Nikon Z30 vs Canon SL3 Canon 200D Mark II

We are getting lots of requests for this comparison from our subscribers, we are comparing the major differences between the two. Not only Major we will also include an image quality test. To find out the best camera between the two

We have the Nikon Mirrorless camera against the Canon DSLR, I do agree that Nikon Z30 is a Mirrorless camera but at the same time, the Canon 200D isn’t a traditional DSLR. It’s a Fusion of Mirrorless in a DSLR body.

1. Viewfinder

Design-wise both cameras are slightly different, although both of them have very deep handgrip. If ur photographer au will fell very comfortable with each of them. The main issue with Nikon Z30 is the absence of EVF / OVF. But, if you’re coming from the smartphone generation then you won’t miss the viewfinder of the camera, but if you’re a photographer who is using Viewfinder in their DSLR they may miss it.

2. Auto Focus system

Nikon Z30 AF system now supports continuous burst up to 11 FPS with full-time AF support. As usual Canon 200D, Mark II has a limited 5.5 FPS burst speed when ur using the EVF, and when you switch to a better AF system/sensor based / display is active then Canon 200D Mark II AF speed drops to 3 FPS.

Earlier when the Nikon Z50 camera was announced roughly two years back, the AF system of the Nikon Z50 was weak and slow. But, with constant firmware updates the AF system has been improved to the next level and now we are able also to track human eyes in the video, and animal eye AF is also enabled in firmware 2.0. With the same pre-loaded firmware the Nikon Z30 camera has arrived with the same image sensor and image processor. So, we are expecting an enhanced AF performance this time with the Nikon Z30 camera. And it’s not only on paper, if you look at the AF sensitivity range of the camera it is far better than that of the Canon 200D Mark II DSLR.
AF comparison table

It doesn’t mean if Nikon Z30 is loaded with an enhanced AF algorithm, our Canon 200D Mark II DSLR becomes inferior at any point. The Canon 200D Mark II 143 AF zones (3975 AF points) are really very helpful in tracking the human eye and face. And at the time when the 200D Mark II was announced it was the only DSLR with a 3D AF object tracking mechanism even the Fuji X-T200 doesn’t have that. But, now Nikon Z30 have 3D object tracking mode in the still and video too.

Overall, if we count the AF sensitivity and burst speed of both the camera Nikon Z30 wins clearly.

3. Image Quality

The Nikon Z30 uses the same 20MP sensor and Expeed 6 image processor we have seen in the Nikon Z50 camera, so we have decided to make a high ISO test between the Canon 200D mark II and the Nikon Z30, with a promise once the Z30 samples are available we will update this page too.

Initial High ISO test comparison, we can clearly notice that the Nikon Z50 / Z30 camera is able to preserve more details compared to the Canon 200D Mark II camera. So, we have added one more high ISO test image here @ISO 12800. In both, images it’s very clearly visible that Nikon 20MP sensor’s low-light performance is better than of Canon 24MP sensor used in the Canon 200D Mark II camera.

So, if you are working in an uncontrolled light environment then Nikon Z3 is best for you, otherwise, if you work with light / you work in the studio or always have portable lights with you then Canon 200D Mark II will also perform better.

4. Video Quality

Nikon Z30 camera captures oversampled 4k 24, 30 fps video. Oversampled video means the Nikon Z30 camera is using the entire 20MP sensor each pixel to create Oversampled 6K Video, so the quality we get from the Nikon Z30 video is just phenomenal. The color, contrast output, and shadow details are very good and usable. On the other side, we have a Canon 200D Mark II camera that creates video by sub-sampling / line-skipping method, so the details are not coming through the entire sensor. Although I have used the Canon 200D Mark II as a video camera and the Full HD video quality looks good to me. Also, kindly note that now Nikon Z30 doesn’t have any 30min recording limit.

In the end, I have to mention that in Canon 200D Mark II / SL3 we have to face an excessive crop of 1.6X. So, we already have a 1.6X cropped sensor and over that again we have to face a 1.6X crop. And the worst part is the DPAF gets disabled when you use the 4K video mode of the Canon 200D mark II or SL3 camera. No, such issue i am able to find in the Nikon Z30 camera.

Viewfinder and display

5. Verdict

If you are a photographer and want to get everything within budget, which includes Canon’s super affordable 50mm F1.8 lens, then you should go with SL3. Since the price and availability of lenses is the only factor where the Nikon Z30 fails to impress us. Otherwise, if we talk about sensor performance, Autofocus, or Video recording modes. Nikon Z30 is a clear winner.

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