Sony is on a roll when it comes to producing some of the best camcorders for YouTubers, and the new Sony ZV-E1 just might be your best full-frame companion for content creators.
As a cross between the pro-size Sony A7S III and the travel-size Sony A7C, the ZV-E1 is a 12MP full-frame vlogging camera with powerful video capabilities. These include the ability to record 4K/60p video with 4-bit 2:2:10 color depth, as well as some amazing new AI-powered features.
Thanks to the same Bionz XR processor and separate AI chipset that we saw in the Sony A7R V, the ZV-E1 has a range of new tools to help you keep your subjects in the center of your frame, but this time, they're designed more for video than stills.
For example, an "auto framing" mode crops the frame around your chosen subject (which you can select by touching the screen), then tracks that subject around the uncropped frame, much like an AI-powered camera operator.
Another useful mode for video shooters is 'Frame Stabilizer', which keeps your subject in the center of the frame as you walk alongside them, acting like a virtual gimbal. This again comes at the expense of some clipping, but it seems like a useful tool for vloggers who prefer the walk-and-talk style of video.
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(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)(Image credit: future)In both modes, you can also choose between three different crops of your subject (for example, upper body or full body). You can also simultaneously record the full, uncropped image via an HDMI output to an external recorder like an Atomos Ninja, an option that could save video makers a lot of time in post-production.
As you would expect from a Sony camera, autofocus is another strong point of the ZV-E1. It has improved subject recognition and tracking, which works when the subject is in front of you, and the ZV-E1 can also recognize birds, cars, planes, and even insects.
There's also a new autofocus feature we've never seen before called 'Multiple Face Recognition'. This will automatically close the aperture if an additional person enters your frame, to help keep everyone in focus.
In terms of pure video, the ZV-E1 is also the most powerful model in Sony's 'ZV' range, which includes alternatives like the Sony ZV-E10. It can record 4K/60p video in 4-bit 2:2:10, while a firmware update coming in June will unlock 4K/120p and Full HD/240p slow motion modes.
The ZV-E1 is also Sony's smallest full-frame camera with built-in image stabilization and can stream live in 4K/30p (or Full HD at 60p) resolution. With profiles like S-Cinetone and S-Log also built in for color calibrators, it's shaping up to be a little powerhouse.
Naturally, all of this doesn't come cheap, with the Sony ZV-E1 available to buy body-only in April for £2,700 (around £2,930 / £2,380 / AU$4,930), or in a kit lens with the Kit Lens from 28-60mm for €3000 (€3255 / €2640 / AU€4875).
Analysis: Sony's new video sweet spot
In our brief stint with the Sony ZV-E1 so far, we've been quite impressed - it's shaping up to be one of the best cameras on YouTube, albeit at a relatively high price.
These new AI-powered features are its main feature. They are not perfect; For example, we had some issues with using the "auto framing" handheld indoors in low-light conditions. But when shooting on location, the tracking was excellent and it's a great new tool for solo video shooters who like the idea of having a virtual camera operator.
Professional photographers will also appreciate the ability to connect an external monitor to the ZV-E1 and capture cropped and uncropped video simultaneously. This makes it easier to transition between the two during post production and could significantly reduce editing time.
With the same 12 MP BSI (back-illuminated) sensor as the Sony FX3 and Sony A7S III, and a future firmware update that unlocks a 4K/120p mode, the ZV-E1 is a professional-grade tool that's also powerful enough accessible to the less experienced. video creators
While it's not cheap, the ZV-E1 is considerably cheaper than the Sony FX3 (£3900 / £4200 / AU$6699), which means we can definitely see it rank high in our guide to the best Sony cameras. . . Very soon we will give you our final verdict.