Sony ZV-1 Vlog Compact Camera (2020)
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Sony ZV-1 compact camera is purpose-built for video content creators and vloggers. A lightweight all-in-one solution, the ZV-1 features a 1-inch stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with DRAM chip for lightning-speed readout (the same used in the Sony A9, and A9 II). It also sports a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens with 24-70mm full-frame equivalent focal range and bright f/1.8-2.8 aperture.
The ZV-1 is Sony's first compact camera with side-opening vari-angle LCD touchscreen that makes shooting in selfie mode an effortless experience. It also offers in-body image stabilization.
For autofocus in video, Sony ZV-1 supports real-time Eye AF and real-time subject-tracking. There is also a new Face Priority autoexposure (AE) mode, and the ZV-1's color science is optimized for skin tones. These features ensure that the vlogger always looks his/her best.
Audio is essential for a good video, and the ZV-1 features Sony's latest Directional 3-capsule Mic designed for forward-directional audio capture.
Last but not least, the ZV-1 combines optical and electronic stabilization in FHD and improved Optical Steady Shot in 4K, delivering stable image for vlogs.
Ratings
What we found**
Neofiliac score 81% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Fully articulated LCD
- Extraordinary 24.0 fps burst rate
- Very light
- Supports both WiFi and Bluetooth
Cons
- Poor battery life
- 125 base ISO
- Low 20 MP resolution
- Lacks weather sealing
What external reviewers found***
External score 75% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Great build quality
- Good audio quality
- Excellent image quality
- Superb autofocus
- Good battery life
Cons
- Inbuilt viewfinder is annoying
- No video stabilization
- No headphone jack
- Middling video quality in FHD
- Not ideal for handheld vlogging
- Doesn’t work with macOS
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
HDMI + Microphone + Remote Control + USB 2.0
Wireless Connectivity
802.11ac + Bluetooth
Construction
Form Factor
Compact camera with zoom lens
Image Size
1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm)
Lens
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T
Microphone
Stereo
Sensor | Resolution
20 MP (5472 x 3648)
Sensor | Type
BSI-CMOS
Speakers
Mono
Dimensions
Size | Depth
44 mm / 1.73 in
Size | Height
60 mm / 2.36 in
Size | Width
105 mm / 4.13 in
Weight
294 g / 10.39 oz
Display
Display Diagonal
3 inch
Display Type
Fully articulated TFT LCD
Resolution
921,600 dots
Viewfinder | Type
None
Function
AE Bracketing
±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps)
Angle Of View
84.1° Diagonal | 73.7° Horizontal | 53.1° Vertical (wide) ~ 34.4° Diagonal | 28.8° Horizontal | 19.5° Vertical (tele)
Aperture
f/1.8 (wide) ~ f/2.8 (tele)
Autofocus
315 focus points
Crop Factor
2.7
Exposure Compensation
±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Exposure Mode
Auto / Aperture Priority / Shutter Priority / Manual
Filter
ND Filter: Auto / On (3 steps) / Off
Focal Length
8.9 mm ~ 25.9 mm
Focal Length (35mm Equivalent)
24 mm ~ 70 mm
GPS
No
Image Stabilization
Optical
Intervalometer
Yes
ISO Range
125 ~ 12800, extendable to 80 ISO ~ 25600 ISO
Processor
Bionz X
Touch Screen
Yes
Video Codecs
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Video Recording
4K 30p, 1080i
Weather Resistance
No
Zoom
2.9x optical zoom, Digital zoom available
Performance
Battery Life
260 shots
Max Burst Rate
24.0 fps
Min Focus Distance
50 mm / 1.97 in
Shutter Speed
1/32000 s (electronic) / 1/2000 s (mechanical) ~ 30 s
Storage
SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Production
Battery
NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
Debut
2020-05-26
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Launch Comparison
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3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
pcmag[1]
Reviewer score 82%The Sony ZV-1 is as adept for video as for stills. It offers 4K footage at 24 or 30fps, and 1080p at up to 120p. The in-camera microphone is good enough that you can probably skip using an external one. The real drawback is the lens.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Excellent in-camera mic
- 4K video
Cons
- Fingerprint sensor
- No selfie stick
rtings[2]
Reviewer score 60%The Sony ZV-1 offers excellent image quality out-of-the-box. It has a wide dynamic range and very little noise or softness even at higher ISO levels. It's lightweight and very compact, which is good for extended shooting sessions. However, depending on your choice of settings and usage patterns, its battery life is rather short.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality out-of-the-box
- Compact, lightweight design
- Excellent autofocus performance in 4k
- Impressive image quality in 4K
- Good battery life
Cons
- Middling video quality in FHD
- Lack of noise visible in dark environments
- No headphone jack
t3[3]
Reviewer score 61%The ZV1 is a decent pocket-friendly camera for everyday shooting and for travel. However, the main consideration of this camera is for vlogging and video performance. Image stabilisation is a little on the shaky side, so if you're somebody looking for ultra-smooth footage, you might be better suited to cameras with even stronger stabilisation. Sound is recorded pretty well, but again, including a windshield in the box is a nice little extra.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Easy to set up
- Good battery life
Cons
- Inbuilt viewfinder is annoying
- Not the best for vloggers
techradar[4]
Reviewer score 74%The Sony ZV-1 offers the same slow-motion modes as the RX100 series. These include 250, 500 and 1000fps options, although the latter two bring a significant hit to resolution and quality. The lack of a viewfinder or lens control ring means it's no match for its more stable RX100 stablemates.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Very good image quality
- Good battery life
- 4K/30p video
Cons
- No 4K/60p option
- No 5-minute recording limit
tomsguide[5]
Reviewer score 85%The Sony ZV-1 did a decent job in low light, but struggled in very low light. Slow motion is great on these cameras — you can shoot at 120 fps (which is about 4x as slow as real-time-shooting at 30 frames per second) It works with Windows and Mac devices, and I found the process to be seamless.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent low-light image quality
- Easy to use
- Good audio quality
Cons
- No video stabilization
- Doesn’t work with macOS
trustedreviews[6]
Reviewer score 88%The Sony ZV-1 can film in up to 4K 25p 100m. The 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens and a one-inch sensor is key to the camera's success. It’s the ideal setup specifically for the vlogging format. The only part of the camera that doesn’t meet this standard is in its navigation. It falls into the same trap of having an abundance of pages and categories that, while fine for a professional, will put off amateurs.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Superb autofocus
- Easy to set up and use
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Auto-focus could be better
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Sony ZV-1 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-zv-1. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony ZV-1 Camera Review. [rtings]. https://www.rtings.com/camera/reviews/sony/zv-1. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- ^ Sony ZV1 review. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/sony-zv1-review. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ Sony ZV-1 review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-zv-1. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Sony ZV-1 review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/sony-zv-1. 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ Sony ZV-1 Review. [trustedreviews]. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-zv-1. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
This page contains affiliate links to third-party merchants such as Amazon, eBay, and Rakuten. When you make a purchase using the supplied links, we will receive a commission.
Scores are not directly comparable across industries.
These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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