Sony ZV-1 VLOG Camera

Sony Vlog camera ZV-1 Summary

Sony has capitalised on the rise of vlogging with the design of the Vlog camera ZV-1 appealing to Youtube stars vloggers and content creators who need an ultra compact camera which can do just about everything. At 294g this really is one of the most accomplished compact Sony cameras which impresses with 4K video as well as 20 megapixel stills. Refined Autofocus comes from 315 Phase-detect and 425 Contrast-detect AF points tracking the subject across the frame even when moving also working well when using the selfie-friendly vari-angle LCD screen.

Key features

• 4K movie recording with S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma controls for camera matching and colour grading
• Built-in ND filter for brighter days
• Works with Capture One for Sony
• Combine with free software to become a webcam
• Directional 3-capsule microphone with windscreen
• Vari-angle LCD screen for selfie images and videos
• Image stabilisation for smooth video even when walking

We’re not the only ones who raved about this ultra compact vlogging camera in our two blog posts. Firstly the Is The Sony ZV-1 All You Need For Youtube and Sony ZV-1 Review Best Vlogging Camera as it has also won the prestigious EISA Vlogging Camera 2020-2021 and RED DOT design awards.

With its 1.0-type stacked CMOS sensor. The vari-angle LCD screen combined with the newly added grip to the body provides safe and solid holding making selfie-shooting easy. Soft Skin Effect allows for natural skin tones and optimised brightness for faces. A directional 3-capsule mic and wind shield is supplied with this camera for recording high sound quality. The ZV-1 vlog camera comes with a Product Showcase Setting for perfect product review videos and Bokeh Switch for easy background blur control. Also featuring Sony's innovative Real-time Eye AF technology the ZV-1 camera locks on and tracks people's eyes even when shooting 4K movies.

Free Firmware Update*

On the 9th February 2021 Sony announced a new free firmware update for the ZV-1 camera that enables users to easily utilise video and audio for live streaming by connecting the camera directly to their PC or Mac. The firmware capitalises on the high quality video and audio for which the ZV-1 is known perfect for the rise in social media live streaming or video conferencing. Read our blog post here for tips on how to use your camera for live streaming.

Users with a Sony smartphone can also use their phones to provide a secondary display to keep up to date with comments and live feedback during a broadcast.

Download the latest Sony ZV-1 firmware here.

ZV-1 Specifications include:

Vari-angle screen selfie-shooting is easy on the compact Sony ZV-1 and allows you to check the framing while shooting. Because the screen is side-opening it doesn't interfere with an external mic attached to the Multi Interface Shoe when shooting selfies.

The newly added grip to the body provides safe and solid holding and for selfies you can comfortably hold the grip using your thumb.

A recording lamp also features on the front face of the body - the lamp glows while recording providing an at-a-glance indication of movie recording and eliminating the possibility of accidentally failing to record.

Soft Skin Effect is effective on the Sony ZV-1 camera even when movie shooting. The Soft Skin Effect reduces skin wrinkles and marks while preserving the sharpness of eyes and mouths and can be selected from the four settings OFF / LO / MID / HI according to your desired level of smooth skin effect.

In addition based on wide-ranging investigations of skin tones hues are reproduced that make the subject look healthy and natural irrespective of age gender or ethnicity.

Skin tones are optimised for both movies and stills to deliver ideal subject emphasis when using your vlogging camera for YouTube Facebook or Instagram.

Finally an original face priority AE algorithm - capable of rapid AE transitions - detects the face and adjusts the exposure to ensure it is depicted at optimal brightness even during selfie-shooting scenes with large light-dark changes.

High sound quality recording technology nurtured on Sony's advanced video camera models is deployed on the Sony Vlog Camera ZV-1. Improved sound gathering performance and noise reduction are realised by 3 mic capsules for clear sound recording at high density. Recorded sound is of high quality - close to the original - with fantastic stereo impression. In addition a genuine wind screen that greatly reduces wind noise is supplied. Attaching this wind screen to the MI shoe reduces noise in windy outdoor conditions to allow clear recording of the speaker's voice.

Bokeh Switch (C1) a fully-open or F5.6 can be switched on so even without a deep knowledge of cameras and video you can obtain the blurred background effect you desire on this Sony camera.

Another simple operation of the Product Showcase Setting enables the focus to shift rapidly from your face to a product. This is assigned by default to the C2 custom button so the appropriate settings can be recalled and applied with just one touch for convenient creation of product review videos.

Real-time Eye AF allows you to get leading-edge movie AF for vlogging! Developed for the interchangeable-lens camera Alpha series Real-time Eye AF locks on and tracks subjects with high accuracy and speed. It uses AI-based subject recognition technology to detect eye information in real-time allowing people's eyes to be recognised and tracked even when shooting 4K movies.

What’s in the box

• Sony Vlog camera ZV-1
• Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-BX1)
• Micro USB cable
• Wind Screen
• Wind Screen Adaptor
• Instruction Manual

Optional accessories

• Sony HVL-F28RM compact flash - ideal for adding artificial lighting for interviews photos and low light situations
• Sony NP-BX1 battery - keep recording for longer and never run out of power with spare rechargeable batteries
• Sony VCT-SGR1 grip - An equally compact and lightweight grip for easier handholding when shooting vlogs
• Sony ECM-W2BT Wireless Microphone - Excellent addition for professional quality audio

Sony ZV-1 Specifications