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Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera vs Sony FX30 Cinema Camera

The Nikon Z 5 is the better all-rounder for most shoppers: a full-frame sensor, in-body stabilization and a weather-sealed magnesium body make it a strong stills camera that also shoots 4K. The Sony FX30 is a video-first body with a back-illuminated APS-C sensor, dual base ISO and 10-bit recording, built for people who shoot footage more than photos. On build, the Z 5 feels like a solid stills camera; the FX30 is a cinema body with a fan and mounting points. Both rate 4.8, but owners of the Z 5 praise its handling and value, while FX30 owners talk about video quality and controls.

  • Choose the Nikon Z 5 if you shoot mostly stills, want full-frame depth of field and in-body stabilization, and need a camera that handles both photos and casual 4K video.
  • Choose the Sony FX30 if video is your main work and you want 10-bit recording, dual base ISO and cinema-style controls in a compact body.

Prices

  • Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera: $699.99 at Biggs Camera (last seen Nov 4)
  • Sony FX30 Cinema Camera: $1,549.00 at Abe's of Maine (checked today)
  • Difference: the Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera is $849.01 cheaper than the Sony FX30 Cinema Camera at the latest prices (Nov 4 and Nov 9)
Nikon
Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera Lens

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera Lens

4.8(789 ratings)
$699.99at Biggs CameraChecked Nov 4
See all prices and details
Visit Biggs Camera
Pros
  • Full-frame sensor gives shallow depth of field and strong low-light stills
  • In-body 5-axis stabilization helps handheld shots and adapted lenses
  • Weather-sealed magnesium body
  • Tilting touchscreen and 3.69m-dot OLED viewfinder
  • Good value as a full-frame body with a kit zoom
Cons
  • Only 4.5 fps burst, slow for action
  • 8-bit 4K video with no 10-bit or high frame rates
  • Single card slot
  • Contrast-detection assist can hunt in very low light
Sony
Sony FX30 Digital Cinema Camera

Sony FX30 Cinema Camera

Sony FX30 Digital Cinema Camera

4.8(477 ratings)
$1,549.00at Abe's of MaineChecked 1 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Abe's of Maine
Pros
  • 10-bit 4K recording in XAVC S and XAVC HS
  • Dual base ISO for cleaner video in dim light
  • Back-illuminated APS-C sensor
  • CFexpress Type A and SDXC slots
  • Cinema-style body with cooling fan for long takes
Cons
  • APS-C sensor gives less shallow depth of field than full frame
  • 20.1MP is modest for stills
  • No mechanical shutter for stills shooters
  • E-mount lenses for APS-C are limited compared with full-frame options

What separates them

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless CameraSony FX30 Cinema Camera
SensorFull-frame 24.3MP CMOSAPS-C 20.1MP back-illuminated CMOS
Primary useStills with 4K videoVideo-first cinema camera
Stabilization5-axis in-body sensor-shift, up to 5 stopsIn-body stabilization
Video recording8-bit 4K up to 30 fps, MOV/MP410-bit 4K, XAVC S and XAVC HS, high-speed recording
Low lightISO 100-51200, expandable to 102400Dual base ISO for cleaner shadows in video
Autofocus273-point hybrid PDAF, Eye and Face DetectionAPS-C AF coverage about 90% of frame
BuildMagnesium alloy chassis, weather-sealedCinema body with cooling fan and mounting points
MediaSingle SD slotSDXC and CFexpress Type A slots

Price history

$1,604.99$699.99
Oct 30Nov 10
  • Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera: lowest $699.99 on Oct 30 at Biggs Camera; $1,012.63 on Nov 10.
  • Sony FX30 Cinema Camera: lowest $1,549.00 on Nov 10 at Abe's of Maine.

Prices at every store

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera

  • Abe's of MaineNew

    In stock

    $889.00Checked 21 h ago
    Visit Abe's of Maine
  • Biggs CameraNew

    Availability unknown

    $699.99Checked Nov 4
    Visit Biggs Camera
  • Teds ElectronicsNew

    Availability unknown

    $829.99Checked Nov 1
    Visit Teds Electronics
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by tedselectronics1 (99.9% positive, 43,500 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $865.99Free shippingChecked 21 h ago
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • eBayCheck price at eBay

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All 24 stores and price history →

Sony FX30 Cinema Camera

  • Abe's of MaineNew

    In stock

    $1,549.00Checked 1 h ago
    Visit Abe's of Maine
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by BUFFALO PHOTO

    $1,603.99Checked 1 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • Willoughby's Photo EmporiumNew

    In stock

    $1,749.00Checked 1 h ago
    Visit Willoughby's Photo Emporium
  • Lowe'sNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,604.99Checked Nov 4
    Visit Lowe's

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 21 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecNikon Z 5 Mirrorless CameraSony FX30 Cinema Camera
Focal Length24-50mm15mm
Lens HighlightsInterchangeable Lens, With Interchangeable LensInterchangeable Lens
Lens MountNikon Z, Z-mountSony E-Mount
Lens SystemNikon ZSony Alpha
Lens TypeZoomWeitwinkelobjektiv
Max Aperturef/4-6.3f/1.8
ISO Sensitivity100-51200Dual Base ISO
Max Shutter Speed1/8000 sec.1/8000 s
Memory Card CompatibilitySDSDXC, CFexpress Type A
Memory Card TypeSDSDXC, CFexpress Type A
Internal StorageNoNo
Max Video Resolution4K4K
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecNikon Z 5 Mirrorless CameraSony FX30 Cinema Camera
Video Resolution4K4K
Digital Video FormatMOV, MP4XAVC S, XAVC HS
Video HighlightsWith VideoHigh-speed Recording
Sensor SizeFull-frameAPS-C
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor HighlightsImage sensor cleaningBack-illuminated
Sensor FeaturesNot backside-illuminatedBack-illuminated
Sensor Field CoverageNearly the entire frame (AF points coverage)90% (AF system coverage)
Sensor FormatFXAPS-C

What reviewers say

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Camera

  • 4.8 / 5789 ratings

Buyers rate the Z 5 highly, praising image quality, build and ease of use once learned. The main complaints are a learning curve and autofocus or image-quality struggles early on.

What people mention
  • Image qualityPraisedOwners call the 24MP full-frame output a standout.
  • BuildPraisedBuyers say the weather-sealed body feels worth the investment.
  • Ease of useMixedControls are intuitive once learned, but some found the camera hard to use at first.
  • AutofocusMixedEye and touchscreen AF are liked, but some hit focus issues before learning the settings.

Sony FX30 Cinema Camera

  • 4.8 / 5477 ratings

Owners rate the FX30 very highly and treat it as the best value entry into Sony's Cinema Line. They praise the image, the 4K 120fps slow motion and the low-light dual-base ISO, and most complaints are about the crop sensor and the cost of CFexpress Type A media.

What people mention
  • Image qualityPraisedOwners call the 4K footage detailed and easy to grade, with S-Cinetone usable straight out of camera.
  • Slow motionPraised4K at 120fps is the feature buyers mention most, and they say it looks clean for the price.
  • Low lightMixedDual-base ISO helps, but the APS-C sensor shows noise sooner than full-frame bodies.
  • Media costCriticised

Questions and answers

Which is better for stills photography?
The Nikon Z 5. Its full-frame sensor, 24.3MP resolution and in-body stabilization suit photos better, while the FX30 is tuned for video.
Which is better for video?
The Sony FX30. It records 10-bit 4K in XAVC formats, has dual base ISO and a cooling fan for long takes, which the Z 5 does not offer.
Does the Nikon Z 5 have image stabilization?
Yes. It has 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization rated to about five stops, which helps handheld stills and video.
Is the Sony FX30 full-frame?
No. It uses a 20.1MP APS-C back-illuminated sensor, so depth of field is deeper than a full-frame body at the same aperture.
Which lasts longer on a shoot?
The FX30 is built for long video takes with a cooling fan and dual card slots. The Z 5 is fine for stills but has one card slot and no active cooling.
Is the FX30 worth stepping up to from the Z 5?
Only if video is your main work. For mixed stills and video, the Z 5 covers more ground; for 10-bit footage and cinema controls, the FX30 is the step up.

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Image StabilizationNoYes
ColorBlackBlack
Memory CardsSecure Digital (SD), Secure Digital HC (SDHC), …Secure Digital XC (SDXC)
DurabilityWeather-sealed—
Depth69.5 mm—
Height100.5 mm—
Weight590 g (Body Only)—
BluetoothYes—
Picture Resolution (max)6016x4016—
Screen FeaturesRotatable Screen, Touchscreen—
Max Frames Per Second (FPS)4.5—
Autofocus SystemContrast Detection, Phase Detection (PDAF)—
ViewfinderLCD/OLED—
NFCNo—
GPSYes—
Image File FormatEXIF, NEF (RAW), JPEG, DCF—
Video Resolution (max)3840x2160 (4K)—
Weight (oz)20.812—
Focal Length (min) (mm)24.0—
CFexpress Type A cards and readers are expensive, and some owners stick to SDXC to save money.