Customer Ratings & Reviews

My battery dies extremely quick and I’ve only had the camera less than a month and I’ve maybe only gotten to record 2 or 3 hours of total footage.

I just bought this camera yesterday and I was so disappointed. The battery drained so quickly. And it overheated.

worked ok if normal setting the associate said it would work for video on a 100yd field it was ok but quality of the video was not that good

Not happy thinking about returning it asap. The camera is kinda hard to figure out all the settings to make it compatible with imovie and its giving me a hard time; the quality of the videos are OK but over all not beginner friendly

Overheats! Yes, I changed the setting so it would not overheat but it still does so you only get about 38 minutes out of it before it shuts down.

It has not the feather part to block the sound of the wind is placed on the machine as shown in the advertisement picture .

Does not do what it says. Constantly have to watch for the red recording light to turn off and formatting card is difficult.

If you use this camera as a 4K device then all it does is overheat !

Camera started to over heat less than a month after purchasing. Unfortunately I was out of the period of return. Camera also doesn’t offer a wide angle option.

Battery stays charged only 20 minutes. Great quality as far as picture but not enough charge time .

Item doesn't work. Item was a return and i see why.

Read the hype it would replace a DSLR. Not even close and my phone takes better pics

Couldn’t get settings right came with no grip in box

Purchased this for work related photo survey and documentation of certain equipment. It may be good for video but not a good point & shoot camera.

This has the potential to be a very long review. To cut to the chase, here is my thesis: BUY this camera if you want the best vlogging camera on the market that is below 1000 bucks BUY this camera if you want the best all around point and shoot that is less than 1000 bucks. BUY this camera if you want a potent put-in-your-pocket travel camera that is light and easy. BUY this camera if you want to start your own YouTube channel. If you want great video reviews of this please go to YouTube and search the model and you will find dozens of new videos that talk about the various features, greatness and flaws, and some even run through the menu system to help users get acquainted with the functionalities of the camera. I will not waste this space by talking about all that. These are some points I want to add to all of that: A) This is a great vlogging camera. BUT, if you are a budding street photographer, this should be a nice weapon in your arsenal, maybe even a complete weapon. The lens range of 24-70mm equivalent and the sheer inconspicuous being of this camera is a great asset to have on the streets. B) In tune with the above, the BW setting with a plus contrast is really nice. It may not have the mythical Zeiss POP of those 1200 dollar lenses but boy was I pleasantly surprised by the micro-contrast. C) I have been a Nikon guy who only recently started using some Cannon mirrorless cameras with their dual-pixel auto-focus system. But Sony’s eye auto-focus is simply the cream on top. I have to admit. Awesome autofocus. And it is easy to maneuver for beginners as well. D) This thing is fast. I think it does shoot 24 FPS and I tried to follow the paths of birds several times and it was a piece of cake. E) I had apprehensions about the 1” sensor but this is a tried and tested sensor and it shines. Low light situations are not clumsy but please do not compare the noise with your full frame sensors. That would be unfair. F) The AWB out of the camera is quite true. Fiddle with the thing and you might like the WB options. G) The included microphone is good, much better than nothing. You can always upgrade. But for a budding vlogger it should be enough to learn the tricks of the trade. H) Headphone jack would have helped. I) USB C would have been better. J) Battery life is bad. If you shoot 24 FPS and the battery capacity is for under 230 shots then one can imagine what may happen if you take it out on the field. K) The lack of a long reach for the lens hampers the full use of 24 FPS speed. L) No specific dials for the various modes. The Menu and Mode buttons help and you really do not have to dig deep to use it. The Function button on the back dial is a big help. You can also change C1 and C2 button functionalities to better suit your needs. All in all, for a new Sony user like me, it was a never that big a deal hunting through the modes and menu. M) The screen is touch sensitive but only for certain very specific actions. If you love a all purpose touch screen then you may be disappointed. I was not as the layout of the camera did not hinder my progress without an all pervasive touch functionality. N) The face lighting in high contrast areas is superlative. During videos, that is. O) The product mode (C1 I think) is an added help for the social media influencers. I can keep adding points to the above. I can also get very technical about many of the features. But to conclude I will simply say that the consumer will be very hard-pressed to find a better alternative with better features at this price point, and even beyond to a certain extent. If you are a beginner or a vlogger or an influencer or simply someone who wants to take a great all around camera in your pocket, this is a great purchase. I am Prof in a University in the NorthEast. In my spare time I have covered Ted talks, done some high profile photo shoots and have published my work at various places. I am dead serious and authentic about my endorsement of this camera.

Let me first start this review by just saying WOW! Sony, you FINALLY listened to your users! You get an RX100 with upgrades with its focus on video… a first! There are a few downsides, but mostly this is a BUY! The Sony ZV-1 is the perfect camera for vloggers and videographers who don't want to carry big gear around on less serious projects as well as the beginner to YouTube. We all know the best camera is the one you have WITH you and this is just perfect. It's small enough to fit in the pocket but packs a big punch. You get access to the Sony picture profiles from all their higher end models including S-Log, Cine, Rec709, and HLG along with a built-in ND filter and well above average on board mic. You have everything you need to start in the world of video. I love the image this camera produces and the feature-rich filming options. You get slow-mo and a clean HDMI feed if you want to rig this up. You can charge from 0% to 100% in about 120mins. It is built mostly out of strong black plastic vs the aluminum build of it's brother the RX100 but still solidly built nonetheless. We get a fully articulating flip screen that comes out to the left of the camera instead of on top. This stops the screen from being blocked when you are using mics and other attachments on the top of the camera. The screen is bright enough for outdoors with the proper option and details are easily seen. We all know the long history of the learning curve needed to get through the UI. Maybe Sony will listen to this next… only time will tell. The menu system is tedious but they did try to spruce it up with an "icon" view. This will take a few clicks away to change a few things and should be developed further. Auto-focus is fast and I love the product showcase mode that disables eye detection to focus on what is closest to the camera... GAMECHANGER! Rolling shutter… not a problem here. It is almost not noticeable. Now… things take a turn to the negative side. There are a few things that really annoy me about this camera. The fact the battery and SD card are in the same place right next to the tripod mount just didn't seem to be well thought out. This will annoy you quickly if you are shooting for more than an hour. You will need to remove your camera from your gimbal/tripod just to change a battery or remove the SD card. The small buttons will take some getting used to but that is another annoyance for me. There are lots of crops depending on what options you enable. If you use SteadyShot, you will get a crop. If you shoot 4k, you will get a crop of roughly 10% of the sensor. When you zoom just past 24mm you just to f/ 2.8. It doesn't have f/1.8 for very long before you lose it. The app isn't great and often disconnects using my Samsung Note 10+. This will not be part of the review. Below you can find a quick list of my gripes and bright spots with this device. Pros -Good onboard audio, excellent autofocus, and fast 24-70 f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens. -Built-in ND filter. -Grips built in to the body so you don't have to buy them. -Above average glass from the RX100. -Picture profiles with S-Log, Cine, Rec709, and HLG BT2020 and others. -Fully articulating screen for selfie mode videos. -Face exposure priority and excellent auto focus. -Small and versatile camera with lots of pro features. -Onboard mic quality is best in class for point and shoot cameras out there. -Custom buttons you can program how you want. Cons -Learning curve for menus and interface. -No auto-leveling option or limiters available for audio! -Must have battery in to shoot, you cannot just power with USB. -Small form factor means small buttons. -No headphone jack to monitor audio!!!!!!!!!!! -Screen is not readable with polarized lenses. -Tripod mounting location leads to the need to removal what is attached to get access to battery/card. MOST HATED CON! -No USB C we still are using micro USB for some reason?! -Battery life isn't good, but that is because small camera = small battery. -No included charger, you must use micro USB. Buy a wall charger and a few batteries to fix this problem. -Beauty filter is on by default. DISABLE this or at least Low but no more than that or you look weird! In the end… this is a must buy for anyone who likes video and doesn't want to have big gear for small projects. BUY THIS NOW!

This is marketed as a content creator camera. I honestly think Sony is selling itself short. This camera is for anyone who wants better than what they can get with a cell phone but do not want to go the DSLR route. Audio and Video capture is fantastic without an external microphone. The software wind reduction does a great job, paired with the windscreen and you don't hear the wind. I wanted to do a test video at the beach this past weekend but I did not have a chance to head out. The only video I was able to record was as a storm was blowing in and I was annoying the mother-in-law who is allergic to getting her photo taken. The video is not suitable for general audiences. I may try and post a video at a later date to show how well the wind reduction works. There is a setting in the camera for software wind reduction and also the windscreen, you can mess with software on or off and screen on or off to get your desired effect. As for video, the camera does a great job identifying the face even in low light and adjusts appropriately. In proper lighting the image stabilization does a fine to outstanding job. There are times when no level of stabilizing will help, running with the camera will still get a shake video. Don't ask. If you add in the Accessory Kit with grip, you can make a great selfie movie or general shooting of the environment. The grip makes handling the camera a little easier. This can do 4k so have plenty of SD cards available. I have seen some people complain about the size of the video when self shooting, this can be changed in the settings. I think the default was a 4:3 ratio, after adjusting the setting I was able to get a much larger view, but this could also be due to how long my arms are, so I don't cut a portion of my head off. For still photos the sensors are outstanding. I have been able to edit RAW images and get some really fantastic shots. You can use a external flash, the one I have I need to play with to get a better result. Right now I get a beautiful white flash and a great picture of whiteness. LOL This can be adjusted with timings in the camera settings, I just have not been feeling the need for a flash yet, this was just a initial test to make sure the shoe was working. For any mode being able to flip out the LCD screen is fantastic. The screen flips out and rotates which allows you to hide the screen for safe keeping while in a bag or rotate it out so you can see from anywhere from in front to the side, above, below or back of the camera. It is one thing I loved with my DSLR and having it in a camera I can take anywhere for quick shots and no need for additional lenses makes this a great addition to my camera portfolio. The LCD is usable even in direct sunlight. A side trick with the grip, or a tripod, you can use the camera to see what is above you on a roof or shelf. I have used it to check my router to verify there are no warning lights since it is on top of the kitchen cabinets. Always important to know how to connect. Your options are as follows: micro-USB, micro-HDMI, Microphone jack (3.5-mm stereo), Interface Shoe. There are Bluetooth and WiFi connections as well. As for the Accessory Kit/Grip. It works as a Bluetooth remote, pairing with BT could not be easier. I would imagine any BT camera remote would work. You can also use your cell phone or PC as a remote with the software installed. The apps are all well done and not overwhelming, there are three apps that I would love to see Sony condense into one app. There are so many things I love about this camera I could go on for days, but I will give a couple things that annoy me slightly, very slightly not enough to take a star: - This camera is definitely designed for video first based on the large size and placement of the record button, I keep taking video when wanting to take a snapshot - There are a ton of menu options that could overwhelm some, some options are almost hidden - No wrist strap included, using a old Samsung one I had in a drawer (I do not trust myself without a safety net) - Odd decision not to use a USB type C connection, for such a modern camera using a older interface just seems odd to me - There are 3 apps, I would like to see these condensed into one app - Currently you can not use this as a expensive webcam, Sony is supposedly getting ready to release the software for PC and MAC in the near future (There are 3rd party pay options) This camera has been a real joy to work with and get to know. I can not recommend it enough if you are looking for something between cell and DSLR.

The Sony ZV-1 is Sony’s latest “premium” point and shoot camera launched recently. It sports the same 1.0 Exmor sensor found in Sony’s flagship point and shoot camera the RX100 VII. One can say that the ZV-1 is the RX100 VII little cousin. And I say cousin as the ZV-1 is not only a stripped down version of the RX100 VII but also geared to another market namely content creators or vloggers. And in this sense Sony is creating a niche in an already crowded space. First and foremost, one would notice that the ZV-1 and the RX100 series have similar form-factors. One would notice that the ZV-1 is made of what Sony would term as composite material as compared to the magnesium alloy build of the RX100 series. In ordinary words, it’s made of plastic and not metal. Still, it has a premium feel similar to what you would find in entry-level DSLRs. Also gone in the ZV-1 are the pop-up EVF on the top left side and the pop-up flash on the center top. Instead you would find a hot shoe on the top left where you can attach an external mic or a flash and on the top center is a directional 3-capsule mic. One thing to note is that Sony includes what it refers to as a wind screen for the mic which you attach into the hot shoe. (This is wind screen is also known as a dead cat.) The ZV-1 has an articulating screen (a first in Sony point and shoot cameras but not handycams) instead of the usual tilting LCDs often found in the RX-100 series. The mode dial notably has been removed and has been replaced a mode button and you have to use the screen dial. (This IMO may be a dealbreaker as some prefer an actual mode dial.) And lastly, Sony added a rubber grip to the ZV-1 which IMHO is a nice touch to it. As mentioned earlier Sony touts this as a vlogging camera more than that of a stills camera. And since this is a “cousin” of the RX100, I would no longer delve into the quality of still pictures but highlight on the “vlogging” aspects of this camera. (After all, the manual is around 550 pages long.) Like the later model RX100 models, the ZV-1 has 4k video capabilities, but one thing to really amaze at this camera is its product showcase function. At the press of one button (which is the delete button during shooting mode), the camera can immediately focus on a product (or any object for that matter) at an arm’s length distance when it is moved (fairly quickly) to the front of the camera for a close up. Upon testing this feature repeatedly, I’d say that I’m amazed at this feature and that it works as advertised. I have not yet heard of any consumer level camera even from smartphones that can do this feature. Another cool feature of the ZV-1 is background defocus mode. A button on the top right of the camera enables the camera to immediately go into bokeh mode or cinematic effect as a lot of vloggers refer to it. What is interesting to note is that it’s a simplified process and one does not need to know about adjusting aperture. And while it works, it is worthwhile to consider that the bokeh is not as “creamy” given the limit of the one inch sensor as compared to larger sensors from m4/3s, APS-C and full frame cameras. Still the effect is optical and not through software. Also, this has an advantage over smartphones as the bokeh effect is limited only in stills and not through video. These two highlights of the ZV-1 plus features from the RX100 are compelling reasons to consider this camera over the RX100 VII given that there is almost a $500 price difference between the two models. But also, the ZV-1 can also hold on its own against other cameras as well. My primary complaint for the ZV-1 is like the RX series is that it still uses the small NP-BX1 batteries. So it would be prudent to stock up on extra batteries. And finally for vlogging uses, a wireless shooting grip (Sony GP-VPT2BT) is available too. It is primarily a remote control grip that enables you to vlog and also function as a small tripod. Overall, the Sony ZV-1 (as well as it’s accessory grip) is highly recommended for those who not only want to shoot stills but also use a very capable tool for vlogging.

Sony's higher end RX100 series point-and-shoot cameras are popular for their compact designs and great photo and video quality. They've come a long way over the years and are some of the best point-and-shoot cameras on the market. That being said, they still have flaws. The VII of the RX100 overheats quickly (within 5-6 minutes) when recording video and has higher F-stops making it a poorer performer in low light. Enter the ZV-1. It has the same sensor as the RX100-VII but features a fully articulating display, focuses on the camera's smarts, and emphasizes video recording. Reviewers are touting this as a camera made for vloggers but that's only part of the story. First off, the video recording is high quality. It's easy to enable the ND filter, 4k 30fps and 4k 24fps videos are sharp with a bit of color pop, you can record video in various S-logs (and HLG) for post correction if you are into that (the intelligent auto mode does a good job for people that just want to shoot and not think about things), and I've been enjoying the higher resolution (1080p) 240fps video mode good for slow motion. I did play around with the two HLG profiles on my HDR (HLG and HDR10) monitor and, after correcting them in post, they looked great. details in the shadows popped without losing the subject. The camera remembers your last video recording settings and will quickly start shooting with the press of the red record button. It's nice having quick access to video recording so that, when the camera turns on, you can shoot photos or videos without changing the camera's modes. The articulating display can turn the camera on and off. Fold it in (with the screen facing the inside of the camera) and the camera turns off, rotate it out and the camera turns on. It's convenient especially when taking pictures or videos of fast moving subjects (kids, animals). It lets you jump into the moment without thinking. There are multiple accessories geared for video recording. The camera comes with a deadcat and it's great for cutting out wind noise. The camera's built-in microphones are more forward facing than the RX100 series and do a good job of cancelling out background noise though Sony's hot shoe connector gives you access to more accessories (like microphones). Sony makes a shooting stick that turns into a tripod, I highly recommend it. The controls for the shooting stick are actually wireless, so you can use it as a remote, but it's a convenient accessory for shooting anywhere. I've used it to take night photos requiring a tripod without actually lugging a full-sized tripod around (though I did have to be near a table). Videos aren't everything with this camera though. It features the same fast focus as the RX100 VII and 24fps burst photos without screen blackout. I've mainly left the camera in intelligent auto mode but it has some of the more advanced modes. The camera lacks a flash but the low f-stop range helps in low light conditions. You can always buy a flash if you really need one. The ZV-1 has been able to quickly focus on every subject I've captured without issues. I've had to delete photos but not because of an issue with the camera. Therein lies the big push with the camera: you are giving it control of everything. Yes, it has more advanced modes letting you tune in the shutter speed, aperture, and other settings but it lives happiest in intelligent auto. Luckily Sony's hardware and software has improved to the point that I'm not angry about this. I have an a6500 but have often turned to the ZV-1 because I either don't want to think about things, the subject is fast moving and I want the shot, I haven't had time to dial in the settings on my a6500, or all of the above. I highly recommend this camera if you want a high end point-and-shoot that thinks for you. It lets you change some settings but, for the most part, you take this out and shoot whatever you want with little to no fuss. It makes a good secondary camera for people with high end mirrorless, DSLR, or full-frame systems but it also makes a good primary for someone that wants something more serious than a smartphone without breaking the bank. Really, I'm unsure how Sony squeezed all of this into such a low price. Yes, the camera body is plastic and it isn't weather sealed. Yes, Sony's firmware is still kind of clunky and the touchscreen is really only good for focusing. Sony removed the dial so you can't manually dial the focus in but I'm alright with this as Sony's subject tracking is spot on and the camera is quick to focus even when you select the subject. My only real complaint against this camera is that it charges with micro USB. Nothing like this should be released in 2020 with micro USB, it should have USB C. Unlike most other cameras, you can use this one while it is charging so you can charge it with a power bank while you're out and about without missing anything. Still, the inclusion of micro USB means I now have to carry around yet another charging cable where before I only had to carry one around. I can charge my phone, tablet, and notebook all with the same brick and cable. Now, I have to carry around another cable and lower voltage charging brick. Not the end of the world but annoying nonetheless. This camera is for you if you want to take high quality photos and videos without worrying about settings. Just let the camera do its work and you'll end up with high quality results. Otherwise the RX100 line would probably be better if you like to dial in specific settings and go deep into other options. Of course, vloggers should enjoy this camera as would anyone that wants to record high quality videos with more advanced post editing options.

So I’ll review this from 2 different angles – for its marketed use, which is “VLOGGING” and the second as a standard “point-and-shoot” camera. The Sony ZV-1 is a 20.1 megapixel camera marketed to the ever-popular world of “Influencers” and ‘VLOGGERS”, touting an excellent set of video and audio features for live or recorded video. With native video capability up to 120p (excellent for slow-mo shots) and with a lens from arguably the best camera glass on the market – Zeiss – image quality is spectacular. The lens is a 24-70 zoom, so from a photography standpoint it lacks the focal length for longer-length zooms, but for use for VLOGGING it works just fine. The camera features a built-in mic, but also includes an external hot shoe mic with a deadcat (yes, that’s an actual term) windscreen. For use with multiple mics (mixer) or a lavalier mic, the camera also has a 3.5mm mic jack on the side. The camera has a 3” multi-angle, flip, reversible screen which allows for viewing of “selfies” when shooting video (or photos). The screen is also a touch screen, but that is a little of a misnomer, as its solely a touch screen to adjust focus points. No controls from the camera can be controlled from the touchscreen, which I found a little disappointing. Video, as mentioned, is excellent, and can be launched with a separate button on top from the still photo button. One of the features of this camera is a special single button called “Product Showcase” that allows you to flip between focus on the subject speaking and the item being “showcased”. Those of you who have VLOGGED or seen videos know the frustration of someone trying to get the computer to refocus from the person to something else being shown in the foreground. Both still & video modes have the 4 standard camera shooting modes – Program (P), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S), and Manual Mode (M). For more point-and-shoot options, the camera has auto-detection of scene, as well as the usual modes you would expect with point-and-shoot cameras like sport, fireworks, etc. When shooting in Aperture or Manual modes, you can control the aperture as low as f/1.8 for that much-loved “bokeh”, or background blur. Stills are just as crisp and good-looking as the video. At 20.1 megapixels, and the ability to save as RAW images, they are easy to edit in Lightroom or your choice of photo editing programs. ISO ranges of 80-12800 are selectable on the menu dial, as is EV+/-. Other settings are accessed thru the menu. CONS: - To me, the body feels cheap. It’s a lighter-weight plastic which just doesn’t feel like it will withstand drops. - The limited capabilities of the touchscreen were a little of a disappointment, as compared to other cameras where many of the features are controlled with more simple on-screen prompts. - The buttons to access the menu, as well as the dial to scroll and toggle, are EXTREMELY small, and tough to manipulate quickly or on-the-fly, so you’ll likely pick a mode & stick with it, or just keep the camera in point-and-shoot mode, which is a disappointment since there is so much more you can do shooting manually or with more control over settings. - The hotshoe is a proprietary design, so more standard DSLR accessories (mics, flashes, etc.) will not work, so you’ll have to come back to Sony for more accessories. SUMMARY: The camera is a great solution for video use once you set your settings and start shooting. The Zeiss lens is a great addition for quality and clarity, but with the limits on the focal range. The camera overall will make a great addition for your live streaming videos or VLOGGING activities.