Sony ZV-E1

Gareth Bevan discovers a compact and powerful vlogging camera, but wonders whether its limited features can justify such a high price

- Gareth Bevan

Price: £2,349/$2,199

The vlogging camera space is heating up, with most of the major manufacturers targeting content creators with specially designed products. Sony was one of the first companies to recognise this market as a significant new area and has been making cameras in its vlog-focused ZV line for the past couple of years. Sony’s initial entries, including the ZV-E10 or Sony ZV-1F, have all focused on the entry-level vlogger, with 1-inch or APS-C sensors and affordable price points.

With the ZV-E1, Sony now has something for the serious vlogger – a full frame vlogging camera, with image stabilisation and a subject recognition and tracking system, pulled out of its top-of-the-line professional camera. However, the ZV-E1 is hounded by the same question as the rest of the vlogging camera market – when the video on an iPhone is so good (and keeps getting better), is there any need for a dedicated $2000 vlogging camera?

The Sony ZV-E1 uses the same sensor as the A7S III and features a 12MP illuminated sensor on the back side, with an impressive 15 plus stops of dynamic range and an ISO range of 80-102,400 (which is extendable up to 409,600), powered by the Bionz XR processor and a dedicated AI chip from the latest Sony A7R V.

The camera inherits the impressive autofocus features from the A7R V model, including person and animal subject recognition that tracks movements of limbs and body, making it possible to focus on partially obscured subjects.