The Sony ZV-1 is a modified version of the very popular pocket cam RX100, built to be a great camera for online content.
Whether you’re a vlogger or simply one who makes videos in which they are speaking and communicating directly to their audience via video, this pocket cam is wonderful!
The size is incredible as it could literally be fit in a pocket that can not be said for DSLRs or mirrorless camera systems with external lenses. The specs are worthwhile and in that tiny frame are jam-packed features that may surprise most people who encounter it, was it’s far more capable and versatile than immediately meets the eye.
The area that this camera really fills a void in is in between filming with a smartphone and an expensive DSLR or mirrorless system.
Perhaps a person would be okay with buying a mirrorless, but lenses quickly become an economic concern upon heading down that path. Having a built-in, quality rotoscoping lens might just be the dream solution people have been longing for without even realizing they were longing for it.Â
The camera is about eight-hundred dollars in the U.S. Around this price point, one could also look into the Sony A6400, but that would just be for the body and lenses of quality can be extremely cost inflating.Â
The RX100, which is the camera that the ZV-1 modified is a point and shoot style camera which for years has been renowned for its plethora of powerful features that are usually only found in DSLR or mirrorless systems. This made for it being the perfect device for modification and specialization. Â
You aren’t limited to simply running your camera in auto mode, which is the case with a few similar options consumers might be considering.
Instead, you can really get in there and make your shutter speeds, ISO, white balance, aperture, color profiles, ISO and focus modes yours, giving the film school nerd that lives somewhere deep inside of most of us an exciting opportunity.
The only drawback really with handling these features is the menu system, which could be far more intuitive, as the menus will drive people switching over crazy for a little while until they remember some of the odd and unique ways that they operate when compared to, for example, their Canon contemporaries.
Something really cool was done when creating this camera. Sony used two different models of the RX100 and combined components of each to craft the new camera.
Sony’s new pocket toy implemented the RX100 VI’s lens and ND filter while implementing the sensor and chipset of the RX100 VII. This creates great intelligent autofocusing with the shallower depth of field that the RX100 V had with its lens.
Clever craftsmanship and design have created a friendly experience for the user. The camera has a handgrip that fits really well into the average hand and creates a sense of stability and ergonomic comfort while the screen’s hinge system allows the user a dream-level of articulation.
Included is also a hot shoe allowing the user to easily add a microphone, light, etc. rather than having to haul around and manage an external rig, which everyone knows is what makes a camera system convenient or inconvenient for quick use.
Nothing is perfect though and in certain ways, you’ll always get what you pay for. The camera is four-hundred dollars cheaper than its contemporary RX100 and there are reasons for this.
The ZV-1 does not have the electronic viewfinder, which for some may be a big deal, but for most people using the device for creating internet videos, it may not be a big factor for them.
The screen has issues with visibility if one is wearing polarized sunglasses, which is a weird and sometimes very frustrating quirk. The battery for the camera is also notoriously small, which can create complications if traveling.
The ZV-1 isn’t perfect for everyone, but it’s perfect for most. The price is great, the lens is shocking and the ergonomics of the device are truly designed with the end-user in mind, which is greatly appreciated. There are drawbacks, but for the vast majority of users, the pros far outweigh the cons.Â
