Sony Zv-1 Vlog Camera With Fast And Precise Focus Transition, Pro-Quality Bokeh, Product Showcase Setting, Vari Angle Screen
4K Hdr Video, Selfie And More Dsc-Zv1, Black
- The ZV 1 is designed for vlogging, featuring a vari angle LCD screen, recording lamp for selfie shooting, secure grip and easy operation.
- A premium camera, with Soft Skin Effect, natural skin tones and optimised brightness for faces.
- Record high sound quality a directional 3 capsule mic and wind shield is supplied with this camera.
- Featuring Product Showcase Setting for perfect product review videos and Bokeh Switch for easy background blur control.
- Sony’s innovative Real time Eye AF technology locks on and tracks people’s eyes, even when shooting 4K movies.
- Dynamic video through slow motion 40X Slow Mo
- Time lapse for that cinematic effect Capture from 1 60 seconds apart.
Features
Versatile framing
From selfies and portraits to landscapes and snapshots, the vlog camera ZV-1 II lets you frame your shots exactly how you want, thanks to its wide-angle zoom lens. 18 mm is great for selfies, while 50 mm is ideal for portraits and snapshots. What’s more, the maximum apertures of F1.8 with the wide-angle and F4 with the telephoto give a smooth background bokeh, adding all the atmosphere you need.
Creative colours
No experience is needed to make an impressive vlog with all the right visuals from the outset. My Image Style lets you simply tweak brightness and colour while viewing what you plan to shoot — all without having to wade through menus. For shots with more creative colour and mood, Creative Look offers ten presets so simply select one that matches your vision.
Give your vlog a dramatic touch
Skip post-production editing — just tap the screen to turn everyday moments into cinematic imagery. With the Cinematic Vlog Setting, the camera automatically shoots in a Cinemascope aspect ratio at 24 fps — the film industry standard. Then, you can add the perfect touch of colour to your footage simply by selecting from five LOOKs and four MOODs for instant, professional results. Use AF Transition Speeds to choose from three levels of focusing speed, allowing you to bring your subject into focus at the perfect pace for adding some drama.
Impressive image quality
The ZV-1 II’s compact body is equipped with a large 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS image sensor developed by Sony. This stacked image sensor also includes a DRAM memory chip for ultra-fast data processing of the approximately 20.1 effective megapixels. It all adds up to supremely high-resolution and high-sensitivity imaging that far exceeds that of a typical smartphone.
Shoot like a pro
The ZV-1 II is both compact and lightweight, but there’s no compromise on image quality. Its large 1.0-type image sensor means it can capture professional-level footage, shooting in XAVC S format in 4K resolution at up to 30p or, for expressive slow motion, up to 120p in Full HD resolution. It also supports simultaneous proxy recording for efficient post-production workflows.
Real-time Tracking
Focus on what you want. Activate Real-time Tracking to follow a subject of your choice. The camera recognises colours, brightness, and subject distance, as well as facial information to keep track of the subject so you can concentrate on grabbing the best angles. Just tap the subject on the screen to activate Touch Tracking for precise focus tracking.
Accurate autofocus
The ZV-1 II automatically makes sure you always stay in focus. It recognises human faces and eyes, so it keeps track of the main subject without wandering off onto other subjects. The Eye AF feature can even be set to track animal faces and eyes.
Always look your best
Look your best any time you’re shooting. Without any special settings, the ZV-1 II will accurately capture your skin tone, ensuring a healthy and natural look. Face Priority AE will automatically brighten your face so there’s no need to worry about lighting either. There’s also a Soft Skin Effect selectable to OFF/ Low/ Mid /High to adjust your skin smoothness.
Powerful image stabilisation
Shaky footage can ruin the best of vlogs, but the ZV-1 II is built to let you capture great footage even while you’re walking and shooting handheld. Active Mode helps to minimise camera blur, giving you steadier shots without the need for any post-shoot editing.
Built for clear voice recording
With the ZV-1 II, capturing high quality audio is even easier. In [Auto] mode, the new built-in Intelligent 3-Capsule Mic switches the direction of the built-in mic from [All Directions] to [Front] when the camera recognises a human face in the frame. Or you can switch manually to [Front] for selfies or [Rear] when shooting with narration. There’s also the option of attaching the supplied windscreen to reduce wind noise and capture clearer audio outdoors.
Vast range of audio options
Raise your audio quality even further by connecting external microphones. For example, the ECM-G1 compact shotgun microphone clearly captures sound in front of the camera and can be seamlessly attached without a cable. Or take your pick from Sony’s extensive line-up of microphones, designed to suit a broad range of applications and enable you to take your vlog to the next level.
Grows with your creativity
With the ZV-1 II, it’s easy to take the next steps towards boosting your videography skills. Just like professional Cinema Line or α series cameras, the ZV-1 II supports S-Log3 and S-Gamut3.Cine picture profiles, allowing you to maximise your captured dynamic range and giving you even greater flexibility for post-production.
Built-in ND filter
The ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 18-50mm F1.8-4 zoom lens is specifically designed for vlogging on the go. It has a built-in neutral density (ND) filter to control light exposure by three stops, to give images greater expressiveness in bright light. The lens maintains sharpness throughout the zoom range, allowing you to take capture all the shots you need to bring your vlog to life.
Simple, intuitive control
Even first-time camera users and vloggers can jump straight into shooting with the ZV-1 II; there’s no need to study complex settings. Touch function items, such as recording, self-timer and the Product Showcase Setting, are displayed on the main screen and are easily adjustable. This is also great for shooting selfies or other situations when you can’t reach the physical buttons on the camera.
Effortlessly portable
Small and lightweight, the camera is designed to be taken out anywhere — just like your smartphone. Weighing just 292 g, capture everyday life with ease and grab content on the go.
Always know when you’re recording
Say goodbye to accidentally missing the action. When you press the MOVIE button or the record icon on the LCD screen, the recording lamp glows red and a red frame appears on the screen, letting you know instantly that you’re capturing what counts. The rotatable screen means you can also track recording while shooting from any angle.
Stand out with just a tap
The ZV-1 II is designed for easier content creation. Just tap to activate the Product Showcase Setting and the camera will automatically focus on the product you’re holding with no additional gestures needed. Or use Bokeh Switch to get a softly blurred background — simply select [Defocus] to make the subject stand out, or [Clear] to keep the entire image in focus.
Selfies made simple
Let the ZV-1 II do the work for you to capture great group moments. When taking selfies in iAUTO mode with two or three people, the camera automatically adjusts the setting to keep everyone’s faces sharp and clear
Simple smartphone connection
Connecting your camera and your smartphone has never been easier thanks to the Creators’ App mobile application. Data transfers continue in the background even if the smartphone display sleeps or a different app is launched. You can also turn your smartphone or PC into a remote control to operate the camera from a distance.
Simple streaming
Transform the ZV-1 II into a high-quality web camera by simply connecting a compatible device via USB. The large 1.0-type image sensor and Creative Look function ensure vibrant visuals.
- Ultra-wide 18-50mm zoom lens gets it all in the frame
Batteries : 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
Product Dimensions : 10.54 x 5.99 x 4.67 cm; 300 g
Date First Available : 24 May 2023
Manufacturer : Sony
ASIN : B0C62F451G
Item model number : ZV1M2/B
Ultra-wide 18-50mm zoom lens gets it all in the frame › See more product details
Sony ZV-1 II Vlog camera for Content Creators and Vloggers, large 1-inch sensor with wide angle 18-50mm zoom lens and packed with easy-to-use features, specifically designed for vloggers and online video creators
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CHIRAG MEHTA –
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tripod missing
Had purchased as a gift but came to my attention that I Have not received the Free Wireless Grip remote control tripod
Mariah –
Amazing Buy
Went on a vacation and thought of buying this camera. Records, beautiful in 4K and takes really good pictures. Highly recommend.
Faja –
Hubiera Estado mejor la Osmo Pocket 3 pero…De menos saca muy bien la chamba.
Sigue estando muy buena, su conectividad no es mala para las necesidades de uno. Su imagen muy clara, pero es oportuno decir que su entrada de audio es un poco anticuada ya solo como opción el 3.5 trs ya no es la solución, le falta más digitalización y que el USB c no nomas sea de carga, sino que reconozca micrófonos.La tiene difícil Sony, pero por lo pronto, saco muy bien mi trabajo ante la falta de la otra cámara que me salió defectuosa.
One person found this helpful
Albert & Jan Brunelle –
Quality product from Sony
This is my backup camera for my Sony A7R V and in my first day of using the camera I am very pleased with both the photo and video quality. I mostly do landscape photography and not a lot of videos and I am very pleased with the RAW photo quality that the camera produces. A few touch up. in Photoshop and the photos look great with nice colour and great detail. I also purchased the Sony Vlogger kit to make a nice compact kit for travel. I highly recommend this combo.
hashem Khalid –
الحرارة
الكام ممتازة في كل شي لكن عيبها انه البطارية بسرعة تنتهي و ترتفع درجة حرارة الكام وتطفي علبك اذا كنت تصور مقطع فيديو
3 people found this helpful
Adrián Guardado –
La mejor para grabar contenido
Sin duda la mejor inversión, graba mejor que el iPhone 15 pro Max ( yo lo tengo) ya que la cámara da un toque más profesional para crear contenido, no te la pienses y cómprala hoy !
3 people found this helpful
W –
recomended ! 👍🏻
best camera ever !!
Leonie Johnson –
Best camera!
This is my new favourite camera. It’s so easy to take it everywhere and the quality is amazing. This is the only camera I use now for content.
Steven Mack –
Great compact camera
This is a great camera for the price. It has a lot of features for its size and price point. It is a bit limited on wide angle shots, but that is to be expected with an all-in-one camera. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase. The corresponding App is useful, a bit clunky, but still better than not having it.
2 people found this helpful
andre cave –
Heart broken,
Heart broken, was expecting betterwas really hoping this would be good, camera was great for when standing still , but honestly lousy night shots, I’m not expecting perfect but it should be equally good as a phone camera, it was to big of a difference to keep , rather update my phone
3 people found this helpful
Lori –
Great Camera
Great camera. Takes Great photos and makes great videos
2 people found this helpful
Ingrid –
Excelente calidad de imagen
Me encantó, las fotos están increíbles y los videos igual, la verdad no me gustaba que no trajera flash incluido pero compré una luz externa para adaptarla y me encantó
2 people found this helpful
Statuzgirl –
Love this camera
It’s lightweight, easy to set up, image quality is great. Also easy to sync with phone via the app.
2 people found this helpful
Ly –
Dent on lens edge.
The camera seems to be working but seeing the dent so visible on the lenses edge it must been dropped and who knows what else could there be. No manual as well. For $100+ less than a new one buy save yourself a hassle losing your time. I returned it the next day and got my refund right away and bought in new Sony Sv1’M11 in an accredited store . Must buy a separate cord C and SIM card to use it.
4 people found this helpful
Francis Doody –
Great camera upgrade
The software in this camera has made it easier to make videos. My old camera had issues focusing on my face and the auto tracking helps keep image quality great if ur solo shooting.
One person found this helpful
Chris –
Not for Everyone
I have a Youtube channel where I do DIY videos and I thought that having this camera will be a good way to improve my videos but it is not that simple.This camera is designed for Vlogger. So if you like to vlog where camera is pointing at your face and then you point it to your surroundings then you will be happy with it. It is also a good camera if you are doing product reviews. My channel is DIY where I fix things and this camera will lose focus when I move around. When I point to parts, it would most likely focus on my hand instead of the parts I am pointing at. It will be fine if you have another person taking the video and can make adjustment but I only use a tripod and it is not working out well for me. Also, the battery life is too short and the picture is grainy on low light.
30 people found this helpful
Pablo –
Great so far, but NO CHARGER INCLUDED?? (Update)
No other complaints besides the fact you can’t use it unless you already have a USB C charger ready. If I’m paying almost a grand for this camera, the least they could do is include a brick and cable.Update: I’m still mad there’s no cable, but after using this for so long it’s really a good camera. Came in handy so many times. It really does take beautiful photos, definitely watch some tips in photography if this is your first time owning a camera and you’ll get the hang of it
19 people found this helpful
Kyle –
Great compact video camera!
Wanted something lightweight and compact for video use when traveling. Initial camera setup was a breeze. Bought extra batteries and an external mic, since those were some of the standard flaws I saw in reviews. All in all, pleased for now. Can’t wait to use it!
3 people found this helpful
Stephen –
Great in the daytime, not great in low light
I’ve had this camera for a few months now and I have to say: it’s fantastic in the daytime. I took it to the zoo, on a trip, and just snap photos here and there, and it’s amazing. The video quality is also great, with the slow motion being so smooth.But once there’s even a hint of low light, the images do not look nice at all. I’ve tried the automated settings for this and they still look unspectacular and dull. The good news is that they’re high megapixel quality images, so it’s easy to transfer to your phone and edit the picture so that you brighten it up and pull out that image. This has worked thus far and it looks really nice after being edited. But I wish it came with a built in flash or something. Anything, really, to help aid it in low light.The image stabilization is really great. The wide lens is fantastic and captures everything. And the zoom is much further than it looks and has come in handy a lot.The focus is hit or miss. I’ve come across many instances when I’m furiously tapping the screen trying to get it to focus on something specific, but it just keeps popping in and out of focus and clinging on to whatever it wants instead. So I’m not a big fan of the autofocus. I wish it had a focus ring on the lens for quick and easy manual focus. That alone would make this a 5 star camera for me. The built in manual focus setting is not intuitive whatsoever. You have to go turn it on in the settings then it zooms in a lot and you change the focus notch by notch with the wheel. It’s annoying and I don’t see any practical use for it.All in all I’m happy with the camera, but at this price point I think it’s missing basic features like a focus ring and built in flash. Those two things like I said would take this camera to the next level.=== UPDATE JULY 29,2024 ===After having this camera for about 6 months and trying to buy ugly 3rd party flashes for it, cases to make up for the fact that this thing has no notches in it to attach a body strap to it, and other accessories to try making up for its shortcomings…I had to look in the mirror and admit to myself that this thing is not worth investing another dime into. It is not good at photography after 7pm and that’s insane, considering it’s almost $800.The point is: if you’re not a vlogger and you’re instead just a normal human being who wants a camera that is great at photography and video…please keep researching. At this price point you have SO MANY great options.For me it came down to the SONY RX100ii and the Lumix G85. I ended up getting the G85 because the RX100ii was over $1000 and just seemed like a beefed up ZV1 (even though it’s older than the ZV1), so I didn’t wanna make the same mistake twice. The G85 was HALF THE PRICE of this camera (can be found on ebay for about $300-$400 with lenses) and has a larger sensor, built in flash, great image stabilization, an EVF, interchangeable lenses (hello sweet sweet manual focus!), and takes incredible video…so it was a no brainer for me.But feel free to do your own research and make sure you get a camera that meets your needs. Don’t make the same mistake I did and feed into hype. At the end of the day it’s your money. Don’t waste it.
12 people found this helpful
Adam Gorski –
Buyer be aware
The camera does not come with a sim card, nor the USB C cable that is needed to charge the battery while it’s inside the camera. So, without those two items, you will not be able to use the camera when you receive it. Also, the Manual Focus setting is very tough to use, and that feature is very important to me. I shoot a lot of fireworks videos at a distance, and sometimes auto-focus can’t keep up with the proper focusing. I like to use Manual Focus, Infinity, when doing that sort of videoing, and that setting is difficult to access and set with this camera. Getting to the Manual Focus, Set Focus, is pretty easy, but the camera constantly, instantly drops out of the Set Focus option, very quickly, and before the proper focus is set. And, if Infinity can be accessed without the camera dropping out before that option can be set, there is no indicator on the main screen indicating it has been set properly, and going back into Set Focus often shows a shorter focus length has been set. So, Manual Focus in video is virtually a no-go. Fortunately, the Auto Focus seems to be pretty rapid, and consistent, so I’ll try that to see how it goes, but manual focus is usually my preference, and this camera just doesn’t allow that with ease or confidence it’s been set properly. So, buyer be aware. There are some things about this camera you need to be aware of. I wish I could give it a higher rating, since I’ll be trying to use it, but I simply can’t.
10 people found this helpful
plokiju –
Excellent Quality, Compact Size, but No HFR
This is the stripped down version of the camera, which is perfect for me. They only include the camera, wind muff, battery, and manuals. I already have plenty of cables, chargers, and accessories from previous cameras, so I don’t need them. I’d rather save the money. I also don’t need a slick retail box. This arrived in a white box with minimal printing.THINGS I LIKE:I’m so glad they made a video-centric camera instead of photo camera that can do basic video functions. This has great features for videographers, such as external mic input, skin smoothing, built in ND filter, touch screen, color styles, full manual control for videos, and product showcase mode if you like making product reviews. The new menu system is much better than my old Sony A5100. There are many more options, but they’re easier to find, and better organized. The touch screen is a more like a smart phone now, where you can swipe to access commonly used settings.THINGS I DON’T LIKE:This camera has a fairly short battery life, so you should definitely carry spares. Fortunately, this uses the same battery as the Sony X3000, so I already have spares.The thing I hate the most is the S&Q button. It’s next to the power button, and they’re both the same size. I always end up pressing the wrong button if I’m not looking at the buttons. Also the wind muff covers the power button, making things harder. I wish the S&Q button was a rotating dial instead. In addition, the camera starts up in the last mode before shutdown. So, if you mistakenly set it to slow motion before turning it off, it will start in slow motion the next time you turn it on. I don’t always check the little icon before I begin shooting.I’m not a fan of the clear image zoom, because some fizzling is visible in videos. So, if you use optical zoom only, the range is limited to 18 to 50mm. I don’t mind it too much, because this does have the wider lens for vlogging, and I love wide lenses for landscape photography.You can hear the sound of the zoom lens when set to high speed. At normal speed, I can’t hear it, but the zoom is very, very slow.NO HIGH FRAME RATE VIDEO:Unfortunately, they removed the HFR function that was available in the original ZV1. So, no more slow motion video at 1000 fps. I was really disappointed in that, because this costs more than the original ZV1, yet it can’t do framerates higher than 120 fps. Still, the slow motion videos are very clean. It’s almost as nice as the normal video.CONCLUSION:I do most of my videos in full auto mode, and this handles everything well. The videos turn out great, and the auto focus is fast and reliable. It takes the worry out of camera work. If I need to use manual mode, this has everything I need.I love the 1 inch sensor. This is my fourth camera using the Sony 1″ sensor. The low light performance is impressive, and the colors are great. I’m amazed that it can fit in such a small camera. This is about the same size as my old compact camera yet the photo and video quality is vastly superior.There are some negatives, but they aren’t enough to take away from the excellent overall quality of this camera.VIDEO SAMPLE:I made a simple video showing what’s in the box. I also included a low light clip. It was very dark, and I didn’t notice an opossum crossing the street, but the Sony recorded it clearly. It could also record stars that were not visible to me. Color me impressed. The clip also shows how the lens goes from an f1.8 to an f4 when zooming. This is one of the quirks of the new lens.
13 people found this helpful
Mr lliB –
You get quality video that’s easy to edit and get online.
I was very excited to get this camera for vlogging and for making quality content. So far I love the camera You get quality video that’s easy to edit and get online. It’s so much better than I expected. Highly recommend this camera
3 people found this helpful
David Ray –
Great Video camera in a ‘point and shoot’ body
Sony has packed so many user friendly features into the ZV-1 Mk2 that I am discovering new uses every time I pick it up. The controls are so intuitive and the menus are well laid out, you can easily pick this up and use it as soon as it is charged. I got great results on full auto, 4K 30fps for video. The small body format reminded me of a 35mm film point and shoot I had 30 years ago, but the technology is more advanced than high end d-SLR models from 5-10 years ago. The image stabilization and video capability are (almost) as good as cameras selling for 3 times the price. These days, when cell phones are packing so many lenses and ever increasing pixel claims, Sony has made a compelling argument for a dedicated camera purchase.
4 people found this helpful
Paul Cassel –
Vlogging Plus
Before StartingIn my view, this camera as received here isn’t complete. To use this fully it requires not only a suitable SD card, but the Sony grip/remote control and a download of the full instructions. The documentation that came with this camera covered battery charging and SD card insertion only.Executive SummaryThis does work and works remarkably well as a vlogging or general purpose point and shoot camera. In both uses, it is let down by a confusing menu system as well as digital optical stabilization in place of its predecessor’s optical stabilization. Still, overall this works so well in so many areas that it merits the top rating. EnduranceI conducted a battery rundown test by setting the camera on a tripod, starting a video recording session and timed it until the battery gave out. Its total run time was 1:14. The test was inside with an ambient temperature of 77F. The camera did get mildly warm but never close to overheating.From dead flat after that test, it took 2:08 to fully recharge the battery using a 30W charger. I cannot say if the camera used all of the 30W but it did not heat up at all during this test.UsePlease see the photo attachments. I’ll try to include a video taken with this camera but I’ve recently had difficulties uploading them to this site so it may not be there.Overall, my experience with the ZV1 Mk2 is a combination of delighted surprise combined with some frustration. Here’s an example of the delight. Plug the camera into a conventional PC and the system immediately recognizes it. From there, it can function to transfer images/videos to the computer or act as a Webcam. Zoom recognized the Sony as a Webcam with video and audio. The imaging and video results are better than I expected likely due to the Zeiss lens and the Sony sensor. I found, using a small tripod as a handle resulted in videos while I walked that didn’t need any stabilization. The autofocus worked better than I expected. I can go on for quite a while about how well this worked for me.However, there’s the frustration part too. While using the ZV1 for stills, something changed so even in still mode, the shutter button started taking videos. (?) The only way to take stills was to press the LCD screen ‘shutter’ icon – incredibly annoying. I can’t find a way to undo whatever either I did or the camera chose to do. I can’t see any rational photographic reason to lose the shutter button in Stills Mode.The instructions are clear about how to format the SD card yet when I followed them, there was no entry for formatting the card. Now this can be done using any laptop or desktop computer but still, it was an indication to me that the documentation isn’t in step with the menu system.ConclusionI expected to have worse results than I did due to the lack of optical stabilization (stabilization is digital only). I took all my videos with stabilization turned off yet had quite usable results partly because I had a mini-tripod that worked well as a handle but not nearly as well as the Sony tripod/remote. I strongly recommend anyone who chooses this camera also get the kit that includes the handle and an SD card at a discount.The star of the show is how easy this is to use as a vlogging Webcam. It’s simple: plug it into a computer and there it is. Ditto, that once setup in the proper modes the user wishes, its operation is an example of how complex tasks can be done simply and easily.Despite the lack of OIS, I think the Mk2 offers advantages over its predecessor due to its modes, its internal grading, its built in ND filter, its often astonishing ease of use and the quality of its output. I can go on too since that list is only a small part of what this camera offers. I find the current zoom range to be better than the predecessor’s 24-70mm. The battery endurance I recorded at over an hour of steady shooting is under ideal conditions and likely not duplicated under typical shooting situations but 45 minutes seems like a safe estimate. The camera cannot use external power.To me, this works as a vlogging camera, a Webcam and a general use point and shoot which will work especially well as a travel camera due to its tiny size and feather-like weight. Despite the control system issues I had, I’m still rating it a full five stars because it exceeds my expectations in so many other areas.
18 people found this helpful
A Y G –
Not just for Vloggers and Content Creators
Let me preface this with… I am not a camera enthusiast, and I am not a vlogger. I am a camera user, and use it for recording/documenting my life, mostly for myself, but also to share with friends and family. So, in this review you are not going to get a lot of technical jargon from me about f stops and pixel count, even though I do, and always have, enjoyed photography, even had a darkroom at one point. I have just never invested the time needed to become a camera aficionado. It has never really been about the financial investment, more the time and ease of use.I also use it to take pictures for my business/hobby to be posted online, which is a pretty mundane/boring use case, but it does it really well.Also, it would be impossible for me to cover the features of this camera in the space allowed for an Amazon review. So what this review will do is focus less on the technical aspects, and more on the experience of using it, and why I think it may or may not be for you. It is absolutely for me. I love it.This camera out of the box, does not come with an SD card. So you actually need to provide your own SD card before you can start using it. It also did not come with a way to charge it. There is no USB C cable or charger. For the vast majority of people, this is probably not an issue, but if all you have is Apple devices with lightning connectors and such and somehow don’t already have USB C in your life, you will need a USB C cable and charger to charge this. Not an issue for me, and I knew it going in, but something you should be aware of.This camera is bare bones. It is the camera, it is the battery, it is the microphone windscreen, and that is it. It doesn’t even have a wrist strap. I probably wouldn’t really recommend using it without a wrist strap, because if you dropped it, it would be a pretty sad day.So, a camera like this is very interesting to me, as a camera user and someone simply living life. I also find it interesting how it is marketed so directly towards vloggers and content creators. I get that there may be a lot of people out there vlogging now, but as a parent, the first time I really started thinking about cameras, and having a good camera, a camera I could use easily and take great pictures with, was when I first had kids. I would think the parent market is a lot bigger than the vlogger market.Not to date myself, but prior to having kids, my in-laws even had a VHS camera that we used on vacations or at social events once upon a time, probably before most of today’s Vloggers and content creators were even born. Just the tape that you put in the camera was 3-4 x the size of this camera. The battery it used was probably also twice the size of this camera. All I am saying is documenting and recording your life was a thing long before the term Vlogging was coined. That camera was the size of a small suitcase that you carried on your shoulder and probably cost more at the time than this camera does. After you had carried it an entire day through an amusement park, you knew it. My future brother in law and I would swap it off between us during the day to give the other a chance to rest and it couldn’t do a fraction of what this does, and it does it all well.By the time we had kids of our own, we had evolved into a state of the art (at the time) 8mm Sony Handycam. It also was probably close to what this cost. While you didn’t have to carry it on your shoulder anymore, it still wasn’t particularly portable. The 8mm tapes that it took were probably about the same size as this entire camera. It did however let you carry the camera in one hand, while carrying a kid with the other. After that, we did at some point get a Sony digital camera (no optical zoom), but as phone cameras improved until they were better than that camera, I mostly migrated over to using the cameras in my phone.To be able to carry a camera like this, that can do what this camera can do, literally in your pocket, is simply amazing to me. That it can allow me to record quality video and take quality pictures with just a single device, with all of its features without getting a nano degree in photography is an even more impressive feat.While I have tried to use it as much as I could before writing this review, I know I have only just scratched the surface on what it can do .I am still pretty much in full auto mode. What I have done with it though, is record some great videos, and take some great pictures, and document parts of my life that I can look back on later. Now I am at a point in my life where some of my friends are no longer with me, I can honestly say, with experience, you can’t take too many pictures, or record too much video. One of my friends who is no longer with us, always took lots of photos, and I was not always the first to be whipping out my camera, but thanks to them, I have all that documentation, all of those memories recorded, and they are priceless.That is where this camera shines, and I guess that is why it may be marketed towards vloggers, but don’t think you need to be a vlogger to appreciate this camera. All you need to be is someone living a life, your life.It is so small you can carry it in your pocket. This means you can always have it on you. It has a built in lens protector and the LCD display can be turned in towards the camera creating a fully protected outer body. There does seem to be a gap between the display and the body though, regardless of if it is facing in or out. I am not sure why it is like that. As a result, when the display is in its closed position it does actually protrude a bit. The back of the display does not sit flush with the part of the camera it recesses into. Even so, it does protect the camera and it does make it portable. It just feels like there is a couple of millimeter gap that doesn’t need to be there. It doesn’t matter how good a camera is, if you don’t have it with you and this is portable enough that you can have it with you most of the time. Now admittedly, nearly everyone already carries a camera with them today, in their phone, so why would you need another camera? And maybe for a lot of things, you don’t, but phone cameras, although they have certainly gotten better over the years too, still do not take the best pictures. They are small and compact to be easy to carry on you at all times. To be that compact, they have to make sacrifices. No optical zoom lenses, not built in anyway. Fairly limited microphones for sound. Not the most ergonomic form factor in the world. A limited battery life, without the ability (anymore) to swap in a fresh battery to keep filming. Most don’t even have a way to swap out storage anymore when you run out of space, and even if they do, doing so requires a special tool just to get to the sd card. While our phones are cameras, they are not designed to be cameras. They are not really even designed to be phones anymore. They are mini computers that can also happen to be able to be used to make phone calls, or take pictures.This camera is designed to be a camera. That is its purpose in life. It is designed to record video. It is designed to take pictures. It is designed to be easy for anyone to use. It is designed to let you keep using it for its intended use as long as needed by letting you swap out batteries or storage when it is full. It is designed to fit in a bag or in a pocket and be able to be taken anywhere and everywhere. It is designed to have enough features that a camera enthusiast wannabe can explore. I thought the cinematic modes were pretty cool, for example. You can basically record video in movie formats with different cinematic qualities. It seems you could literally almost use this to record a film, yet it fits in your pocket.I also use it to take pictures of products for an online business. There is a button just for that. It works well.It has a lens with a wide enough angle that you can use it to film yourself while holding it at arms length to capture your surroundings, yet still has an optical zoom so you can zoom in on your kid from the back corner of the gym during their talent show so you can actually see it is your kid on the stage. You can even do this while holding it up above your head, so you can get up above all the other parents in front of you trying to do the same thing, and you can tilt the screen down to face you while you are doing this so you can see what you are actually filming (unlike with your phone), even though the camera is above your head at arms length and you can keep your kid in frame. It even has a feature where you can tell the camera which kid on the stage is your kid, and the camera will prioritize your kid and keep your kid in focus. To top it all off, when your arms start to get tired and shaky from holding it up there for half an hour, the image stabilization will keep the recording steady for you. You will watch that video 20 years later and be very grateful that it exists.For me that is what a camera like this is for. I would be marketing this to parents, or soon to be grandparents. I am not a grandparent yet, but if I ever discover I am going to be one, this camera, or whatever the current version is by that time, will be my gift at the baby shower, and it will be a selfish gift on my part. The expectant parents will think it is a gift for them (and I expect they would love it). They might not understand why they need it at first, since they have a phone in their camera, but they will figure it out after a vacation or a talent show, or a dance recital. It will really be a gift for me though. In fact, if or when that day comes, I would make sure I had one too. Maybe they should sell a grandparents to be double pack.So, I hope I have clearly articulated. If you are a parent, or a grandparent, you should probably get this. My adult son is going to borrow this next week for a trip with his girlfriend. He is excited that I am letting him borrow it. I am just as excited to be letting him borrow it because I can’t wait to see what he documents with it. Depending on how it goes, I may even have to get him his own once he gets back. He has long wanted a DSLR or Mirrorless digital camera with changeable lenses, but I almost wonder if he will end up liking this more, especially as he is first starting out, because it is so portable and easy to use.I will be honest. I wasn’t aware of how far cameras had come since my 8mm Sony HandyCam days or even the digital Sony Camera I had for a little while after that. I have mostly been using the cameras built into my phones since then. I had looked at other cameras and video cameras as they shrunk in size over the years and increased their pixel counts, but at that time, they still seemed to be cameras for video, or cameras for pictures and my phone camera seemed good enough and I didn’t have to carry multiple other devices. This is really for both photos and video, it does both of them well. It is actually the perfect camera for someone like me, maybe for someone like you too. I highly highly recommend it. I have already recommended it to other people in my life, a new grandparent visiting their grandchild for the first time, for example.
12 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Stablilization is very poor
I got the camera for flogging. The built in mic is great, very good audio. The auto focus is also very good. The pocket size is good. But the stabilization is very poor. For the time being I will still be using my GoPros for flogging. Maybe after time and more practice I will warm up to camera but for now it is not the best choice for me when it comes to flogging. I got the camera because of the small size but if I have to put it on a gimbal or tripod to get smooth footage, what is the point?
2 people found this helpful
Elizabeth –
Never got the charging cable
Everything is fine I just didn’t receive my charging cable
One person found this helpful
Roger Hajali –
My new go-to camera.
I’ve been using this as my primary camera for my youtube channel. The audio is good enough to use without a mic. The low-light performance isn’t great but is better than my old canon T6 by a huge margin. Way smaller and lighter than most and results in very long run time on my DJI gimbal. The gimbal also connects to the camera and has no lag in remote commands. Great choice for me.
10 people found this helpful
Corey Foo –
Impressive
I purchased one from the warehouse. It was listed as Acceptable. After watching many YouTube videos on Acceptable items I decided to purchase. It came in original box, wrapped like new in bubble wrap, all accessories, looking new, including battery. It honestly looks like a new camera. And I got it for over $300 less. Definitely worth it.
11 people found this helpful
Roebear –
Could not believe when the item arrived
It was shipped WITHOUT a charging cord. It just so happens, naturally, of the large amount of charging cords none that fit were on hand. Most of my product are otherwise branded.. Then counting on it arrival for a back up camera and no charging cord and main camera down so missed an important event. I cannot believe a near $800 camera ships without a $2 or less wholesale cord. Plus the instructions were so minimalist as to be **** useless. Back in the box and back it goes I don’t return often, but this just well you know add your favorite phrase. Should bet in Large Print no cord and no charging cord on an ~$800 item!!I I remember when SONYwas a good product. That was then and this is now and no second chances anymore I will buy another brand on Amazon.
2 people found this helpful
Vanessa –
Battery didn’t even work
Battery didn’t work and I couldn’t return it. I like the size, but It’s way overpriced for the quality.
One person found this helpful
Legendary toys –
Not a great street camera
Was looking for a travel / street camera/video camera . Something smaller then my other cameras . But what a disappointment. The sharpness of his camera equals of a iphone . In fact for in certain lighting situations the iphone gave a sharper image. Video tracking was just ok . Definitely way over price for the image that delivers. So unless your in a studio set up for making videos . A controlled room set up , pass on this . Ended up with a canon 50 . I cannot recommend any one this cam . Especially for its price point . Lets hope sonys new cam with global shutter camera coming out next year doesn’t disappoint .
6 people found this helpful
Jon –
Ready for internet friendly video
I really like this camera. It makes terrific quality video that’s easy to post edit and get online.The mic(s) are really great and the sound quality is way better than I expected when you use the Mic Muff on the cold shoe. The sound quality has always been the issue in my videos and I’m really happy to see that this camera does a great job without an external mic. The microphone can be set to listen in front, behind, and automatic selection. I’ve been leaving it in Auto since it has been flawless so far and I’m likely to forget to change the setting if I do it manually.The video quality is really good too. It’s a somewhat small sensor (and very small camera) so it won’t blur the background as well as a full-frame setup, but it does a good job.If you’re new to Sony cameras you might find that the options menus are a little confusing. There are not a lot of instructions included to help with this either. However, I was able to find several videos online that did a full wall-through on camera and video settings and I highly suggest these if you’re coming from another platform like I was.I included a short video that I actually made on this camera for a scooter review I was writting. I like the quality of color and sharpness of the video. In addition, this video uses all of the image stabilization and wind noise reduction so I think it’s a good example of performance. I’m really happy with it. I mostly use this camera to review products and get cinematic travel video and it’s great for that. You don’t have to just shoot videos of you vlogging to get the most from this camera.Here are the resons for my star reduction, and I think they’re really important issues that Sony should address.1. Screen: This screen can not be seen when wearing polorized glasses. That’s a MAJOR miss in my opinion.2. On board speakers: You will have no idea what your video sounds like until you off-load it to something you can actually hear.3. Battery Life: This is pretty bad. The battery is maybe the worst I’ve ever seen in a new camera. One positive thing here is that you can bring a USB battery pack and charge from that while on a shoot. You can even use the camera with it plugged in and charging. I have velcro attached my battery pack to my tripod several times.Overall I think the size and quality of the build in this camera is fantastic. The image quality (all that actually matters) is well above average and makes video you can edit into professional-looking results quickly. The sound quality is great for a point-and-shoot camera and better than any other I’ve seen (as long as you use the muff).I recommend this for anyone looking for a portable and powerful camera to make video for the internet.
13 people found this helpful
James Murphy –
More of a ‘remix’ than a sequel to the ZV-1
Since it was released in 2020, I’ve used the Sony ZV-1 more than any of the many other cameras I own just ahead of the most recent iteration GoPro Heros. It’s just a great camera for so many different use cases and in a very small form factor. The vlogging market has been a good one for Sony, and they’ve since added the ZV-1F, the interchangeable lens ZV-E10 and the full frame Sony-ZV-E1. The ZV-1 Mark II is more of a ‘remix’ than a sequel to the original.In this camera, Sony has addressed several frequent critiques from the vlogger community and the changes make it a decidedly different experience than the original. The most significant of these is the addition of a wider lens that is much better suited for ‘self shooting’. It’s better for vloggers shooting at arms’ length so they can fit into the frame along with their surroundings. Little else has changed, including the sensor which is good news since that was one of the best things about the ZV-1. One subtraction that has arguably hurt the usability for everything *but* first person blogging is the removal of optical image stabilization. It’s electronic stabilization only which requires a crop which also negates the wider lens field of view. Another subtraction could also be an issue depending on what you use it for–the new telephoto length is 50mm instead of 70mm on the original. And I don’t know exactly how to test it or whether it’s my imagination but the motor on the Mark II sure seems louder than the ZV-1.Everything else from the original is little (if any) changed. This includes the autofocus, which is arguably what made the ZV-1 such an incredible camera. There’s some minor issues in the automatic eyetracking in video more but that notwithstanding every thing else is identical in terms of photo/video quality. A couple of changes are both clear winners. The built in microphone is substantially better than the predecessor as they’ve used the auto direction switching device used on the ZV-E10. You can also select the direction automatically, though in my testing the auto switching was excellent. Audio quality is also excellent and particularly with voices which is most important for a vlogging camera.Also dramatically improved is the touchscreen. Image quality and flip out functionality is the same, but it’s significantly more ‘touch friendly’. In the original most of the functions involved cycling through menus and selecting them with a button but you can now actually touch just about everything. It’s super responsive now and just a much better experience. You can arguably justify getting it for this alone. Otherwise, I don’t feel like I’m missing much when I use my ZV-1 instead of the ZV-1 II.Don’t get me wrong–it’s still a great camera and if you’re just getting into vlogging, etc. it’s definitely worth getting. The wider angle lens range is the biggest change and it will be the biggest reason people decide to go with the Mark II or stick with the original. If your primary use case is first person vlogging you should not hesitate to get the Mark II. For most camera uses the Mark II is a great choice and particularly if you need something that can do a wide variety of things and do them well.A more salient question will be ‘is it worth the upgrade from the ZV-1’ and that doesn’t have an easy answer. Aside from the dramatically better touch screen experience, I can’t say that the Mark II is universally better compared head to head to the original ZV-1. If you’re a first person vlogger or otherwise felt limited by the ZV-1 focal range definitely upgrade. If you’re like me and just like having the newest model of everything you might also want to upgrade. Just keep in mind that with the exception of the lens focal range, the touchscreen functionality and the built in microphone you might not notice many differences from the ZV-1.All of this notwithstanding, you’re still getting a great camera–and a multi-functional one–at an excellent value price. If you don’t already have the ZV-1, you’ll love the ZV-1 Mark II. Upgrading is a more nuanced decision but you just can’t go wrong with any of the ZV line. Highly recommended!
20 people found this helpful
Alex K –
Better than the best camera phone.
This camera offers a straightforward yet versatile experience, primarily geared towards vlogging but highly valuable for general photography and videography. Out of the box, the device is notably minimalistic, lacking even an SD card or a charging cable. Despite its simple package, it excels in performance, offering high-quality images and videos while maintaining portability. Notably, the device incorporates features like a lens with optical zoom, image stabilization, and various cinematic modes that significantly extend its capabilities beyond what a smartphone camera can offer.The camera’s marketing may focus on vloggers and content creators, but its utility is universal. It’s designed for user-friendliness, allowing for quick battery or storage swaps, making it ideal for anyone wanting to document life more intensively than what phone cameras allow. Its purpose is clear: to be an easily accessible tool for capturing high-quality images and videos, irrespective of your expertise in photography or the subject you’re capturing.Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, someone running an online business, or simply someone who values capturing high-quality memories, this camera effortlessly accommodates those needs. If you’re contemplating whether a specialized device like this could serve you better than your current phone camera, I highly recommend giving this camera a try.
10 people found this helpful