Sony ZV-1F Overview – The Highest Access-Stage Vlogging Digital camera?

In our Sony ZV-1F overview we put the most recent entry-level Sony vlogging digicam to the take a look at to look if it’s the most suitable choice for brand new vloggers in the marketplace, or should you’re at an advantage sticking to a smartphone.

For the previous few years Sony had been main the best way for vloggers, via designing top of the range, feature-heavy cameras particularly for content material creators and YouTubers.

With the recognition of video hovering throughout social media, it simplest is smart to faucet into this huge and profitable marketplace.

Long gone are the times the place you wanted 1000’s of greenbacks price of kit to shoot a video that appears part first rate, and that’s the place Sony’s vary of ZV cameras has stuffed a void for creators.

The ZV-1 introduced to a lot fanfare, temporarily turning into one of the most easiest vlogging cameras in the marketplace.

The ZV-E10 quickly adopted, giving the choice for aspiring videographers to switch lenses for various views.

Nowadays Sony have introduced a brand new participant into the sport, launching their logo new, entry-level Sony ZV-1F for vloggers, and we had been fortunate sufficient to get our arms on one for a few weeks of in-the-field checking out.

However in a global the place near to everyone has a smartphone of their pocket with features to supply stunning, 4k masterpieces, does this new digicam have sufficient attraction to win over a special audiences?

Priced at USD$498 / CAD$649 / AUD$899 / €649, it’s now not precisely reasonable, however is it price the fee to transport clear of filming on an iPhone?

That’s what we got down to uncover in our private Sony ZV-1F overview.

Sony ZV-1F Overview – What’s Higher: a Vlogging Digital camera or a Smartphone?

Being reputable content material creators, we’ve made vlog-style movies on a complete vary of various cameras.

From motion cameras just like the GoPro HERO11 Black to full-frame hybrids just like the Sony A7iv or even our trusty iPhones, we’re at all times mix and matching our content material in accordance with no matter digicam we’ve at hand.

For us a vlogging digicam has to serve two major functions:

1. Be handy to make use of
2. Produce just right sufficient high quality

The primary one is plain. If a digicam is inconvenient to make use of, then we’ll by no means in truth use it.

Such things as how fast and simple you’ll be able to get started recording, how simple it’s to make use of within the area, how little we need to fear about settings and whether or not we will get concentration and framing spot on with out double checking the whole lot all play into comfort.

And after we say just right sufficient high quality, it’s as a result of on the finish of the day we make vlogs, now not cinematic motion pictures.

If the content material is solely occurring YouTube or Instagram Reels, then we don’t normally fear about intricate color grading, top body charges, and so forth. Simply write the tale, shoot the video, edit it as temporarily as conceivable and submit.

The ZV-1F targets to take on the above two issues, and does a tight task at each.

Fast Hearth – Sony ZV-1F Options

No, it’s not so good as our A7iv. And no, it’s now not as fast and simple to make use of as a GoPro. Nevertheless it’s a rattling sight higher than our iPhones for vlog-style content material.

For just a little digicam it packs so much goodness underneath the hood.

Simply wish to know what the most productive Sony ZV-1F options are? Right here we pass:

• Sort 1 (13.2×8.8mm) Exmor RS CMOS sensor
• 20mm fastened similar lens
• f/2 huge aperture
• Articulating LCD contact display
• 425 autofocus issues, together with eye autofocus
• 4k 30fps
• 1080p 120fps (in S&Q mode)
• Lively symbol stabilisation
• 20 megapixel nonetheless photographs
• Directional 3-Pill Microphone
• Vertical video mode
• ISO – 125 to twelve,800
• USB-C charging port

Who’s the ZV-1F for?

Should you’re an aspiring content material author taking a look to submit just right high quality shuttle or way of life vlogs, the Sony ZV-1F might be the precise possibility for you.

The ZV-1F is aimed toward novice vloggers and creators who need one thing higher than an iPhone or Android, however don’t wish to lay our a fortune or want further options that you’ll be able to in finding within the ZV-1.

iPhone vs ZV-1F – Which is Higher?

Should you’re taking a look to supply video, and simplest video, then the Sony ZV-1F is best than an iPhone or Android smartphone.

It’s higher in low gentle, is more uncomplicated to regulate other video settings, has handbook video settings if required and the articulating LCD display manner you’ll be able to see your self correctly when filming, which you’ll be able to’t do when the usage of the rear digicam on a telephone.

For pictures even though, the ZV-1F is lovely lacklustre and with the computational algorithms of recent smartphones the photographs they are able to produce glance higher directly out of digicam.

Video Modes

The Sony ZV-1F shoots in extremely top answer 4k 30fps and 24fps (25fps in PAL mode).

Should you transfer on over to S&Q mode, which stands for Sluggish and Fast, you’ll be able to report at 120fps in 1080p, which achieves a 5x slow-mo fee at 24fps – easiest for that cinematic b-roll.

The caveat is the digicam doesn’t report audio in S&Q, however that’s most definitely now not going to be a lot of a hinderance anyway.

The most efficient phase is switching between customary velocity and S&Q couldn’t be more uncomplicated, with a easy one-button click on swapping out the settings.

There’s additionally a hyperlapse capturing mode which is able to report your video at as much as 60x quicker and play it again in 24, 25 or 30fps.

Listed below are probably the most different video settings which we in point of fact love at the new digicam.

READ MORE: Take a look at our skilled information to the most productive shuttle tripods!

Secure Shot

Shaky pictures in maximum instances is solely painful to observe.

If it’s minor shake while you’re status nonetheless, it provides to the herbal genre of a vlog.

However get started strolling round and speaking to the digicam, and the pictures could make the viewer really feel nauseous.

That’s the place symbol stabilisation is available in to take away that pesky digicam shake.

The Sony ZV-1F has first rate symbol stabilisation inbuilt, which they name Secure Shot.

Lively is what you need to make use of for run-and-gun vlogging, and we depart Lively Stabilisation on about 90% of the time.

No Secure Shot is okay if you’re mounting your digicam to a tripod, however we don’t suggest hand preserving it and vlogging.

Something to remember is that Lively vegetation in just a little to regulate for the extra stabilisation, so the 20mm fastened lens turns into a 25mm similar, however that is nonetheless huge sufficient for many vlogging scenarios.

Product Exhibit

One of the vital best options to make it into the Sony ZV-1 was once ‘Product Exhibit’, a modern environment that made the digicam seamlessly concentration on an merchandise that was once held in entrance of the lens, after which concentration again in your eye when got rid of.

Sony introduced Product Exhibit to the ZV-1F, and we’re so happy they did.

That is an especially at hand function when doing product opinions, as you by no means have to fret about lacking concentration at the merchandise you’re speaking about.

You do need to turn on the environment within the menu to make use of it.

Bokeh Transfer

There’s not anything slightly like great, creamy bokeh to spotlight an issue.

Bokeh is the out-of-focus background parts in a shot, regularly highly regarded in portrait pictures, and the ZV-1F does a gorgeous just right task at attaining this visible impact.

By way of activating Bokeh Transfer the digicam drops right down to its widest aperture, f/2, and defocuses the background.

Eye Autofocus

Certainly one of our favorite options of the Sony vary of cameras is their industry-leading autofocus device.

Regardless of being an entry-level vlogging digicam, the ZV-1F accommodates the most productive a part of Sony’s concentration engine – eye autofocus.

What this does is mechanically come across the attention of the topic and adjusts concentration in this a part of the picture.

Should you’re vlogging, the very last thing you need is the tree within the background to be razor sharp whilst your face is blurry.

READ MORE: Don’t omit our final shuttle pictures information!

Image Profiles

Regardless of the digicam being aimed toward novice video creators, Sony has integrated the power to change Image Profiles to offer a better scope of energy within the enhancing room, together with the professional-grade S-Log profile.

We’ll be totally fair even though. Should you’re a novice video author and taking a look on the ZV-1F, chances are high that you’re now not going to be taking a look to make use of S-Log or Cine

So whilst it’s improbable to have and maximum execs would believe this crucial, for an entry-level digicam it’s roughly overkill.

Nonetheless, if you wish to have a pass at color grading, discover ways to reveal for S-Log, shoot some content material and pull it up to your favorite video enhancing tool to mess around.

Comfortable Pores and skin Impact

Sony has one thing known as a ‘Comfortable Pores and skin Impact‘ which digitally smooths out wrinkles and blemishes to your pores and skin.

It may be grew to become to low, medium, top or off. We attempted it out, and instantly grew to become it off.

Name us out-of-touch millennials however even supposing this selection works lovely smartly, we expect it’s excessive and don’t perceive the aim of placing a filter out over your face on a vlog to make you glance artificially more youthful.

Yea good enough, we’re out of contact millennials.

Vertical Taking pictures

In the end in our checklist of Sony ZV-1F video options is the power to shoot in vertical.

We are living in a global of Instagram Reels and TikToks, and should you’ve ever attempted to crop panorama oriented content material into 9:16 you understand how tricky it may be. And that’s ignoring the large lack of main points and backbone you get from the crop itself.

Merely flip your ZV-1F from panorama to portrait and get started capturing to report natively in vertical.

Nail the framing and composition first time, and nonetheless be capable to use your content material at complete answer.

Pictures

We’re simply going to mention it now – don’t hassle with this digicam should you’re making plans on the usage of it for the rest as opposed to snapping fundamental YouTube thumbnails.

With a 20 megapixel sensor it’s no slouch, don’t get us mistaken, however the digicam in point of fact isn’t designed for pictures and there’s one evident factor that makes this obtrusive:

The Sony ZV-1F does now not shoot in RAW, simplest in JPEG.

What that implies is the digicam mechanically compresses the way into the document, deleting the additional knowledge which means you’re very restricted in relation to enhancing your information.

Should you don’t edit your pictures and simplest shoot in JPEG anyway it’s now not that gigantic of a deal, however until you’re pleased with the whole lot produced directly out of digicam, now not having RAW is an actual limitation.

READ MORE: Whilst you’re at it, take a look at our information to epic panorama pictures guidelines!

Mounted 20mm f/2 Lens

The largest gripe we had with the ZV-1 was once that it simply wasn’t huge sufficient for right kind vlogging.

Should you grew to become on Lively Secure Shot the crop issue intended it necessarily bring to a halt the highest of your head, until you had ridiculously lengthy fingers or fastened the digicam on a GorillaPod and held it out in point of fact a ways.

The ZV-1F has fastened this downside via introducing a large attitude, fastened 20mm similar lens with f/2 aperture.

That is greater than huge sufficient to have two folks in a shot whilst vlogging (easiest for the {couples} available in the market, like us).

It additionally manner the digicam will also be stored very compact with a pancake-style lens and no shifting portions at the entrance.

The down facet is that there is not any optical zoom like at the ZV-1, so that you’re principally caught at 20mm until you utilize the virtual zoom, which vegetation into the shot as much as 4x.

The huge f/2 aperture is in point of fact shallows the intensity of area, easiest should you’re attempting to succeed in a bokeh impact, and in addition permits for a considerable amount of gentle to hit the sensor in low gentle.

Articulating LCD Contact Display

One of the vital major causes the ZV-1F is best for vlogging than a smartphone is the power to look your self when you’re filming because of the articulating LCD Contact display.

Flipping it out to the facet permits you body your face within the shot selfie-style, and you’ll be able to additionally spin it round to indicate in near to any course you want.

This permits for right kind composing at other angles along with getting your face within the shot.

This LCD display may be touch-activated, and you’ll be able to use this not to simplest trade concentration via tapping the display but additionally get entry to any of the options you might want corresponding to Bokeh Transfer, Product Exhibit or white stability.

The outdated Sony menu device on their cameras was once…terrible.

Difficult, arduous to navigate, now not making any sense and simply irritating.

After years of comments Sony in spite of everything took at the recommendation in their thousands and thousands of customers and rebuilt the menu device from the bottom up.

Offered at the Sony A7Siii and therefore rolled out to maximum in their new fashions after that, the up to date menu device may be put in at the ZV-1F.

It shouldn’t be a marvel in point of fact, however we’re very, very grateful that it’s right here.

Construct High quality

The entire really feel of the ZV-1F is lovely nice, and in spite of its plastic case, the full construct high quality is best than anticipated.

The small, rubber deal with supplies simply sufficient grip to carry the digicam in point-and-shoot mode in addition to when vlogging, which means you don’t have to connect it to a tripod should you don’t wish to.

It’s necessary to notice that the Sony ZV-1F is now not water-resistant even though, so stay this in thoughts ahead of you pass operating round within the rain or underneath a waterfall.

READ MORE: Take a look at what made the minimize in our checklist of the most productive digicam backpacks in the marketplace these days!

Low Mild Capacity

The Sort 1.0 sensor is improbable in the course of the day, and is going lovely sturdy indoors with synthetic lights, however in darkish eventualities the video high quality will get lovely noisy.

Pushing the ISO to better ranges corresponding to 1600-3200 in point of fact began to deliver out harsh noise within the blacks.

We discovered it lovely applicable to ISO 800, and whilst you’ll be able to push it additional if you want, simply remember the low gentle features begin to fall aside.

Audio

The ZV-1F has a integrated directional 3-Pill Mic for taking pictures audio, and for just a little digicam the audio high quality is lovely just right.

We when compared the ZV-1F local audio with our iPhone 13 Professional Max and the ZV-1F had deeper tones and clearer discussion, choosing up reasonably much less background noise.

The digicam comes with just a little useless cat that slips into the new shoe mount to dam out wind noise, and it really works lovely smartly.

Should you’re taking video significantly even though you’ll wish to throw on an exterior microphone and plug it into the devoted microphone enter.

Sony’s ECM-G1 works completely with the ZV-1F and gives a vital development in sound high quality.

NOMADasaurus Verdict – A Respectable Choice for Amateur Vloggers

So that you’ve made it to the top of our Sony ZV-1F overview, and should you haven’t already made your thoughts up about whether or not or now not this digicam is best for you, we’ll percentage our ideas.

The Sony ZV-1F is aimed toward novice vloggers and content material creators who wish to improve from a smartphone however don’t wish to spend the additional cash for a better finish digicam.

For this, it serves its goal. The Sony ZV-1F is best than the most recent iPhone and Android telephones in relation to video high quality.

The articulating LCD display, product show off function, inbuilt microphone (with skill so as to add an exterior microphone) and the added bonuses of with the ability to elevate more than one batteries and SD playing cards signifies that it in point of fact is just a little vlogging powerhouse.

It for sure makes a case for being the most productive vlogging digicam for newcomers.

However should you’re fascinated with taking content material introduction significantly, and even perhaps wish to do that for a occupation, will have to you rush out and purchase it?

It relies.

Should you’re simplest capturing IG Reels or TikToks and haven’t any want to create lengthy shape YouTube movies, persist with your telephone for ease of simplicity.

Able to make the leap into YouTube even though, perhaps get started a shuttle channel or simply report your existence, however don’t wish to kill the price range?

Then the Sony ZV-1F is for you should you’re in a position to begin growing YouTube movies on the cheap too.

Sony ZV-1F vs ZV-1 – Which One is Proper for You?

We’ve owned the ZV-1 because it got here out and feature used it in all places from Australia to Greenland, Canada to Thailand for shuttle movies, and we expect it’s a gorgeous flexible digicam.

Over the last few weeks we’ve been checking out out the ZV-1F to look if it’s the most productive vlogging digicam for brand new content material creators even though, and are lovely inspired with it.

Questioning whether or not you will have to get the Sony ZV-1 or the Sony ZV-1F?

If you’re going to simplest do vlog-style movies with numerous speaking head pictures, the ZV-1F is best as a result of the broader 20mm fastened lens (and it’s less expensive).

However should you plan to do pictures as smartly, and perhaps dabble in some right kind b-roll then the ZV-1 is the digicam for you because of the optical zoom and RAW features.