Customers regard the ZV-1 as a great camera for content creation, praising its camera quality and ease of use. The camera's size, weight, and screen are also appreciated by users. However, some customers have expressed concerns about the battery life and overheating issues. Additionally, a few users have mentioned the lack of a flash and wide-angle option, and consider the price to be a bit high.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 5 Showing 81-100 of 1,317 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality
Cons mentioned:
Flash
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Perfect Quality
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
After doing months of research on cameras I settled on the ZV-1. This cameras photo quality is impressive. You have the ability to shoot in a manual mode where you can create all the settings or you can shoot in of the modes that are pre-programmed. The camera is an “intelligent mode” and it is so so good. The camera does not come with a flash, but I bought an external flash that you can pop on and off the hot shoe. During the day a flash really isn’t needed but adding the flash doesn’t hurt it. Just depends on how you want the photos to come out. Overall I’d definitely recommend this camera to others. So far I’m super happy with this purchase and can not wait to use it on my upcoming trips!
Hi Jasmine, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are glad to hear that you love it and found it as a perfect camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. For any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 239-245-6360. Regards, Larry 7-10-2025 Sony Social Support
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Over All Great First Camera
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this camera because I am going to study abroad in Rome and I really wanted to take unforgettable photos! I used this camera also to photograph my dad’s wedding and it was phenomenal. Here are a few photos I have taken with it!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi BryanneR, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are glad to hear that you found it as a great camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. For any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 239-245-6360. Regards, Larry 7-3-2025 Sony Social Support
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality
Cons mentioned:
Flash
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Satisfied Camera
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great for video, no built in flash for stills but my external flash connects very well, pretty decent quality still images as well. Very nice camera for content creation.
Hi JackieH, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are glad to hear that you love it and found it as a great camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. For any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 239-245-6360. Regards, Larry 10-21-2025 Sony Social Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
ZV-1 = STUNNING camera for ALL creators
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
There is no denying that SONY is credited with many truly innovative audio video recording products of the 20th and 21st centuries.
In the late 1950s Sony launched an early transistor radio, later miniaturized the Trinitron television in the 60s, BetaMax video recorder in the 70s, the Walkman cassette then compact Discman players in the 80s, PlayStation’s entry into the video game business in the 90s.
That same decade Sony expanded their Handi-Cam line of camcorders and introduced the Cyber-Shot camera, replacing their Digital Mavica from a few years prior. Sony later bought Konica Minolta and branded the line “alpha” marketed towards professional photographers.
Let’s not forget Sony is also a primary supplier in the Broadcast Television industry, with hardware installed is most television stations.
Consumers often fail to recognize that Sony image sensors are packed into an overwhelming majority of the better smartphones cameras that we’ve grown accustomed to (including iPhone, Google Pixel, LG, OnePlus, Huwaii, many more)
Factors that affect image quality
- Optical lens
- Sensor image size
- Associated circuitry
- Computational photography
- Image processing algorithms
< For comparisons sake, the iPhone 11 Pro Max employs 12-MP megapixel cameras, with focal lengths F/1.8 (wide-angle), F/2.0 (telephoto), F/2.4 (ultra-wide), using just over a ½-inch sensor (1/2.55).>
This ZV-1 camera quadruples that sensor size 4x the capture area to a full 1-inch Exmor CMOS sensor !!
If there’s a company that knows recording and imaging, … it’s SONY !!
Mid-upper level dSLR and mirrorless cameras can cost upwards of a couple to several thousand dollars. Sony wisely priced this new product closer to a mid-level mobile phone, but packed in features several price classes above.
They appear to have based the ZV-1 design on their successful RX100 (Mark IV? )body but beefed up the audio with a three-capsule onboard mic system, plus included an external mic inout. They then borrowed real-time tracking autofocus technology from professional-grade alpha 9 to switch between eye-detection (for humans and PETS), face detection, and general subject tracking. The videos captured played on a 4k TV are absolutely stunning.
Though the camera is quite awesome by itself, it’s truly special paired with the Grip, a necessary accessory in my humble opinion. It’s got two fold out legs for use as a tripod, plus the zoom control and dedicated photo and video buttons. Just brilliant, feels nice and solid in your hand like it’s supposed to. This helps if you prefer to have stable selfie stills and videos.
Note: it took me having to crack the manual hidden inside the top of the grip box to pair the camera and grip. The procedure requires the user to go into the menu settings and enable Bluetooth Pairing on the Camera, and then HOLD (T) zoom toggle and Photo button for 7 seconds.
Helpful tutorials
https://www.sony.net/tutorial/dc/zv1/
Specs
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* 20.1 MP 1-inch Exmor CMOS sensor
* BIONZ Image Processor
* Insane slow-motion 960 fps (40x) <compare w/ iPhone 240 fps>
* 4k video quality 24 fps and 30 fps
* 3 color modes (standard, HLG for HDR, and S-Log for professional grading)
Pros
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+ AutoFocus is the absolute best on the market, none better
+ Real-Time Tracking & Real-time Eye AF technology works flawlessly
+ “product showcase” auto focus mode, then quickly returns focus
+ BOKEH mode to blur background (called “clear” in still photo mode)
+ P/A/S/M Program, Aperture, Shutter priority, Manual modes
+ Red record “tally light” on body front so you don’t waste a take
+ Carl Zeiss optics / glass
+ Fast F/1.8-2.8 aperture lens
+ Consistent lighting across faces
+ BRIGHT stills, EXCELLENT low-light video
+ On-board triple-capsule microphone
+ Mic input for professional quality sound
+ 3- inch vari-angle side flip out screen (3:2 ratio)
+ “dead cat” mic diffuser windscreen (plugs into hotshoe)
+ don’t forget the wind cancellation option in settings also
+ Mode knob replaced by big red REC button for ease-of-use
+ fine details such as battery and memory card fit only one way
SOFTWARE : Imaging Edge Mobile App
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+ Imaging Edge Mobile app allows remote viewing & management
+ Location Information Linkage feature - transfers location exif data onto your pictures and videos
+ Gyroscope data is imported to smooth out jitters in post-processing
+ live-streaming Windows 10 software expected this summer
+ live Webcam mode is also promised in the same software release
Cons
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-24-70mm lens may not be wide enough for selfies
-Camera is inoperable while the battery is charging
-No headphone mic output for monitoring audio levels
-No battery progress indicator, must be done in-camera
-No battery charger, must be charged in-camera via USB
-SteadyShot image stabilization on max crops images slightly
-screen is not touch screen for ALL controls, requires spin dial use
-traditional still photo zoom ring is omitted, must be done via dial or grip
-polarized sunglasses on-screen menu text disappears (turn vertical to read)
-the grip custom pouch would have been more helpful if it fit the grip with camera
CONCLUSION :
_________________
If you are a Vlogger, product reviewer, or YouTuber, this camera is made specifically for YOU. That’s the lens of which I view this amazing camera, though I offer strong recommendation to CREATORS of ALL walks, there's plenty here to LOVE.
It is packed full with features, incredible BOKEH (still / video), best-in-class AUTO-FOCUS and EYE TRACKING technologies, and a three-capsule microphone system The connectivity options add value to the package too; Bluetooth to the grip / tripod, BT to your phone, and WiFi to your computer network, with interfaces to both mobile and desktop apps, with more features planned in July/August, such as Live-Streaming and Live-Webcam mode (Windows 10 software only :(
If you are looking for a dedicated still photo camera, there are other dSLR and Mirrorless options with removable lenses for that specialized function, but for me, despite the nitpicks, this SONY ZV-1 fits the bill PERFECTLY, and I couldn’t be more THRILLED.
Just wait until you see your professional looking super high-res content on the web, or better yet, a beautiful 4k Television !!
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ZV-1 Camera is one of the newest editions to the camera market that is purpose built for people who create content, such as vloggers. When you're out on location or even when you are set up at a dedicated location, this camera, along with some amazing accessories, is a great choice for filming and photographing. First of all, lets mention size. The camera itself is small enough that it could easily fit in your pocket. Such a small product packs a powerful punch when it comes to the quality of the photos/videos it takes. The product does have some weight to it. While I am not sure of the exact weight I can tell you it is heavy in your hand. The camera does not feel cheap, and it shouldn't considering the expensive price tag. The camera comes with a removable, rechargeable battery. The USB cable included does not come with a plug adapter, so you will either need to use one you already have, purchase one, or plug it into a computer to charge it. I initially used this camera to take some photos and videos in an outdoor environment and I was thoroughly impressed. The pictures came out crisp and clear. The videos were even more impressive with the 4k quality this camera puts out! The camera also comes with a wind screen for the microphone. It looks goofy, but serves its intended purpose well. A must have accessory is the Vlogger Accessory kit (ACCVC1)! This kit gives you a battery powered handle of sorts that doubles as a tripod and a SD memory card (64gb)! The handle has legs that fold out to allow the camera to sit on flat surfaces. It also has buttons on it that allow you to control the camera via a bluetooth connection between the handle and the camera. This handle is great, however, I will mention that when walking and filming it doesn't completely eliminate the shaking of the footage like a gimble would. In addition to the camera having bluetooth, it also can connect to wifi. This camera can transmit photos/videos straight to your phone, tablet, or computer for editing on the go! Perfect for people away from their home editing software. The autofocus was perfect, allowing the camera to focus in on the eye of the person in the frame, or allowing you to use the onboard touch screen to select a point to focus on no matter where the camera moved. This camera has a huge host of customization options and features. These features are accessible by a menu screen. One thing worth pointing out is that not every aspect of the menu screen or camera for that matter can be controlled by the on board touch screen. In order to make changes to the menu settings, you must use the movable wheel and push buttons. The screen is very helpful though, as it flips around in different directions for us when your filming yourself or taking a quick selfie. All in all, this is a great camera to use for content creation. I plan on using it in a mobile environment instead of a set place for filming. I think it will serve the purpose well and aid me in creating great content!
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sony ZV-1 Camera for Content Creators and Vloggers with Vlogger Accessory Kit
Very high end for advanced users
Test equipment! HP 590 desktop with Pro 4K video card/BT 5.0 and AX WIFI; Sony 55A9G; Sony XBR65Z9F;Apple SE 2020 128GB WIFI AX/BT 5.0; Surface Pro X;HDMI adapter cables; 128 GB U3 Memory card; Linksys - MX10 Velop AX5300, 4K monitors; BT 5.0 wireless headphones; Canon Pro wireless Laser printer; Imaging Edge Desktop, connecting cables
Items that worked well:
HD Video cast to TV (Samsung and Sony’s)
Transfer files to computers via USB cable
Play video over HDMI
Cast pictures to TV
Transfer files to Cell phone
Transfer files over WIFI
Use standard SD class 10 (U) cards as well as the Sony high end fast transfer card with two rows of connections
Ultra-high quality
Large built in microphone and micro speaker
Manual online was 555 Pages of essential info
https://helpguide.sony.net/dc/1910/v1/en/print.pdf
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/compact-cameras-zv-series/zv-1#manuals
Micro HDMI and USB
External jack for microphone
Shoe for flash
BT connected tripod
Imaging edge (free) software for advanced photo editing
Learning curve required/needed extra stuff:
1000’s of possible settings for the pros
Navigating through the menu’s and set up
Borrowed a strap from my other Sony camera
Found a leather cellphone belt leather wallet in my stash that worked at Disney Springs taking pictures
WIFI setup and transfer requires some real patience
No BT headphone connection so far (still working that issue but doubt it has that feature).
PDF manual is only searchable in advanced PDF versions. Online version is easier to use.
Needed upgrades for future models:
AX/WIFI 6
Summary:
Sony Quality is phenomenal in many areas of electronics since 1972 (for me since the Vietnam war). Loved the Sony branded and Marantz equipment (Marantz was owned by Sony at one time).
Keep going Sony!
Hi RitzStudio, Sony's commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Its great to hear you are happy with the quality photos you are getting from this camera. Thank you for the feedback on the battery, it will help us to keep improving future products. Thank you for choosing Sony. -Linda 09-19-25 Sony Social Support
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Overall performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Zv1
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
10/10 coming from someone who does photography this is a great camera to have if you’re looking for something small and easy. As long as you can figure out how all settings work and figure out what to really use the camera for, it’s amazing! But definitely order a little flash off Amazon. It’ll help you a lot
Hi Brynnah, Sony's commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are happy to hear you have found this camera to be amazing. Thank you for choosing Sony. -Linda 5-30-25 Sony Social Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amazing all around compact Stills and Video Camera
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sony got a lot of things right with this compact camera. Just when I thought manufacturers were beginning to give up on compact cameras, Sony unleashes another pocket monster! I'll start by saying that the autofocus is very fast with this camera. It is very accurate also. It recognizes faces and eyes quickly and nails focus instantly. The camera has a mode called "product showcase" which will kind of turn off the face detect when you bring a product into view. So, lets say you are making a makeup tutorial video, The camera will focus on you, and when you bring up your lipstick or mascara the camera will quickly focus on to the product you bring into view, and when you move it out of sight, it will quickly focus on your face again. A brilliant feature. This camera is made for video creators. Vlogging, Product Reviews, Home Videos, you name it. I think the camera is more video oriented. It has an awesome built in microphone, Sony includes a "dead cat" or aka a wind sock in the box. It has a hot shoe mount and will cover the huge microphone that is on the top of the camera. It's meant to hush wind and silent ambient sounds a bit and let voices come through clearly. It works, and its awesome that it is included in the box. The screen the flips out and is of the vari angle type. You can frame just about any angle you need with the screen. It has touch capability, but mostly to set focus tracking. Another great feature in the camera is High frame rate mode. You can record uptown 960 frames per second! Mind boggling. You can really create some amazing slow motion footage with this camera also. This camera is so jam packed with features and modes that I'm still digging and finding new things to do with it 4 days later and it would probably take another hour of typing to list them all. Build quality is very good, although it feels like the camera is mostly hard plastic. It is very strong and rigid though, I already dropped it once >.< and it didn't even get a tiny scuff or scratch. After the baby heart attack I had, I was impressed to see that the camera looks brand new. The Zeiss lens is bright and focuses / zooms very quickly. I wish it zoomed just a little further, but it is fine for most scenarios. My only complaint about this camera is that it doesn't have a built in / pop up flash. I like to carry compact cameras with me all the time, and a pop up flash would be great for low light / night./ indoor and party photos. The built in microphone makes up for it thought, because I honestly think the microphone is good enough in the camera to skip plugging in any kid of external microphone. The image sensor is large enough and the lens is bright enough for most low light or indoor situations though. I just prefer to use a flash sometimes My other minor complaint is thet the camera has a micro USB port for charging and syncing. It's ancient technology, and I wish it had USB-C. It works, but USB - C is the new standard. And I imagine the camera would charge and sync just a little quicker with the newer port. Would I recommend this camera to a friend? For sure! I would recommend this camera to someone who wants a well rounded and compact camera that can be relied on for just about any scenario. I plan on carrying this camera with me everywhere I go and I will be taking many home videos of my family to cherish forever. Most importantly, I think this camera will be the best for chasing my little nephews around the house and yard and take many photos and videos and memories. Sony has an optional vlogger kit that can be purchased with the camera or as an added option. It can be used as a monopod and table top tripod. It remains compact and easy to carry. It will pair with the cameras bluetooth antenna and allow you to zoom and snap a photo or start and stop your video recording. I wouldn't say its a must have but is definitely very convenient for many situations. Also it will help stabilize your video just a little bit more.
Pros: Blazing fast and accurate autofocus
Very good 4k video quality
Great microphone and articulating bright screen
Very good battery life
Cons: Micro Usb charging and sync port
no pop up or built in flash
HI Luis, Sony's commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback It is great to hear you are loving this camera and have found it to be user friendly. Thank you for choosing Sony. -Linda 10-11-25 Sony Social Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Perfect Camera for Creators and Influencers
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera is designed for Creators and Influencers. What does that mean? First, if you're reading this and you want a point and shoot camera, this is probably not for you. If you're creating YouTube or Instagram videos or need to shoot close range video the ZV-1 is Perfect.
In the box, you'll get
- the camera
- micro USB cable
- wind screen accessory
- instructions and warranty paperwork
The ZV1 has a good weight and a premium feel. It has dedicated buttons for photos and video recording - love the large dedicated video button as there's no more fumbling in a menu trying to shoot video. There's no flash but it has a very good microphone and the wind screen accessory helps reduce wind noise. If you want to use an external flash or mic then the camera uses the standard Sony MI mount. Just a note though,
When you're shooting video, there's a red "record" light on the front, which is useful. The screen is a touch screen, which is super handy for things like tap to focus and face tracking. It actually tracks in real-time and will prioritize faces. In fact, the intelligence in the focus on the Sony ZV1 has me seriously impressed. As it has something called a product showcase setting so if you hold something in front of you, the ZV will automatically bokeh the background and focus on the item you're holding. There's also a bokeh button (Sony calls it 'clear') if you want to apply the effect to photos.
Other cool features include that it automatically turns on/off when you flip out the screen. The screen flips so you can use it as a selfie cam but also a total flip if you want to protect the screen when not in use.
I was fortunate enough to get the ZV1 with the Sony vlogger grip (GP-VPT2BT) which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. The ZV1 paired with the vlogger kit makes for a perfect creator and vlogger camera. As you can more easily grip and hold the camera for taking your own selfie videos. You can use the ZV1 without it but it does make for a better experience.
If you're wondering about storage. A 64Gb SD card (standard size SD) will store about 5,500 photos or 2 hours and 25mins of video (depending on shooting quality). Make sure you get a high-speed SD card if you plan to shoot 4k video.
On video, it's AMAZING. I mean WOW. I haven't owned a 4k camera before and it will knock your socks off. I played back the videos I recorded on my Sony TV and it looked professional. I wanted to upload videos to this review but they were too huge, so settled on photo hopefully you get a sense of how good the quality is.
Sony also makes some free software for iOS (and Android) as well as desktop apps for editing, etc. I've also included a mini-review of these apps below in case you're wondering.
Only minor issue, but still giving Sony 5 stars is the camera menus are, well not perfect, but that's typical for Sony cameras and if you've used a Sony camera before it's not really an issue. There's also an intelligent system that will autodetect everything, so you don't have to get into the menus if you don't want. The other minor issue is some of the fluff on the wind screen sometimes gets caught as you turn the screen. But this is trivial and really me just looking for an issue.
Would I recommend - YES. If you're dreaming of being the next big star on YouTube or IGTV, this is the camera for you. I would have uploaded a video, but even a 10second 4k video as an MP4 comes in at 70Mb (and Best Buy caps video uploads to 5Mb).
Additional Notes on Apps below for those that might be interested.
Imaging Edge Mobile App iOS
Sony's free Imaging Edge App lets you connect the ZV-1 Camera to your phone for the transfer of photos and videos. Connecting was easy you just scan the QR code from the connection menu in ZV1. The mobile software is pretty good and you can also use your phone as a remote. Transfers are made using WiFi (peer to peer). Images transfer from the ZV1 fast and video depends on the length and shooting quality. I like that you can transfer to your phone as it means you can then easily uploaded videos to Instagram TV (IGTV)
Viewer, Remote, Edit Windows App
Sony makes a couple of free apps for windows, technically called Imaging Edge Desktop. You connect the camera using the included USB cable. The Viewer and Remote apps are particularly useful. The Editor app is somewhat basic but good for minor edits. Personally, I recommend installing and using the phone apps and sticking with Adobe if you really need to do desktop video editing.
Hello ARIANAM, Sony's commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It is great to hear you are loving the quality and ergonomics of this camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. -Linda 09-19-25 Sony Social Support
Cons mentioned:
Battery life, Overheating
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Don’t fall for the hype
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I honest thought this camera was going to be the perfect camera for me. The issues i have with this camera is the battery life and overheating. The battery doesnt hold a charge, I can’t film a youtube video without me having to charge it in between which takes forever. It also tends to get hot after filming which is concerning.I wanted to like this camera after hearing so many great reviews on it. I thought this camera would replace the quality on my iphone 14 but the iphone camera beats this camera 100% … Also Ive been having issues with audio and grainy quality, so don't fall for the hype.
Hi notyoutaveragefaith, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are sorry to hear that that's how you feel about the camera. We suggest you contact our phone support at 239-245-6360 so we can assist you with using the camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. Regards, Larry 6-4-2025 Sony Social Support
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Overall performance, Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great For All Needs
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Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This camera is perfect and very compact so I’m not lugging around a heavy camera. The picture/video quality is great at a decent price point. It can do everything you could possibly need it to do. I’ve had it for 2 years and it’s still performing like the day I got it.
Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority.
Thank you for your feedback on our ZV1 camera. We're happy to hear that you're satisfied with the performance and portability of our camera. We strive to make this camera compact and lightweight without compromising its performance.
If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at 239-245-6360
Regards,
Rubychelle
Sony Social Support
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The best of for creation...all in one...
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First off let me state I have a Sony a6500 and the Rx100 Vii so my comparison and experience will be through the lens (pun intended) of the ZV-1 when of course using it but also how it stacks up against the other cameras I have.
I will also be reviewing the just released earlier in 2020, GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip that I used with the ZV-1, which is included in the Vlogger Accessory Kit for the ZV-1.
What you get in the box is the ZV-1, a Type X Sony Battery, a Micro USB cable (c’mon...lets get with USB C already!!) and a Dead Cat windscreen.
And in the box of the GP-VPT2BT is the grip, a 2032 button battery and soft pouch for storage of the grip.
The ZV-1 has pretty much the same form factor as anyone who has any generation of the Rx100 family of cameras is used to so that’s certainly familiar, and it also uses the same “X” battery. The ZV-1 and the latest Rx100 Vii also share the same updated 20.1 Megapixel 1.0 inch Sensor which speaks to the quality you can expect from the images produced by the ZV-1.
The ZV-1 body is plastic but still has a nice heft and feel to it and one thing that was added to the camera is a bump out grip on the side that significantly improves holding and maneuvering with the camera, on my Rx100 Vii I had to purchase one separately and stick it on.
Which brings me to the main point and reasons why Sony made this camera. They took all of the input on what the opportunities were to make a camera for Vloggers and Content Creators and tried to put it all in one camera.
One big easy Movie Record button, a better on board mic with the new Directional 3-Capsule Mic, and included “dead cat” wind screen that mounts on the (only on ZV-1) accessory hot shoe, which can also be used for other accessories. A flip out Screen, easy to see red “recording” indicator on the front of the camera. Fantastic 4K video utilizing “advanced color science” with all of the main color profiles S-Log etc. for post production. Time Lapse and Super Slow Motion capable. A background “defocus” mode that adds a nice Bokeh effect.
And a really innovative and cool feature called “Product Showcase” which will quickly shift focus from your face to any item you put between your face and the camera, a great enabler that grabs focus of the item or product you are reviewing without having to block your face which has to be done on any other cameras. Oh..integrated ND Filter...and a microphone jack!
One thing that will take a little getting used to is there is no actual mode dial on the top of the camera, you will need to press the “mode” button on the top of the camera and then choose the shooting mode with the control wheel that is to the right of the rear screen, just an extra step, not that much of a big deal.
The AutoFocus and Real Time Tracking are also industry leading and help you make high quality content easily.
The lens is fast with a F1.8-2.8 Aperture so low light shooting is possible and the zoom is 24-70mm which has less range than the Rx100 Vii at 24-200mm, but as mentioned the lens on the ZV-1 has a F1.8 Aperture which is faster than the F2.8-4.5 of the Vii so low light performance is better on the ZV-1.
The ZV-1 is Fantastic for video and pretty good for photos. One of the things that dings the ZV-1 in the photo department in my opinion is there is no zoom ring on the lens, to zoom in and out you must use the zoom lever on top of the camera. That’s where the Wireless Shooting Grip comes in, the GP-VPT2BT links up with the camera via Bluetooth which is very easy to set up. If you are using the Grip, then there is a zoom toggle at your fingertips as well as a movie and photo button. The Grip is fully articulating and also acts as a stable mini tripod.
So how is it real world use? Almost perfect at least for me...the video is second to none and the stabilization works wonders. I just wish the 24mm wide angle was just a tad wider (as when using the stabilization, the view gets a bit cropped)but it certainly looks great. When paired with the grip, using the fully articulating screen you can take videos, photos etc with ease.
If you are a content creator, have a YouTube Channel, are a Vlogger then this is a MUST tool for your kit. The ZV-1 paired with the GP-VPT2BT Grip gives you THE SETUP to make creating easy and it just works.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Overall- its a good camera. I think if you can have patience and learn the modes then this will go great for you. However for me, there are too many modes and the reason why I returned was because there was no flash which was a HUGE deal for me as I was wanted it for taking it out at (which sometimes is at night time). Therefore, overall, this camera was not the camera for me. If you did want a flash you had to purchase the attachment (so more money) and it is a large flash so this wasn't compact how I would like. Still will say it's a good camera as I know it has the capabilities but just not the camera for me !
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi MariaA, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are glad to hear that you think our camera is overall a good camera despite its lag of flash. Thank you so much for choosing Sony. For any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 239-245-6360. Pakorn (Sony Social Support)
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Overall performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great for my YouTube Channel
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Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great camera! I really enjoy it and I love the quality of everything about it. The only downfall is the mechanical sound the zoom feature makes. BUT, if you are using an external mic it doesn't matter.
Hi LeadSmith, Sony commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ZV1 camera. We are glad to hear that you found it as a great camera. Thank you for choosing Sony. For any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 239-245-6360. Regards, Larry 4-5-2025 Sony Social Support
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Overall performance
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Beginner Vlogging Camera - Sony ZV1
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Sony ZV-1 is an amazing camera for photos and vlogging for beginner content creation. Great quality overall, only con is the battery is pretty weak. I suggest you buy 2-3 more batteries.
Hello Roman, Thank You for sharing your experience with us. Sony's commitment to customer satisfaction is our top priority. We are happy that you are enjoying the camera. Your feedback will greatly help future customers. -Vincent Sony Imaging Support
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great for On-the-Go Content Creation
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The new Sony ZV-1 is marketed for folks who create their own video and image content. Since I make work-related videos for my profession on social media channels, I thought grabbing something lightweight and easy to use would make at-home and on-the-go content creation more enjoyable, and for the most part, it has.
The ZV-1 is still your basic design for Sony digital cameras, in fact, going to date myself with this reference, but the UX hasn't really changed all that much from the old "Cybershot" days. From the aspect of picking it up and knowing how to use it, that's great - but when it comes to the software menu, that's a bit of a drawback.
The main selling point of the ZV-1 is the ability to shoot 20 megapixel images and 4K video. I've used it to create several videos and have found the quality to be really good. The outputs are much better than what my smartphone's camera can capture - owning much to the actual zoom ability in the ZV-1's lens. There are other features like facial smoothing and image stabilization that make using the camera on-the-go a nice change of pace. I would say it actually reduced the amount of post-prod work I normally have to do on my videos.
The camera itself comes with a micro-USB cable for transferring data - and also for charging. Guess I'm a bit of a dinosaur, but one of the things I like about my DSLR camera is the battery is removable and chargeable on a separate charging station. The ZV-1 relies solely on being connected to a USB power source, like your PC, to charge. Additionally, there is also a small wind guard attachment to help reduce the ambient white noise from sounds like wind. My videos have been mostly shot indoors, so I can't speak for the ability of the wind guard in outdoor shoots.
I also picked up the Sony Bluetooth grip, which is an extra item and sold separately. It really does make the camera more functional, being able to serve as both a selfie-stick type grip as well as a portable tripod. I don't think I would have felt like I got full value out of the ZV-1 without it.
As I mentioned before, the software and UX is still in need of an update - having to tap over to an uppercase arrow and then tapping "abc" 3 times to get to a "C" and then back again made connecting to a WiFi network with a complicated password a real pain. This camera does support Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, but when I tried to use WiFi to send images to my PC, I was met with a prompt telling me I had to connect it using the micro-USB cable first. That can be a challenge if you have multiple PCs that you use for creation. I have a MacBook Air for on-the-go, and my iMac at my desk at home - so having to hot swap the cable essentially was a bit cumbersome to me.
The price tag of the ZV-1 means it's not marketed towards the average consumer - this is marketed towards more of a pro user who is serious about creating video and image content. It's nice and small, which make portability a breeze, and it's certainly not the most expensive "content creator" setup I've seen.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The camera takes a bit of digging to find how to use all of the settings. The options provided are excellent for getting the exact framing and depth of field desired. The auto focus works well for both video and photo mode and the manual focus allows for getting various levels of blur for the background while keeping the subject in perfect focus. The fold out display allows for verifying what is being captured while in front of the camera and is quite useful for solo recording.
The builtin microphone is surprisingly good and the included wind ruff works very well in mildly windy situations. There is also a microphone jack for using an external mic. I paired this with a Rode shotgun microphone for a more directional audio capture.
The camera is capable of charging the battery while plugged in, however this charging method is significantly slower than using an external charger. The main benefit of being able to plug the camera in is for extended recording times without worrying about battery changes.