The Sony ZV lineup of cameras has something for everyone. In this video, Sony Artisan Miguel Quiles takes us through the highlights with video samples for each so you can find out which one is the right one for you. Watch as he takes a closer look at the Sony ZV-1F, Sony ZV-1 II, Sony ZV-E10 & Sony ZV-E1.

Sony ZV-1F

The Sony ZV-1F a big step up coming from a smartphone. “First things first, you’ve got a one-inch sensor which is much bigger than what you would find in a smartphone,” Quiles explains. “You’ve got a fixed 22mm f/2 lens. So really bright, great for shooting stuff outdoors. Great for shooting stuff in low light situations. Really, really nice camera to get you started if you’re coming from using a smartphone for shooting your vlogs and shooting your videos.”

He continues, “Of course with this camera you also get Sony’s Eye Autofocus feature which is going to make sure that you, as the person who is being filmed, that you’re in focus, that you’re sharp. And so that’s one of the things that really shines in the Sony ZV family is the autofocus features.”

Sony ZV-1F

You can also use the Sony ZV-1F for livestreaming by plugging it into your computer or laptop to use it as a webcam. “That’s really going to step up the quality of your livestreams, of your Zoom calls,” he says. “So it’s a very versatile camera – you can use it for your vlogging and use it for your livestreams.”

Another important highlight for the Sony ZV-1F is the ability to use S-Log3. “If you’re new to video, especially if you’re coming from a smartphone, S-Log3 is going to allow you to capture a flat looking video but then in post-production you could actually bring out the details in the shadows, bring out details in the highlights.” Having this ability in an entry-level camera gives you the ability to start working with that S-Log3 footage to get experience as you move up the ZV line.

Learn more about the Sony ZV-1F HERE.

Sony ZV-1 II

Like the Sony ZV-1F, the Sony ZV-1 II has a one-inch sensor. It also has a 20.1 megapixel resolution for stills, but there is one major difference between it and the Sony ZV-1F. “Which is that you have an 18-50mm f/1.8-4 zoom lens,” reveals Quiles. “So now you have the ability to create some different compositions. You can get a lot wider than you can with the ZV-1F and you’re able to zoom in which is really great.”

Another big difference with the Sony ZV-1 II is that it has a hot shoe on it, so you’re able to pair it with things like external flashes. “I will tell you that even though this is a vlogging camera, I love shooting stills with it,” Quiles says. “It’s one of my favorite everyday walkaround stills cameras, so don’t discount it just because it’s considered a vlogging camera because all of these cameras in the lineup are fantastic for shooting stills.”

Sony ZV-1 II

A major highlight you get with the Sony ZV-1 II is the built-in ND Filter. “If you plan on shooting at those wide open apertures, now you have the ability to be able to use the electronic ND that’s built into this camera to get you the correct exposure.”

“I think if you’re looking for something that’s compact, that has flexibility in being able to get you different focal ranges – the ZV-1 II is going to be a fantastic option.”

Learn more about the Sony ZV-1 II HERE.

Sony ZV-E10

With the Sony ZV-E10, you’re stepping into a camera with a bigger sensor. “You get an APS-C sized sensor. It is 24.2 megapixels, which basically is going to mean that you’re going to get a much better looking image. You’re going to get much better looking stills. And with that bigger sensor you’re going to get better sensitivity in low light as well compared to that one-inch sensor.”

The Sony ZV-E10 is a step up to a more professional vlogging camera, because it also gives you the ability to change lenses unlike the previous ones discussed with fixed lenses. Quiles likes to shoot with the Sony 10-20mm f/4 G PZ lens because not only is it great for vlogging, it also provides a compact setup when paired with the camera. 

Sony ZV-E10

The Sony ZV-E10 is also the first camera in the lineup that gives you a headphone jack in addition to the microphone jack, so you can monitor your audio while you're recording. “Another thing that’s notable here,” explains Quiles, “Is that this is the first ZV camera in the lineup that we’ve talked about today that has the digital audio interface. So with that multi-interface hot shoe that’s on top of the camera, you now have the ability to use some of Sony’s microphones. 

And what’s really great about these microphones is that you can put them on to the hot shoe, you don’t have to hook up any type of microphone cables or anything like that. You’re getting power through the hot shoe. It’s transferring the audio digitally through the hot shoe which is just fantastic. It’s really going to step up the audio in your videos.”

With this camera, you also get a bigger battery. “Compared to the ZV-1 II and the ZV-1 F, you’re going to have the ability to shoot for a little while longer because you do have a much bigger lithium ion battery.”

Learn more about the Sony ZV-E10 HERE.

Sony ZV-E1

The Sony ZV-E1 is the top-of-the-line in the ZV lineup. “You’ve got a 12 megapixel full-frame sensor, very similar to the one found in the Sony Alpha 7S III. And as you already know, that camera is highly touted for its ability to shoot in low light. Amazing dynamic range. So in terms of low light capabilities, this is going to be the very best that you can get in the ZV lineup.”

“But it doesn't end there,” Quiles continues. “You see now you’re stepping into high-quality video recording. You have the ability to shoot up to 4K 120p. You can do that with 4:2:2 10-bit color, which is unbelievable. Once again, if you’re trying to get that professional, cinematic look, you could definitely do it with those other cameras in the ZV lineup, but the very best quality that you could possibly get and the most versatility that you could get, is definitely going to be in the Sony ZV-E1."

Another major feature of the Sony ZV-E1 is the inclusion of a dedicated AI-processing chip, which brings some really amazing AI features to the camera. This includes the ability for the camera to keep a wide variety of subjects, like humans, cars, trains, planes, insects, animals, in focus. You also have an AI Auto-Reframing feature. “So you can actually take the camera, put it on a tripod, you could walk around and it’s actually going to keep you in the frame. It’s going to follow you, it’s going to zoom in. And it’s going to make it look like you actually have somebody behind the camera. So it’s providing a little bit of an additional level of professionalism and quality to your productions without actually having to have someone behind the camera doing it for you.”

Sony ZV-E1

Another big highlight of the Sony ZV-E1 is Dynamic SteadyShot, a fairly rare feature amongst Sony cameras. “You get this very smooth, gimbal-like quality to your shots.” Again, Quiles says this adds another layer of professionalism to your videos.

The Sony ZV-E1 also gives you the ability to choose from a variety of full frame Sony lenses. In this video, Quiles pairs it with the Sony 16-35mm f/4 G PZ. “With this particular camera body, it actually has a rocker switch where I could actually control the zoom either on the lens itself or I can use the camera body to control the zoom.”

The camera also has the bigger Z-series battery. “If you plan on going out for the day and you want to have a camera that’s going to give you the most battery life in the ZV lineup, without a doubt it is going to be the battery that is inside of the ZV-E1.”

You also get the multi-interface show with digital audio capabilities, so you can use external microphones. “So the ZV-E1, I think, is the tippy-top of the line in that vlogging series of cameras. It basically does everything that a serious vlogger would want to do.”

Learn more about the Sony ZV-E1 HERE.