two minute review
The Sony ZV-1F is designed for anyone who wants to create quality video content, but doesn't have the most advanced knowledge of cameras. It's neat, slips easily into a pocket, and delivers great 4K video footage, making it a great choice for beginning vloggers.
It's ideal for anyone looking to get away from shooting videos on their smartphone, and will fully support if you want to switch to videography for uploading to YouTube or social media.
Canon EOS R6 II Specifications
Sensor: 1" 1 megapixel CMOS
Focus points: XNUMX Dual Pixel CMOS AF II points, XNUMX% coverage
Video: UHD 4K at 100 FPS, HD at XNUMX, XNUMX, XNUMX
LCD: XNUMX-inch, XNUMX-dot vari-angle LCD touch screen
Memory card: single slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Maximum Burst: Up to sixteen fps
Connectivity: micro-HDMI output, 1/8"/3,5mm TRS stereo input, USB-C input, USB-C (USB two.0) data output (shared with power input), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Size: one hundred five and five × sixty × forty-six with four mm
Weight: two hundred and fifty six grams (battery and memory card)
- Sony ZV-1F on Amazon for €498 (opens in a new tab)
You can adjust the settings of this camera as much as you want; you will achieve fabulous results either way. It has intelligent auto modes, which read the scene you're shooting and take resolutions for you, such as image brightness, or you can set it to manual mode where you're in control of all the settings and exposure levels.
Photography is possible, but it plays second fiddle to video. If you want to delve into the menus and you're new to Sony, know that it takes time to get used to your cameras; many users may feel overwhelmed and confused by the thick menus. Most of the time, it's easier to set custom buttons to what you want and then stay out of menus as much as possible.
Other than that, it's an impressively intuitive little camera. It will turn on as soon as you open the screen, making recording super quick and easy. time lapse and slow motion) and stills, all achievable by simply pressing a single button on the top of the body.
Image stabilization is super impressive, while face and eye tracking is second to none, as it is with Sony cameras.
Sony claims that you can easily transfer your images and videos to your smartphone or computer using its Imaging Edge smartphone app, but anyone who has used this app will tell you that it's not great. If Sony could put as much care into its app as it does to its cameras and autofocus, it would make it a lot easier to share your images.
This is clearly a camera for vloggers rather than photographers, as it lacks wild-caught capabilities. On top of this, its lens isn't replaceable, and while the XNUMXmm lens is fine for video, it somewhat limits your photography options.
Sony ZV-1F: launch date and price
- Take advantage of optional accessories such as the GP-VP2BT handle
- Most affordable in the US
- Packages of accessories not free in each and every one of the areas
The Sony ZV-1F was released on October XNUMX, XNUMX and you can buy it now for €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX.
An accessory and travel kit that includes memory cards, a flexible tripod, a bag to keep your camera safe and dust-free, and cleaning supplies is available on Amazon US for $XNUMX, but it doesn't seem to be around. Free in the UK or Australia at time of writing.
Handling a vlogging camera like the Sony ZV-1F is improved with optional accessories like the GP-VP2BT Grip (€XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX), which gives more stability to the camera. vlogging. This grip can be used both as an extension of your arm and as a mini tripod.
Sony ZV-1F: design
- Small and light at only two hundred and fifty six grams
- Optimized for automatic firing on manual site
- You will probably need to use a handle if you don't have small hands
The Sony ZV-1F may not be the most well-developed camera you've come across, but it does have some cool features that lend themselves to the kinds of shots you're likely to take with this camera.
Part of the beauty of the Sony ZV-1F is its small size: it weighs just 6 grams and measures XNUMX x XNUMX x XNUMX cm, making it impressively easy to carry or pocket when you're out and about. you want to get fast.
That said, while no one wants to lug around a heavy camera all day, its small size can be a drawback, according to one user. It's a tiny camera and doesn't have the biggest front grip, which means it can be quite difficult to hold if you don't have small hands. You can mitigate this potential drawback by using it with the aforementioned GP-VPT2BT grip, however, that means spending more money.
The Sony ZV-1F was made from partially recycled plastic materials as part of Sony's Road to Zero environmental plan, and the windshield fibers are made from recycled polyester only.
It is designed to resist dust and moisture, but it is not weather resistant. That makes it a less-than-ideal proposition for traveling, since you obviously can't monitor the weather, but unless you're a storm chaser, you probably won't be using it much in wet weather anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Definitive factor for us. On top of this, if you look at this camera after handling high-end cameras, it's going to look tacky and flimsy by comparison.
On top of the camera are a button to toggle between still, video, and S&Q shooting modes, a video record button, and a camera shutter button with a zoom control and a background blur button. (ideal for displaying products). On the back of the camera body are the standard function, menu, playback and delete buttons, as well as a control wheel through which you can access ISO, timer, drive modes and exposure compensation, although all can be reprogrammed to perform other functions. functions
Sony ZV-1F: specifications and performance
- Eye and face tracking acceptable for humans and animals.
- multipurpose touch screen
- Impressive SteadyShot
For such a small camera, the Sony ZV-1F can really do a lot once you dive into its setup and quirks. While Smart Auto works great, you can also shoot fully manual if you want, such as aperture and shutter priority, and other modes.
There's also a Remove Background/Blur button at the top of the camera, which is great for displaying products or focusing on a certain person in the photo. In photography terms, it's essentially a quick and easy way to change the aperture to create a nice bokeh effect. You can also change the aperture manually when the camera is in the proper shooting mode, with the free range from f/2 to f/8.
When I was reviewing this camera, I was very impressed and pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of SteadyShot, especially when shooting video. When I looked at the footage, it was obvious that he was walking around with the camera, but those movements didn't mar the footage and it generally looked very fluid. Things would be even better if you used the camera with a gimbal.
I'm primarily a stage photographer with little video experience, so I'm right in the ZV-1F's target audience. At a Christmas market, I found that it can be quickly killed when needed and comes on as soon as you turn the screen off, so I was able to start recording almost instantly.
A frustration every photographer is familiar with: You see something happen you want to catch, but the minute you take your camera out of your bag, close the bag, turn on your camera, and select the appropriate settings, the The moment you wanted to record is long gone; so it was a nice change. I'm also pretty clumsy to walk around and I found how good SteadyShot was when the video footage wasn't reaching everywhere.
Even in the dark, Sony's incredible autofocus was brilliant. One strange limitation of this camera is that it uses an older contrast detection system, rather than a hybrid setup that includes phase and contrast detection technology, making it a bit less reliable than its predecessor.
That said, when I was walking around the market, I did notice that the AF automatically recognized and tracked people's faces as they walked through the frame, even when they weren't looking directly at the camera. There's animal recognition too, though when I tested it with some shy black cats in front of the camera, it didn't seem to notice or track their faces unless I focused while I tapped on the screen. , so it seems that its efficiency depends on the lighting and the tone of the animal with which it works.
- Features and performance 4/5
Sony ZV-1F: image and video quality
- Ideal for daytime or illuminated shots
- Can only take JPEG images
- Good sound, but you'll need an external microphone to get the best results
Although it's not the most powerful vocal camera on the planet, the Sony ZV-1F delivers great image and video quality. It has a 1-inch sensor with a 1MP resolution which isn't bad at all and can record 4K video and Full HD slow motion with its wide and clean XNUMXmm lens.
We found the ZV-1F performed better throughout the day than in low-light situations, so it's something to consider if you plan to shoot content at night. Looking at the footage we shot of a Christmas market, the camera generally handled the contrasting light levels quite well.
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