Sony Alpha ZV-E1 is the perfect camera for bloggers

Sony has unveiled the ZV-E1, its first professional-grade full-frame mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. It comes with a host of intelligent video processing features optimized for vloggers and content creators. ZV-E1 is based on the Sony Bionz XR processor and a separate dedicated AI chip.

It is claimed that the new processor unit significantly improves the speed of autofocus. The camera uses the same back-illuminated 12-megapixel full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor as the A7S III. This is not a hybrid camera. Its impressive features are aimed at video content creators. In the Sony ZV-1E review, we will describe the main features and parameters of the novelty.

Sony ZV-E1 review

Design

The body of the Sony ZV-E1 camera resembles a hodgepodge of Sony ZV-E10 and Sony A7C . According to Sony, the ZV-E1 takes the crown from the A7C as the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens camera. The camera is much lighter than the Canon EOS R8 , which lacks built-in image stabilization. The new model has a more premium and less plastic design than previous cameras in the ZV line. For the first time, the body of this series is weatherproof on par with Alpha cameras such as the Sony A7S III .

The ZV-E1 contains some of the buttons from previous ZV cameras, including a bokeh switch to improve background blur and a zoom switch that will work with Sony PZ lenses for electronic zoom. The LCD screen tilts to the side. It can be rotated in different directions. Its resolution, of course, leaves much to be desired: only 1036800 points.

Video-centric controls include a physical indicator light on the top front of the camera, a switch to easily switch between still and video capture, a zoom lever, a prominent record button, buttons for Product Demo and Background Defocus modes, and an LCD -Variable-angle screen for easy self-recording.

Sensor and image quality

Users may wonder why Sony’s first full-frame camera, the ZV-E1, is now being released. What are the benefits of a full-frame image sensor for video content creators? The benefits are numerous, but the main and obvious consequence of enlarging the image sensor is better bokeh, ceteris paribus.

A larger sensor provides a shallower depth of field. This means the background becomes softer and the video looks more cinematic. The large image sensor also allows the use of nearly 50 full-frame Sony E-mount lenses. While full-frame lenses can be used with the ZV-E10 APS-C, you won’t get the full benefit of them as they have a 1.5x crop factor.

The large 12.1-megapixel Exmor RS sensor used in the ZV-E1 has increased the pixel size. This results in improved low light performance as each pixel can capture more light than the smaller pixels on the smaller sensors in the ZV-E10 and ZV-1 models . The ZV-E10’s ISO tops out at 409600, which is almost like seeing in the dark.

It’s worth noting that full-frame sensors don’t always deliver better low-light performance than smaller sensors with corresponding resolutions, but that’s not the case with the ZV-E1 series. Similarly, the novelty promises an impressive dynamic range. Sony claims 15+ steps.

Next generation image stabilization

The Sony ZV-E1 camera includes a built-in five-axis “Optical Active” image stabilization. It provides up to five stops of stabilization in exchange for minor cropping. However, the all-new Dynamic Active Mode combines optical stabilization with electronic stabilization for a performance boost of up to 30%.

Not surprisingly, this requires a noticeably larger crop factor. However, Dynamic Active Mode is a great option for fast walking, casual shooting and longer focal lengths. There is an option “Frame Stabilization”, which involves keeping the captured object in the center of the frame. This is done by an intelligent unit that recognizes the poses of even a turned away person.

Advanced AI autofocus

With this processing unit, first introduced in the recent Sony A7R V , the ZV-E1 promises sophisticated, improved autofocus performance. AI ZV-E1 can perform human posture estimation, better track objects when their face is covered, better deal with objects with their back to the camera. It can track the target even if it is temporarily hidden and provide more accurate autofocus when the subject in the frame has a very small face.

Combining a dedicated AI processing unit with the Sony Bionz XR processor, the Sony ZV-E1 camera promises 40% higher autofocus accuracy in subject recognition and can recognize more types. The camera has special object detection modes for animals, birds, cars and trains, airplanes and insects.

Both autofocus and autoframing use in-camera processing to keep the subject in a predetermined area of ​​the frame using smart cropping. This should be useful for video content creators working alone. It can be difficult to hold the frame, so the help of the ZV-E1 should be helpful.

Accessibility for creating video content

As we have already mentioned several times, the Sony ZV-E1 model focuses on creating video content. Yes, the camera can take photos like other ZV cameras, but it is aimed at video. Accordingly, the ZV-E1 has certain features that are useful for video recording and make it easy to capture high-quality video content.

One such feature is the built-in “Bokeh Switcher”. For users who don’t understand or don’t want to deal with manual iris control, the ZV-E1 bokeh switch automatically opens the lens iris to reduce depth of field and create video with out-of-focus backgrounds. This can help make the subject stand out, especially against a busy background.

The ZV-E1’s new AI-powered multi-face detection automatically adjusts bokeh and focus when there are multiple people in the frame. The Sony ILCZVE1 camera uses a wide open aperture and a shallower depth of field when there is only one person in the frame. When someone else is in the frame, especially when they are closer or farther away from the camera, the camera changes aperture to keep both people in focus.

The Product Showcase setting isn’t unique, but it’s specifically designed for content creators. When a person is in the frame and can pick up the product, the Product Demonstration option allows you to quickly move the autofocus from the person’s face to the subject being shown and back to the face.

LUTs, or color correction tables, are a useful way to give a video a specific, predefined look. LUTs tell the video editing application exactly how to change the color in the video. In a way, it’s like a preset or a filter. The ZV-E1 allows users to import LUTs directly into the camera, a first for Sony.

The ILCZVE1 also has a Creative Look option for photos and videos, including 10 different types, each with eight user-selectable options. The ZV-E1 introduces a new “My Picture Style” setting that allows the operator to adjust various style settings while others are handled automatically.

Sound

Video audio is also important. Bad audio will degrade even the highest quality video. The ZV-E1 has a built-in microphone with three capsules. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the microphone can automatically change direction, including the front capsule, or rear, or all three as needed.

Users can also manually switch between these options. The camera is equipped with a windscreen that can be easily attached to the Multi Interface Shoe. The windscreen reduces wind noise when shooting outdoors. The camera also works with accessories via the Sony Multi Interface (MI) shoe thanks to the digital audio interface.

Battery

Despite its small size, the camera holds a large NP-FZ100 battery with a capacity of 16.4 Wh. One charge provides the photographer with 570 shots. In terms of video, the shooting time is 140 minutes in continuous mode, or about 95 minutes in real mode (turned on the camera, turned on the video, focused, filmed, turned off the camera, and so on repeatedly).

Connections

For serious video work, the Sony ZV-E1 features separate microphone and headphone jacks. Unfortunately it doesn’t have a full size HDMI output, instead using micro HDMI. There is a USB-C port (5Gb / s) with the ability to charge. Also, the camera is equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth version 4.2.

Conclusion

The Sony ZV-E1 offers many compelling features for video content creators. In this regard, it is very different from other hybrid full-frame cameras on the market. One of the most notable omissions is the lack of an eye-level viewfinder. This severely limits the ZV-E1’s photography capabilities.

However, what the ZV-E1 lacks in photo features, it more than makes up for in video. The camera is packed to the brim with impressive new AI-powered features that will make life a lot easier for bloggers. The content creation market is booming and Sony hopes its new ZV-E1 will appeal to the most ambitious creators.

Sony ZV-E1 Specifications