We know what most vlogs and YouTube videos look like in this age of content. So does Sony, which is starting to make cameras made to spit out exactly the style of video you want to emulate.
The new Sony ZV-E1 is a compact mirrorless full-frame system camera, dedicated to content creators and aimed squarely at bloggers. It’s the new flagship of Sony’s established ZV line of vlog-centric cameras, featuring a 12-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame sensor similar to ProFocus’ FX3, and the a7R V’s AI Autofocus Smart to reduce friction when creating. High quality video content.
Colleague Becca Falsace spent a week with this camera, testing many of its vlog-centric auto features, see her review above. Of course, there’s still the financial friction with her $2,199.99 for the ZV-E1 body alone, or $2,499.99 for a kit that includes a 28-60mm f/4-5.6 zoom lens.
The Sony ZV-E1 is the new ultra-compact champion of the Alpha lineup of cameras, offering a compact size and a weight of just 483 grams, designed for easy transport (of course, the biggest and heaviest Sony FE without a lens attached). By comparison, the jack-of-all-trades Sony A7 IV weighs 659 grams, while the Sony A7C, former owner of the “full-size little” crown, weighs 509 grams.
It has to make sacrifices for its slim stature, most notably the omission of an electronic viewfinder that doesn’t even have an external option, and the fact that it’s limited to just one SD card slot. But if the camera’s articulating screen is usually pointed forward while shooting, or if you’re the type that shoots directly to a fancy external recorder like the Atomos Ninja V, that might be forgivable. micro HDMI port).
No 8K video, does that matter?
Apart from the normal burst of 4K 4:2:2 10-bit shooting modes at up to 60fps, the ZV-E1 can shoot in 1080p FHD at up to 120fps. 4K/60 and 1080p/240 will come later via firmware. update. There’s no 8K recording, but frankly it feels like a logical omission rather than making the camera bigger for thermals or melting the insides when it inevitably overheats. also supports S-Log3 flat color profile and S-Cinetone. The latter continues to flow from the ultra-high-end Sony Venice world. S-Cinetone has become a favorite profile among his creators of content looking for a cinematic look without the fuss. The ZV-E1 is all about providing shortcuts to dynamic and dramatic looks.
For example, the ZV-E1’s 3-inch articulating touchscreen lets you dial in many controls with a smartphone-like tap. In cinematic vlog mode, you can easily add a sense of drama by switching to 2.35:1 aspect ratio and enabling S. – Cinetone color. Combine this with 5-axis in-body stabilization and Dynamic Active Image Stabilization (which crops into the image to further compensate for camera movement), and you can be emotionally compelling without worrying about additional costs or additional costs. You can capture run-and-gun style footage with gimbal weight. ZV-E1 has a built-in 3-capsule microphone that dynamically adjusts to pick up the main presenter and minimizes atmospheric noise. It also supports UVC for easy live streaming (or using a webcam) up to 4K/30p via USB-C. port.
Autoframing is like center stage for Apple.
The ZV-E1’s AI-based subject recognition can also be used for framing and composition, cropping the image to one of multiple detected subjects, much like Apple’s Center Stage Webcam feature. Of course, it’s not a good idea to let the camera have a lot of directorial control over your video unless you want to ruin your takes or make your footage look incredibly generic.
But while much of Sony’s ZV-E1 is based on making the small and nuanced complexities of solo content creation easier, it’s a life that many advanced video creators are likely to appreciate. It has quite a few of the quality features of Zoom lever under the shutter button, 15 stops of dynamic range, ISO sensitivity settings up to 409,600. Also, unlike his other ZV models, the ZV-E1 uses a much better NP-FZ100 battery, which actually lasts quite a while, making it the first Sony to have screen reader accessibility features. It’s a camera.
So it also means that the core of this camera is like a baby FX3 or A7S III for video heads that need a 2nd or 3rd camera so look for automated features Buying when you’re a pro or experienced video user feels like buying a superbike with clever and well-intentioned training wheels It may become
Photo by Becca Farsace/The Verge
