Sony ZV-1 – A Compact Vlogging Camera – 2020

May 26, 2020… Sony released a camera made for vloggers… the Sony ZV-1…

Price is US$750 at at May 28, 2020.

This is a point-and-shoot compact camera. No interchangeable lens. Very good for vloggers who prefer everything to be automatically adjusted without lugging heavy equipment around…

…but is it good for smartphone vloggers thinking of getting a bigger camera? See my personal opinion below.

What are the main features?

Intelligent autofocus… Locks on to your subject’s eye and tracks its movement. Sony cameras excel in autofocus for video recording.
Stabilization… Uses Sony’s trusted SteadyShot technology. Do we still need gimbals?
Automatic brightness control… And skin tone adjustment. I love automatic features.

What are some special features?

One-button Instant Bokeh. Press the button and the background turns blurry.
Product Showcase Setting. The focus changes between the product and your face instantly. Great for product reviewers like me👍.
Clear Audio Recording. Capture only the sounds you want even in a noisy environment.

What are the good and the bad?

Other good features… Flip screen for selfie videos, 4K recording, 1-inch image sensor, Includes microphone input jack. 👍

Not so good features… the 24-70mm lens is very limited (not good for landscape scenes and real estate interior wide shots), no headphones output jack for listening to the recording quality.

The rest of the specifications…

20.1MP stacked back-illuminated 1″ Exmor RS CMOS sensor w/ DRAM
Large aperture 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens
BIONZ X with front-end LSI for perceived resolution
A high bitrate 4K movie with full pixel readout and no pixel binning
Image stabilization suppresses shake even while walking
Fast Hybrid AF, Real-Time Eye-AF and Real-time AF tracking
Side-articulating LCD screen for easier to compose selfie shots
Quickly switch between two modes of defocused background bokeh
Product Showcase Setting transitions focus from face to object
Face-priority AE keeps faces bright in backlit or dim condition
Clear Voice w/ 3-Capsule directional mic and windscreen accessory4
Standard 3.5mm mic. Jack, plus MI (Multi-interface) shoe
Optimized color with enhanced skin-tone reproduction
Pro video functions incl. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) and S-Log3/2
Interval Shooting for stunning time-lapse videos
Super slow-motion movie HFR (High frame rate) up to 960 fps (40x)
Imaging Edge Desktop and Imaging Edge Mobile app compatible8
Works with ‘Movie Edit add-on’ for Imaging Edge mobile app8
Wi-Fi for easy file transfer and remote camera control
Up to 24fps fast continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking
Fast hybrid (contrast and phase detection) autofocus system
Built-in ND to control exposure in bright light conditions
Compact lightweight and easy to handle body grip
Easy-to-push REC button with front-facing Rec. tally light
Soft Skin Effect enhances face appeal for still and movie

Accessories for Sony ZV-1

Here are some accessories that will go well with the Sony ZV-1…

Sony VCT-VPR1 Compact Remote Control Tripod

Is this a good smartphone vlogger upgrade?

Personally, I think my Samsung Galaxy S10 Android smartphone can do more especially with the ultrawide lens. My phone is also always here with me for the spontaneous vlogging moment. The videos are instantly editable and sharable on the go. I don’t have to worry about carrying extra batteries, chargers, and memory cards.

If you prefer a device that is a dedicated camera and not a phone, then go for the Sony ZV-1 vlogging camera.

Source: https://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/zv-1

If you already have a smartphone with 3 lenses at the back and want to learn how to vlog professionally with it, then check out my online course… the Smartphone Video Class.

Do you prefer vlogging with a smartphone or with a traditional camera?

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