Review: Sony ZV-1 for Beginner Content Creators

The super-compact, sleek and agile Sony ZV-1 is praised by vloggers and content creators alike for its impressive list of features, ease of use and 4K video. If you're currently shooting with your smartphone, this article covers how the Sony ZV-1 can offer a user-friendly way to upgrade your image quality. The Sony ZV-1 is designed with content creators in mind and has many of the qualities of its cousin, the Sony RX100 VII.

Benefits of a compact camera

With a built-in Zeiss lens, you don’t carry any additional lenses around. The ZV-1's lens is broadly equivalent to the popular 24-70mm focal length, but you might have to hold it far away to get a selfie video.

The ZV-1 can capture ​​20-megapixel stills with its 1-inch CMOS sensor. While this is bigger than your cell phone, the sensor may struggle in low light conditions. If you need to shoot in dim locations, then a Micro Four Thirds, APS-C or full-frame camera is a better choice.

'Defocus' background button

If you like out-of-focus backgrounds—and you aren't ready to control aperture and depth of field manually—the Sony ZV-1 does this with one button.

Great for beginners

The Sony ZV-1 is a do-everything camera, with easy-to-understand modes that work with beginner content creators.

Flip the screen to start recording in selfie mode

The swivel LCD screen, when opened and turned to face you ready for a selfie video, automatically turns on the camera and records in seconds. If you need quick responsiveness in a vlogging camera, it doesn’t get better than that. Creating a quick TikTok video or Instagram Reel? Flip the ZV-1 screen's around to quickly record. Then, connect it to your computer to edit—or send it straight to your phone, with the Imaging Edge Mobile app or via Wi-Fi.

Built-in ND filter

The Sony ZV-1 lens comes with a built-in ND filter, which reduces light in full sun and prevents overexposed images.

Video features

The Sony ZV-1 is also a solid option for a second camera, especially for wide-angle b-roll shots in 4K. The available picture profiles include those popular among cinema creators, like the SLog2 and SLog3 profiles. These profiles produce a flat image for ease of colour grading, customisation and compatibility with LUTs and presets. You can also attach a microphone to increase your audio quality.

Verdict

While the Sony ZV-1 has its limitations, it's a great option for beginners. If you want to increase the quality of your social media content, the Sony ZV-1 is miles better than your smartphone and is a user-friendly introduction to camera gear. Once you've learned the ropes, it's always easy to upgrade to a more advanced camera.

Check out our video tips for content creators and more camera gear guides on theMPB content hub.