We test out the Sony ZV-1 and check out all the vlogging-centric features on offer. Can it come out on top?
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Intro - 0:00
Build - 0:33
Recommended Accessories - 2:09
Sensor and Lens - 2:24
Background Defocus Mode - 3:12
Image Stabilisation Test - 3:34
Video Specs - 4:06
Slog-3 - 5:05
Built-In ND Filter - 5:11
Mic Test - 5:43
Mic Test with Rode VideoMicro - 6:29
Autofocus - 7:14
Product Showcase Mode - 8:03
Photos - 8:44
Conclusion - 9:29

Today we’re checking out a brand new Sony camera, the ZV-1, which is built completely with the vlogger in mind. This whole video is being shot on the ZV-1, so let's take a look.

On first blush the ZV-1 looks a lot like an RX100, which means it’s super small and compact, which is already plus. But it gains a fully articulating screen! This is super useful for vlogging. It also has a hotshoe mount and a mic jack. But if you don’t have a mic, it’s not the end of the world because the ZV-1 has a special Clear Voice 3-capsule microphone built into it, so you can get better quality with just the built-in mic. In the box it also comes with a windscreen for the built in mic, which you attach via the hotshoe.

There is have a large video record button, and some custom buttons that come assigned to some unique shooting modes that we’ll discuss later. There’s also a USB and HMDI port and SD card slot. The camera uses the same NP-BX1 batteries as the RX100. There’s an extra little grip handle that the RX100 doesn’t have. One thing the ZV-1 DOESN’T have that the RX100 does is a viewfinder, pop-up flash or a lens dial.

-One accessory I would recommend is the Sony GP-VPT2BT. That’s a mini-tripod and handgrip which allows you to control zoom, take photos and video, etc and just generally makes it a lot easier to use. It connects via bluetooth.

Similar to the RX100, the ZV-1 has a 1” 20MP sensor, which is large for a compact. It has a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, which is also taken from previous versions of the RX100. The fast f/1.8-2.8 aperture is very nice, and will provide some shallow depth of field. This brings us to a new feature on the ZV-1 called Background Defocus. This will increase the shallow depth of field, and it’s assigned to one of the custom buttons on the camera, so you can easily just toggle that on and off

The ZV-1 can shoot 4K 30p and 1080 120p. It also has Sony’s high frame rate modes that can shoot at up to 1000 fps. It has no record limit - so no stopping at 29 minutes of recording, you can use this until the battery dies, even in 4K. I didn't experience any overheating issues either. You’ve got Sony’s S-Log3 picture profile for colour grading, and it has a 3-stop built-in ND filter. You can also shoot vertical video for platforms like Instagram Stories.

The mic on the ZV-1 is very capable, and better quality than most built-in camera mics. The camera pairs well with the Rode VideoMicro, which is a compact shotgun mic. You can also use a Sony mic.

The autofocus on the ZV-1 is awesome! It’s a Hybrid AF system with 315 points that acquires focus in 0.03 seconds. It has Real-Time Eye Autofocus in both stills and video. It's exceptional, and will track you as long as you are in the frame, which makes it very easy to vlog with. There's a new feature called Product Showcase here. While it's on, you can hold something up to the lens to showcase it, and focus will change to the item. It is very good and looks very professional.

The ZV-1 also excels for photos. The 1” sensor gives good picture quality, and all of it's strengths translate to stills as well. It can also shoot stills at super fast burst speeds

The camera has Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilisation. You can use Active or Standard mode. Active crops in a bit, and standard doesn't add any extra crop. If you are walking, you probably want to use Active.

What can I say that’s bad about the ZV-1? About the only thing is that the batteries are a bit low-capacity, you'll want to have a few spares on you. Otherwise, this is a super compact camera that has a fully articulating screen, a mic jack and hotshoe mount, upgraded built-in mic with a bonus windscreen, it has a high-quality lens and a large sensor for this camera type, incredible autofocus, 4K video with no record limit, no overheating issues, built in ND-filter, Log picture profile, vertical video recording, useful features like Background Defocus and Product Showcase, and it does photos well too. What else can I say?

Sony has actually been paying attention to what vloggers have been asking for for years now, and they just made camera that does all of those things. If you’re a vlogger, is this the best all-in-one camera you can buy? In my opinion, absolutely yes.

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