking head with more scenery, or anything in between. That's always been my preference. Cheers 🍻

[@iamzr81]

I used to have the Z50 for a year and a half what is essentially the same as the Z30 (with Viewfinder) and the Zfc (with no vintage body) I made marvels with that little camera, however after switching to the Lumix S5 I don't need to do my very best to make better photos and videos, it helps a lot itself. I went out a few times with a girl and a "professional" photo and videographer to shoot (he had the Nikon Z6) and the girl liked my pics/edits better and he asked me how I do it with that tiny camera. :D But I think I like the S5 even more than I liked the Z50.

[@chromaticvisuelle]

A bit silly to compare a S5 to a Z50. Not the same category.

[@iamzr81]

@@chromaticvisuelle it is not if others compare Aps-c to FF as well. I know professional photographers using aps-c over FF. I prefer FF now.

[@chromaticvisuelle]

@@iamzr81 it's not just the sensor size obviously. Z50 is targeted for beginners, a S5 is a professional camera.

[@bonerici]

wow that 40mm lens looked great

[@charliejg]

I like that wider look, especially in nice neighborhoods. Those houses are really nice. Wow, kick him in the chin.... the meat is making you aggressive already?! Only problem I see with that Z30 is when you want to shoot wildlife. Gonna be tough without that EVF. But, it is a pretty cool camera. And, the price is pretty good too. Might be a good alternative to an action camera for hiking videos. Thanks for the overview. Have a great weekend!

[@garyg4158]

You are hilarious I enjoy watching your video!😅

[@peterzpictstube]

Ok I just found another Z50 killer feature playing with my 12-28 on it. You can enable the power zoom to be controlled by the zoom buttons on side of touch screen. So silent to engage zoom. I finally found a reason not to hate them for zooming the screen every time my nose touches it.

[@flightographist]

All the best photographers with English accents use nikon, so they must be the very best. That 40 pops, almost as much as Marcus' 16 and 56 sigma pop yesterday on an antique a5100.

[@Rockingvideos42]

If you get the FtoZ adapter you can access all the other dx(apsc) lenses that are light and lots of background separation like the 35mm for less cost. Art shouldn't have to be expensive to wow.

[@RVarrun]

The footage from the Z30 looks ncier and warmer. Much more pleasant to look at

[@cameraconspiracies]

Could be the lens.

[@ciudadanosdelcosmos]

Hi,,for street photography (beginner here) , i saw specs, but wich do you recommend for your own experience ? this or lumix gx9? thanks

[@adventuresofanexpat]

Any lenses recommendations for the Zfc in term of zoom? I’m a huge rookie and have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m backpacking Europe and bought the kit on sale 😅 looking for something with more zoom

[@hiddengemsliteraryemporium]

We came there for squirrel, we were not disappointed. Wish we had black squirrels in our town, they are so so beautiful.

[@oliverdesouza5741]

Nikon sport-mode VR applies stabilisation just in the up-down plain and turns off left-right stabilisation so that you can more easily follow sporting action that usually occurs horizontally. I have no clue why anyone told you to turn that on for vlogging since the angle of the camera to your face does not move horizontally or vertically, so you want random movements in both axis to be applied. Glad you turned it off. Nice squirrel action.

[@Ed-davies]

Oh god damn you! I need that 40mm in my life!

[@philsmeanderings7991]

I wonder if it's actually related to AF auto at the roughly 20-30mm length. Have a Z24-120 f/4 S . At times even when fitted to a Z9 it just fails to properly focus if at all. Yet manually focused is pin sharp. Is it lack of tonies or not quite properly focused. Have a good one Casey.

[@mrsnack3118]

After watching your videos about the z30 I’m considering buying one to complement my z6. At least you are the most honest and humorous Influencer. Have you faced the z30 overheating problem already? 4K and 28min and it’s burning. It even said it in the instruction somewhere page 500. So „unlimited“ runtime is marketing BS -.- Ulanzi makes a camera fan to conquer this flaw. I imagine living in Canada solves it to ^^

[@cameraconspiracies]

I've never had it overheat.

[@mrsnack3118]

thanks for the reply. Keep doing ur thing. I love your videos. @@cameraconspiracies

[@Steger13]

Love this channel I'm learning lots of stuff about the gears while laughing because his so funny 😂

[@GlennMariano]

The filters might be infusing some of their own colour characteristics. I have 2 different pro mist type filters from different brands, and they make the same lens look different.

[@xyzct]

Kasey, could you compare the iPhone 12 with the Bella Pro Series XF-401J 4.2-qt. Digital Air Fryer

[@teaching-learning]

Please include the 120 fps mode :)

[@malekith13]

The sport mode is kinda weird on nikon, in fact it's a weaker stab but it's meant to lower the risk of having you IBIS fighting against you making it better for slow pan and things like that, for everything else go normal mode :) En yeah the nikkor 40mm F2 is really nice for it's price both at F2 ( for clean bokeh ) and F5.6 ( for maximum sharpness ), it may be a little pricier than canon's and sony's nifty fifty but it's way above in IQ and in fact even in build quality ( it's a sealed lense, it may not be as good against heavy rain as a trully weather sealed lense but it's way better than most other cheap lenses ).

[@MTBD80]

Keep both for fun.

[@dougfoss1372]

I like that 40!

[@christophejournoud2773]

Hi, You are right and a very smart person. 40g is not a ton. It is 2500 times less 😁

[@donkeybizle]

I have a z30 and z6ii, the z30 has better eye auto focus than the 6ii oddly enough. it is a little powerhouse forsaure!

[@jamesoliver6625]

Concentrate on the glass Kasey. Sooner or later Nikon will build the DX camera with your flippy screen and the XSpeed 7 processor with IBIS. That will be your keeper from Nikon. Sure it will be overpriced and probably heavier than you would like, but the processing power will be where you want it to be, probably without crops.

[@RichardoBrit]

11:05 - what we really came for…

[@emonymph6911]

The squirrel is so cute it kinda looks like you when it eats the nut.

[@chrisbrown8748]

13:02 You make me laugh historically and I love you again for it but it’s only after hating you so yeah we have a complicated relationship🤣🤣🤣

[@straight-out-of-camera]

The zfc has a design flaw with the internal microphone. It's too close to the lens or something. If using the kit lens, for example, the internal mic will pick up clunking noises from the lens vr mechanism.

[@christopherpackart]

Yeah the Z30 with the 12-28 looked much richer in color.

[@twoblink]

I have the Z30 and it's underrated. Wish it had a headphone jack and log..

[@audioupgrades]

For practical purposes, these Nikons have no stabe. If anything, the "stabe" makes the image jerk more. When I watch it on a large screen, I get motion-sickness, which is a first for CC.

[@petersuvara]

Yeah that’s why I got a separate gimbal.

[@audioupgrades]

@@petersuvara Personally, I'm fine with gimbals because they allow you to stabilise big cameras with good IQ. The problems start for vloggers who prefer not to use gimbals.

[@petersuvara]

@@audioupgrades It's a balancing act. Mind the pun. Weight vs Features. I mean the pocket 3 is a good vlogger camera, but dead in the water if you want to do anything else really. Then there's the ZV-E1, quite a bit heavier than the Z30, and since it's full frame, there's no light and compact lenses.

[@slimphotog]

It's one of these or a Sony A6400. Can the Nikon's AF track for stills?😊

[@cameraconspiracies]

Stills? Like standing still and taking video?

[@danieljung2810]

12-28 has more contrast and just looks better. I dont know if thats because most od the shots on the ZFC was facing thr light source.

[@Wildridefilms]

I felt the ZFc looked better. Seems to have less sharpening. Does nikon offer sharpening and noise reduction control in video?

[@straight-out-of-camera]

they are technically identical on that front.

[@cameraconspiracies]

Everything was the same. Just lens was different.

[@soundstructuremedia]

CTFU...NICE INTRO.... YOU ALMOST MADE ME WANT A NIKON....ALMOST.... #TEAMCANON

[@tentimes1857]

Thank you Casey for shining some light on Nikon 😌 that was exactly what is was hoping for :)

[@felm.974]

Nikon has been doing a lot of great things despite what the "big KZbinrs" say.

[@tentimes1857]

@@felm.974 cant wait to see the nikon Z6/7 III. i own a Z30 myself with a 24-120 f4 really a fun camera ☺️

[@felm.974]

@@tentimes1857 me too, I think that will be an amazing camera judging from what they put in the ZF, like 8 axis stabilization etc, food things coming soon 🎉

[@dalemonaghan]

Just buy the small rig grip. 60 bucks. done

[@minorrhoads5318]

Awesome video , great tests , very funny , squirrels a big bonus , 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tech-utuber2219]

Does anyone know if Nikon is using Sony sensors in these cameras? If so, their color science with Sony sensors is better than what Sony does.

[@RAW_Kaze]

As far as i know, this is Nikon flagship APS-C sensor, even if they manufactured by sony, but it has proprietary Nikon tech on it which work great with Expeed.

[@fabian_99]

6:00 dude that's definetely a fart lmaooo... 32 bit float audio did you dirty my friend

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

I agree to what Käsi says.

[@PhilippeBOIS]

Hello camera conspiracies, I have been a Nikonist for years. I love Nikon's ergonomics and color science. but there is a big flaw in the Nikon colorimetry. blue lights or skies are subject to the phenomenon of posterization (loss of nuance and color information in these shades). The N-log is one of the worst logs, I hope they release version 2 which corrects this and catches up a little with the dynamics in video. above by the ZF which does not offer 4K hevc 10bit intra frame in 4.2.2 internally only 4.2.0 long GOP internally.

[@waltersmietana6204]

Sell the Zfc and the Sony A7s3 and get the Zf lol. Or just get the Zf with a FTZ adapter. A world of vintage Nikkor lenses awaits you.

[@EricCalabros]

Oh I wish it was 24mm f/1.7. Same price as this 40mm f/2 , worse corner sharpness wide open, but a bit more toneh.

[@ENolls]

I'm gonna do something so illogical-- I'm selling my Fuji XT4 for a Nikon z30. Idk man, my heart just tells me to do it

[@user-kn5rn5zf7z]

You like this camera a lot, even though the worst old Sony cameras outperform it in terms of accuracy and colors. I think that the GoPro camera is much superior to this camera in terms of colors. Well, there is no Sony camera that has image stabilization, because it is Designed for studios and professionals. It has blurry vision and can not be used for vlogging and the basis of volg. You must showing the scenes of everything around you.

[@Panotaker]

I’ll stick to my FX30 and 11mm f1.8. I think it is a much better camera.

[@cameraconspiracies]

Of course it is, but way more money and weight.

[@shaananwalsh7513]

I agree with your conclusion but you should have switched lenses on the cameras outside.

[@Nonixification]

Buy the godamn Pocket 3 already :) We all know you will love it