Sony announces ZV-E1 vlogging camera with full-frame sensor

Sony today announced the ZV-E1 vlogging camera. This new model sits at the top of the company’s ZV lineup and is the first to feature a full-frame sensor.

The ZV-E1 has the same 12MP full-frame sensor as the A7S III and FX3, which is a very high quality sensor with remarkable low-light capabilities and 15+ stops of dynamic range. It couples that with the same BIONZ XR image processor from those other two cameras, which should ensure 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 mini type.

Being a beginners camera and focused on vlogging, the ZV-E1 has a few advantages. It’s smaller and lighter, has a dedicated zoom ring around the shutter, and controls to easily adjust depth of field and focus. There’s also a new Cinemascope aspect ratio, which places black bars around the 16:9 frame to create a 21:9 image without the need for editing.

The ZV-E1 also features Sony’s latest software features, with AI Human Recognition, which enables features such as Multiple Face Recognition which adjusts the aperture to allow two people to be in focus, Auto Framing where the camera crops the image to keep the subject in frame as it moves, framing stabilizer and microphone auto-directivity to detect talking subjects as they move.

The A7R V’s enhanced real-time reconnaissance AF can detect things like humans, animals, birds, insects, cars/trains, and planes. Breathing compensation maintains field of view while emphasizing high breathing lenses.

The ZV-E1 also includes Sony’s new Dynamic Active Mode stabilization, which is 30% more effective than standard Active Mode at reducing camera shake in footage.

At $2199 for the 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 roughly the same level of performance and functionality, while adding a few new features of its own, making it a much better alternative for new creators.

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