Sony today announced the ZV-E1 vlogging camera. This new model sits at the top of the company’s ZV line and is the first to feature a full-frame sensor.
The ZV-E1 has the same 12MP full-frame sensor found on the A7S III and FX3, which is a very high-quality sensor with impressive low-light capabilities and a dynamic range of over 15 stops. It pairs that with the same BIONZ XR image processor as those other two cameras, which should deliver nearly identical image quality.
The ZV-E1 makes some concessions compared to the A7S III and FX3. It currently maxes out at 4K 60fps with 4:2:2 and 10-bit, with 4K 120fps promised as part of a future update. It also lacks the full heat management of the other two cameras. It has a single SD card slot and the HDMI port is of the mini type.
Being a beginner camera and focused on vlogging, the ZV-E1 has some advantages. It’s smaller and lighter, has a dedicated zoom ring around the shutter, and has controls for easily adjusting depth of field and focus. There’s also a new Cinemascope aspect ratio, which puts black bars around the 16:9 frame to create a 21:9 picture without requiring any editing.
The ZV-E1 also features Sony’s latest software features, with AI human recognition, enabling features such as multiple face recognition that adjusts the aperture to allow two people to be in focus, automatic framing where the camera crops the image to keep the subject in the frame as they move, framing stabilizer and automatic microphone directivity to detect talking subjects as they move.
The A7R V’s improved real-time recognition AF can detect things like humans, animals, birds, insects, cars/trains, and airplanes. Breath compensation maintains the field of view while focusing on the lenses with wheezing.
The ZV-E1 also features Sony’s new Dynamic Active Mode stabilization, which is 30% more effective than the standard Active Mode at reducing camera shake during shooting.
At $2199 body only or $2499 with a 28-60mm F4.5-5.6 zoom lens, the ZV-E1 is significantly cheaper than the A7S III or FX3 while offering nearly the same level of performance and features, while also adding some new features of its own, making it a much better alternative for new creators.
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