Sony - ZV-1 20.1-Megapixel Digital Camera for Content Creators and Vloggers - Black

This camera is a beast of a camera for a “point and shoot camera” category. Having myself a Sony A7RIII and a RX100 VII this ZV-1 camera does not disappoint. Since this camera is very similar to the RX100 I may be comparing in this review one which each other. But first I want to thank Sony for providing a camera with fully articulated screen (Sony please provide this for all your future cameras for now on). For the money you are paying, this camera has the auto focus system of their most expensive full frame cameras which is the best in the market in my opinion. The camera body is made of plastic but does not look or feel cheap. It did not come with a wrist strap I know many people do not use them but for this type of camera that is very small I recommend buying one and use it. This camera was design for vloggers in mind now with the fully articulated screen is better to record yourself. There are a few drawbacks regarding the screen. First you cannot see the screen if you are using polarized sunglasses. If you are going to record yourself using this camera, make sure you are using non-polarized sunglasses. The screen like all Sony screens for all their cameras is a touch screen that only works for focus, and focus tracking. It does not work to navigate thru menus (I hope that Sony implements menu navigation using the touch screen in future generations). The ZV-1 camera offers some nice features for vlogging: 1. Skin tone feature, this will smooth your skin of your face to reduce wrinkles. 2. It has a built-in neutral density filter to reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor during video if you are recording outside. With this you shall be able to reduce the shutter speed. 3. Background Bokeh option will soft blur the background while maintaining your face in focus. It has a dedicated button for this; however, you can achieve this by using the lens at 24mm at F1.8 aperture. 4. Product Showcase, if you review products on YouTube this camera will certainly is a most for you. This feature will quickly focus on the product if you locate the product in front of the camera. Long gone are the days when you put a product in front of the camera and have to say, “lets wait for the camera to focus on this”. This feature work fast and smooth is impressive. One thing to mention is that when I was testing this the eye autofocus no longer works, it transitions to face autofocus. Also, make sure when you use this feature the camera focus at your face all the time if for some reason when you are recording yourself and the camera see your hands while you are doing expressions the camera will try to focus at your hands because your hands are closer to the camera than your face. 5. It comes with picture profiles in case you want to adjust colors in post I usually do not use this but is there if you want to use it. 6. Records in 1080p 24fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 120 fps also records at 4K, 24fps and 30 fps. 7. It comes with a microphone input jack in case you want to use your own microphone for audio. The in-camera audio I believe is pretty good in my opinion. The camera came with a dead cat microphone cover that you attach to the camera hot shoe to reduce wind noise if you are recording outside. 8. Image stabilization. I know there is more to vlogging for this camera. The list is long but those are some of the main features of this camera offers. If you are going to use this camera mostly for vlogging I recommend the “Sony Vlogger Accessory Kit, product# ACCVC1”. Now, what about the photography aspect of this camera in case you are wondering if it is good for it. This camera comes with a 20.1 Megapixel 1” sensor, similar to the RX100 series. The lens is a 9.4-25.7mm which is 24-70mm equivalent in full frame, with an aperture of F1.8 / 2.8. You can only use the F1.8 aperture only at 24mm equivalent. More than 24mm it will transition to F2.8 aperture which is typical for zoom lens. Sony said that the color science has been improved in this camera compared to previous generations. From what I saw there is a difference but to me is minimal, to me the colors on Sony latest cameras are great. You have the option to save pictures as RAW and/or JPG. If you are a person that want to take advantage of all the quality and dynamic range that the sensor can give you use RAW format, if you want a quick picture you can share with friends use JPG format. You also have the option to save both formats to the SD CARD. RAW format is an unprocessed file (more like a develop negative from the old film days) and you need a RAW file editor program to process them, this can be Photoshop, Lightroom etc. I usually edit all my RAW pictures using CaptureOne Pro. At the time of this review the RAW format for the Sony ZV-1 was not supported. It usually takes a few months for CaptureOne to provide support for new cameras. This is typical, but if the sensor is like my RX100VII the dynamic range shall be pretty good. Not as good as full frame but very close to APC sensor cameras. I’m pretty pleased with the quality of the pictures I got with this camera. While testing the camera I took a picture that I really liked and printed a 12” x 16” on my Canon Pixma Pro 10. See picture sample. The detail is there, I am pretty happy with the results of the print, and I am going to hang it in the wall. Regarding low light performance I will say is ok. Anything above 1600 ISO is going to look a little bit noisy. However, having a F1.8 aperture at 24mm always helps. The only drawbacks that I experience regarding photos is that to see the screen in direct sunlight you must set the screen brightness to “sunny weather”. Having an electronic viewfinder would be better for taking pictures under direct sunlight which this camera does not have. My RX100VII have an electronic viewfinder however the RX100VII does not have a hot shoe for a flash which the ZV-1 has. I was wondering if Sony will provide in the future an optional electronic viewfinder that you can connect to the hot shoe like the Canon M6 Mark II. That would make a lot of people happy. The lack of a viewfinder would not affect the picture quality of the photos but would give you more flexibility and a would make it easier to take pictures under certain situations. Regarding battery life make sure you buy a few extra batteries because the battery wont last long. It will consume more battery during video than with pictures in my opinion. My recommendation is to always go with original batteries from Sony. The camera did not come with an external battery charger, to charge the battery, the camera came with a micro USB cable that you connect to the camera and charge the battery internally. Sony also sells an external battery charger if you are interested. Conclusion, the ZV-1 is an excellent camera for vlogging but not just for vlogging it can also create great looking photos under good lighting conditions. It has one of the most advanced autofocus systems in the planet. Its small, lightweight, and very versatile. I definitively recommend this product.

I like the camera how they simple things down is truly nice For someone that doesn’t know how to manually control cameras like a professional definitely has features that Does make it a bit special then others. I bought it and tried and it gave me what I was looking for. Don’t go just for opinion of YouTube buy it if you dk t like it return it. There’s nothing better then you actually have it and put it to use would I recommend it yes!, o lot of people say is not worth it because of the pricing but read the specs and compare it to other cameras and see if it’s worth it to you

The quality on this camera is amazing, it have so many different modes, only thing it doesn’t have a flash so I had to buy it separately. But other than that I love the camera

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!

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 ——— * 20.1 MP 1-inch Exmor CMOS sensor * BIONZ Image Processor * Insane slow-motion 960 fps (40x) * 4k video quality 24 fps and 30 fps * 3 color modes (standard, HLG for HDR, and S-Log for professional grading) Pros ——- + 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 —————— + 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 ——— -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 !!

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.

wow sony knocked it out of the park on this one! the camera is targeted for bloggers who maybe a content video creator online, the camera is small, compact and easy to use for those people who enjoy taking pictures of food or editing videos, for what you’re paying for this camera packed with features that everybody will love. pros - the camera can do 4k 24fps and 30fps - it also support 240fps, 480 and 960fps (960fps my goodness!) - 20 megapixel camera, I myself thought the image looked beautiful - amazing 180 degrees flip screen, this is huge, people who enjoy taking pictures of food would love how you can angle the screen to get a perfect view of the shot! - the built in mic sounds great the audio sounded clear - auto focus is so amazing with this camera, on setting there’s product showcase mode if you like showing things right at front and watch how fast it can focus on object. ( i’m trying to start doing video edit where I used this feature more, kept forgetting about it, but it’s amazing) - the camera also have unlimited recording limit, depending on how much battery you have, if you do enjoy recording, highly recommend to get an extra battery - the camera also come with audio wind filter, it’s a useful little piece - this camera also has setting called beauty mode, for girls who would love to make sure they looked their best, now you have 3 setting filter to improve your facial clarity. cons - doesn’t have the ability to change the lense - battery last about 1 hr ( i would buy and extra battery) - no ring focus on lense but you can still do it on the main camera Sony zv1 also comes with audio microphone port, micro usb 2.0 for charging and updating the camera, and micro hdmi port. Sony zv1 face exposure during bright outdoor is amazing, my older camera is terrible when it comes to this and even low light performance is amazing! ofcourse Sony zv1 also have the ability to transfer file from your camera to your phone, I haven’t tried transferring videos yet but i’m glad this feature is also included. I also have the Vlogger kit with this camera it’s $150 but I do believe for what you’re paying for it’s a great piece of tech, it can act as a stand and the built in button to control your camera through bluetooth is a must for vlogger, you can even zoom, record the camera from the the vlogger kit, plus it look slick together when you combined them. I didn’t think the sizes was too bulky I felt right holding it with my camera, the only down side i’d say is I wish there’s some kind of rubber grip to it, some people get sweaty hands having a grip will definitely help, beyond that I have no complaints about the vlogger kit, highly recommend you guys to get this with the camera! i’m also going to be using this camera as a streaming camera, having that ability is one of the huge reason why i’m in love with sony zv1 everything I needed and more, as you can see i didn’t put much negative things about the camera, i just didn’t see much negative features on sony zv1 for $750 this camera is worth it, i do believe this will probably going to be sony’s most favorite camera for the price. thank you sony for this amazing product, makes me want to take more videos and pictures a lot more!

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.