Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you’re into photography and videography, you would know that every camera model has its own purpose. The Sony ZV1F camera is designed specifically for vlogging so this is a camera that puts videography first, which is why it has the flip screen but no viewfinder. The camera would also be well suited for serious users who want to shoot straightforward video quickly, thanks to its compact design and the myriad of features available such as filters, exposures, and even creative options such as color presets, SLOG color grading and bokeh switch. Bottom line is, this is a camera that would generally save your time by having those options available for you as you record the video, as oppose to applying them in post process. I really like the small footprint of the camera. This is the camera that you can bring with you everywhere as you can easily slide it into the pocket of your cargo pants. It’s small but yet it’s powerful enough, which what gives it the edge against action cameras and mobile phones. Sony packs a 1-inch Exmor RS sensor with 20mm F/2.0 Zeiss Tessar T prime lens that gives you 20.1 megapixels for stills and up to 4K/30P with 100M bitrate. Decent specs and the lens does deserve the Zeiss’ big name. It’s important to note that you can only shoot stills in JPEG. It would be great if the camera can shoot RAW through future updates, but this seems to be unlikely to happen given that this camera is not primarily intended for photography. As expected, the camera gives you fairly fast auto focus response. Sony gives you active stabilization that will crop your video in exchange for a more stable clip. The active stabilization is ok, however it’s not as effective when walking in fast pace as I would expect it to be, considering what EIS can do these days. Also, I would like it more if the camera has a headphone jack so we can monitor the audio as we record the video but then again, we’re talking about a camera designed for straightforward shooting. As for Image quality, it is good. It’s sharp enough for a small camera. However, the rolling shutter is noticeable when you pan the camera a bit fast. Since this is a Sony, it works well with Sony’s external mic that makes use of Sony’s proprietary hot shoe. When paired with Sony’s new Vlogger shotgun microphone, you’d be getting clear audio with no hassle involved since the hot shoe supplies both the audio connection and power. I should say that even without using external microphone, the camera’s built-in microphone performs well and it is good enough for most users. As it is the case with other Sony vlogging cameras, you can use the camera as a webcam, which is a very nice and useful feature to have. For sure this camera performs better and gives you better image quality than your typical webcam in terms of low light capabilities and sharpness. To sum up, this camera lives up to what it is intended for; as long as you’re okay with some of its limitations.

battery charger was missing. such an issue shows poor quality control at Best Buy stores.

Horrible at downloading once you record content. Takes hours to download. Not happy at all.

My package never came and they never tried to help resolve this issue

The Sony ZV-1F Vlog camera is the perfect setup for almost all types of content creation. It is small, light, and very easy to hold. The full kit to get the best setup would also include the Sony Vlogger Accessory Kit, and also the Sony Vlogger Shotgun Mircrophone. This review will just be covering the camera. If you are not getting an accessory kit which includes an SD card, you will need to buy an SD card along with this camera as one is NOT included with just the camera. Out of the box, The camera is pretty easy to set up and you will just need to install the battery and an SD card. When powering on, you will go through the standard setup of date/time, then you will have access to the menu to be able to configure the camera in a whole plethora of options, like setting up bluetooth and wifi connections, Video resolution and recording fps, Image resolution and ISO, etc. It takes some playing around with and studying up on if you are not familiar with cameras in general. It has a 3 inch screen that is very bright and great clarity. It can be flipped around to view yourself in selfie mode you could say, and easy to watch your video as you record a vlog. It has been a perfect setup for me with the mic and accessory kit as I have been able to start content creating with my wife for Youtube. The camera does come with a windsock sits over the built in microphone. It does a pretty good job of keeping wind noise out of videos. The microphone that is built in is ok for some general use photography and video, but when you are vlogging or content creating, you will want something more directional like the Sony Shotgun Microphone. The regular microphone will still do fine if you are only able to start with just the camera. The camera itself boasts a 20.1 Megapixel lens with a large amount of digital zoom (44x) but only 2.7x Optical zoom. I would have liked to see more optical zoom but this is a good amount for a non SLR camera It can record 4k HDR Video at 30fps and 1080p Video at 60fps. It can also do slow motion with HFR at 960fps, which is super fun to do. The built in image stabilization does a pretty good job at keeping the camera steady while walking or just moving it around a bit. Auto exposure does a pretty good job at consistent illumination and filling when moving around lighter and darker areas while filming. Connecting through Wifi lets you transfer photo's and videos off the device and easily manage the others Overall I am pleasantly surprised with this camera and its functionality and image and video quality. The sound quality from the built in microphone is overall good, but I would recommend upgrading to the Shotgun Microphone. I highly recommend this camera for content creators and vloggers. It's hard to go wrong with this option. It is fun to use, easy, and great quality!

This store doesn’t have a separate line for pickups. There was only one cashier. It took way longer than it should for me to checkout

The camera isn’t making vlogging easy for me and didn’t make editing easy

This camera is perfect for what I need it for, which is taking basic videos and making vlogs for work. The camera has a steady shot and is light and easy to use. The included microphone puff doesn't look like the picture, it looks like a dead rat on top of my camera. Overall, this is a great beginner camera for vlogging.

I think the Sony ZV-1F camera is a perfect entry level vlogger camera. The features are slimmed down so that you can get started quick and easy. It does still have a lot of settings that you can dive into and grow into as you learn more. Personally I don't need access to a bunch of settings for my purposes. It also has some of the familiar settings that come with all Sony cameras which I'm primarily used to. The touch screen is very responsive, clear, and bright. There are very few buttons keeping with that simplistic approach. I liked the dedicated button for defocused or clear background. Capping the robustness of the camera it does not have interchangeable lenses. This allows you to get into events a lot easier but limits it's flexibility. I love how light it is. It seems kind of cheap but I'll accept that trade off to help prevent arm fatigue when on the go. However I think if Sony included some gripped texture it would have added a lot. The video seemed a little jittery when moving too fast. I wish that was smoothed out some. There is a mode for slow/quick motion which works good but since it's not running at real time there is no audio. So if you want fast motion in real time with audio you'll have to settle with some jitter. However focusing on products up close was fast and looked really good. I was surprised how good the stock microphone is. I didn't use it in a noisy location but it picked up my voice loud and clear about three feet away. This camera has a cold shoe but I really wish it was a hot shoe so it's easier to connect a shotgun microphone. In the realm of picture taking I was very happy. The pictures take very fast so you can catch every moment. This also makes it so action shots don't get very blurry. The dark pictures lighten up pretty good and are only a little grainy. There's just a little bit of zoom so you either need to be capturing large areas or be able to get close to your subject. I think this is a fun camera to try out a new hobby or profession with. It has become my go to camera.

BROKE THE 2ND WEEK I GOT IT , THIS IS ridiculous PLEASE GET PROTECTION PLAN ALSO

Better off with a $20 camera from the toys section of target

For content creators like Twitch streams who want a camera this is a night and day improvement over a webcam as it gives you a better a lens and potentially a better output to capture yourself or your content that looks sharp and more professional the Webcam you use for your Zoom calls at work. Its compact enough that it can fit in even the most crowded setups without taking up too much space but with all the great features on a Sony camera. It can also double as a webcam (only at 720 though) so if you need a quick cam for a zoom call or discord, it can be easily used, but for me as a hobby streamer on Twitch, its better to get your own Micro-hdmi to hdmi cable/adapter to a cam capture card to use the HDMI output to OBS and get 2160p output directly which looks worlds better. It focuses easy and the inbuilt mic can be used in a pinch if you need too as well, comes with a wind screen so that if you are using it in a windy environment you can help make it not sound like your in a wind tunnel. Overall I'm really happy with this for my content creation/twitch streaming and look a lot better in my videos for it. Since it uses a standard tripod mount its really easy to setup. Overall I've been very happy with it.

The Sony - ZV-1F Vlog Camera is a great vlogging camera for the beginner to the experienced. It has a 1” image sensor and can shoot in 4K. It also has a 4x digital zoom and in camera stabilization for steady shots. It is compact and weighs just over half a pound which is very important when you are vlogging for minutes at a time and have to redo shots. The display is a 3” touchscreen that is responsive when tapping different commands. Flip it towards yourself when vlogging to get that perfect shot. Speaking of perfect shots the camera takes videos at the perfect length when holding it away at arm’s length. You are perfectly in frame when viewing yourself. The Sony ZV 1F also has a bokeh effect which can be activated with a touch of a button which is very convenient. The camera also has a soft skin effect which can be used to adjust skin smoothness for those of you who want to look your best. You can also pair the Sony ZV 1F with a few accessories like the Sony shotgun microphone and handheld remote/tripod for the ultimate vlogging experience.

Gorgeous camera, amazing features and really fun and easy to use. It links to your phone and has so many incredible features. Not heavy either. Would have loved more color options but its a great camera.

THIS… is the Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera, and yes, it can still take good pictures! Like any other Sony camera, it comes in a sleek classic black frame with a front-facing fold-out screen so you can see yourself on the other side of the camera. Equipped with an MI shoe, a removable battery and all the features needed to start your rise to vlogging fame. With all that said… Lets cut into the Sony ZV-1F! MI shoe - This has to be my favorite feature by far on any camera - coming from a RODE shotgun microphone where I had to make sure it was charged, the 3.5mm cable was plugged in, and making sure I had an extra of each - this killed all those headaches by removing those points of conflict. At the end of the day, reliability is the most essential trait a media product can have because, if you don't get the shot... Then it doesn't matter what camera/mic/setup you have. This feature is so good in my opinion, even if a RODE or other brand microphone was cheaper at the same quality, I would still pick this to avoid the headache of a dead microphone or a missing/broken 3.5mm cable (and why is it so hard to find a 3.5mm cable ONLY when yours breaks or goes missing!). This camera is packing redundancy, and this is one of the best form factor features on any camera I have seen. Image Quality - This is a 4k camera, and yes it is also at the same time not the highest quality 4k sensor sony makes. That being said, the quality of this camera sensor is more than enough for any popular media platform. The camera comes with several software features as well such as a bokeh mode as well as preset filters for your image, I can also attest that this camera records very well in harsh and low light and was quite surprised. The camera also comes with industry standard features such as the ability to choose the rate and quality of your video with 4x digital zoom (that is quite good!), image stabilization and auto/eyefocus. Have I mentioned it can record 4k at 120fps? This is quite the packed sensor and especially at this price. Build Quality- The camera comes with several features that one would expect on a modern high end camera, usb-c port (that also charges the battery), 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth, WIFI, and a Micro hdmi port. On the bottom of the camera you will find your threaded plug and your port to open for the battery/sd card. The camera feels nice, light and ultra portable thanks to its small and nimble body. Battery- battery life is great, the battery price….$50 to replace. While that just is the nature of the beast, I did not have any issues with battery life while filming and saw the battery as lasting all day - I would keep an extra on deck just in case, but battery life was never an issue for me. Complaints- This camera is pretty good so I had to get really nitpicky to find an issue, and I was really only able to come up with one - when connecting to Bluetooth remotes (such as Sony's very own shooting grip) I had to go into a random Bluetooth menu and turn ON the ability for it to be controlled by connected Bluetooth devices. Not sure why this wasn't turned on out of the box or toggles on when Sony’s own control device connects to it - but it is something I had to go into the settings (which to be fair are very well laid out) and turn on. Final Thoughts- This is a great camera to start recording video on seriously, and while it isn’t the highest end camera - it also isn’t several thousands of dollars while also competing with them. I was genuinely shocked at its quality and effectiveness in the field and will keep it in my personal arsenal as it serves a good purpose even in the presence of its bigger brothers because this camera is SO portable. I would recommend this to anyone looking at starting a videographer hobby as this works so well for social media content. As always, BestBuy has excellent customer service and a great return policy, so you never have to worry about buying a product that you don’t like.

It's a nice camera for Vlogging, overall it's very simple to use and simple to set up. The hardest part of setting it up was getting it to talk to/ function with the tripod, but even that was very easy to use. There are some neat functions to it, the fact that it came with a windscreen is an overall plus in and of itself. The camera has a great touchscreen that makes life a lot easier. It has a magnificent zoom. The one down side is that it does not have an interchangeable lens, but it makes up for that with the 4K video footage and its amazing ability to detect faces. The image stabilization is great especially when walking vlogging. The touch screen is very clear and displays so much information it makes, creation so much easier. Overall this camera is a great vlogging camera with so many different features, and its ease of use m makes this a great buy. One of the other great things that I forgot to mention was the fact, when recording there is no more guessing or looking for a red dot, there is red rectangle around the screen when it's recording!

This webcam exceeded my expectations. The picture quality is sharp, colors look natural, and it stays clear even in low light. Setup took less than a minute — just plugged it in and it worked right away. The built-in mic is good for calls, though I pair it with a headset for longer meetings. Great value for anyone needing a reliable webcam for work, streaming, or online classes.

Before this camera came out I wanted to get the Sony ZV-1. I thought it was the perfect camera for content creation and causal filming like for family events and such. But my issues were that the lens was too tight for selfie filming as in not wide enough even with you holding the camera as far as your arm can go. And also the price being nearly $800 not including taxes and even shipping is quite a steep price for a simple point and shoot camera. So I decided not to get it after all. But then all sudden this camera, the Sony ZV-1F came into my recommended. And this camera is pretty everything the Sony ZV-1 should've been for me. The lens is much in comparison as you won't be pulling your arm as far it would go to get a decent shot of yourself as the lens is quite wide which is perfect, and also the price tag at $499 is far more reasonable then nearly $800. I was fortunate enough to get my ZV-1F during a sale which was a $100 bucks off, along with the vlogger kit which was $50 bucks off the original price of $150. Even with tax the overall bundle for this camera and vlogger kit was around $540, which is a fantastic deal I feel! The build quality is great, having worked with mainly DSLRs this camera is very cute and a very nice change of pace. The image is great, which took me by surprise as I didn't expect much from the small sensor this camera has. And I heard the the camera does falter in regards to it's picture taking ability compared to the Sony ZV-1 which allows you take pictures in raw which allows more flexibility in editing, the Sony ZV-1F only takes picture in JPEG which doesn't allow the same flexibility. But I feel most people including myself aren't getting this take professional quality pictures and just want a good quality camera to record with and it succeeds in that. And by my own unprofessional photographer eyes who doesn't edit photos, the pictures I took with this still came out gorgeous I feel. This camera is absolutely worth considering for those looking for a good quality camera that's easy to use for online content creation and for casual recording of special occasions and family events. It might not be professional level camera, but this little fella still packs a punch where it counts.

Love this camera. Easy to use, light weight, great videos too

Sony Vlog ZF-1F I’m new to moving to dedicated Content creation / Vlogging. I have used my cell phone and my dslr camera for videos and pictures I have taken over the years in my travels. I hope to help anyone getting into Content creation / Vlogging. 1. The Sony is a bit hard to control when you first get to using it when you are coming from a Nikon. But it’s a quick learning curve. 2. Need to charge the camera first fully before using. I will say this. Read all the directions and follow the help tutorials that Sony offers. This helped me with syncing the camera with my smartphone to use for remote recording using my s22 ULTRA. Certain setting in the camera to be aware of is still image storage on your mobile phone can be adjusted in the camera 2MB or original. This makes sure when you are looking at the image its what the original image is what the camera took. 3. The audio mic wind covering is Sony making sure your creation has good audio even when the weather might not be the best. In the direct wind it cut the noise down substantially. 4. I also have the Sony Vlogger accessory kit which increases the ability to remote activate the camera. Just for anyone wondering, you can use this grip and your mobile phone at the same time. I used the grip for recording when I was not in the shot. But switched over to the phone app to start or stop the recording when I wanted to be in the video. But it also cuts out the need to run in frame. Setting up the camera and making sure everyone is in the frame and starting recording made so much more sense. 5. The camera has many photo modes and video modes will take awhile to get used to it all. I will say I left it all in auto while recording Videos and had zero issues. 6. Quick boot ups allow less time missing any special moments you want to capture. I still cannot get over how much the Sony ZF-1F made my vids easier to get done. I can't wait to use this for a big trip I have coming up. Not having to adjust color as much and very little post video editing is a major plus. I would definitely recommend The Sony ZV-1F.