Sony ZV-E1 Mirrorless Camera, White

42 West: Sony ZV-E1 Camera: Hands-On Review with Sal D’Alia

Sony has just announced a new addition to the ZV lineup, the Sony ZV-E1 Camera. This is the world’s smallest and lightest full frame, interchangeable lens camera and is great for content creators — especially professional vloggers. With unparalleled .....

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Better Live Streams.

Connected to a personal computer or smartphone via USB, the ZV-E1 can function as a high-quality webcam for live events or online meetings. Take advantage of narrow depth of field, stunning bokeh and advanced AF to create unique imagery.

Next Level Vlogging.

Working with the ZV-E1's 12.1 MP full-frame sensor, the latest BIONZ XR engine provides high-speed processing to support 4K 60p, 120p upgradable recording, while an AI processing unit improves subject-recognition capabilities for advanced vlogging applications.

Intuitive Cinematic Vlog Setting.

By using Cinematic Vlog Setting and choosing a Look and Mood, you can create cinematic vlog footage that matches the scene and your creative intent. The overall cinematic feel is further enhanced by the use of a 24 fps frame rate and the widescreen Cinemascope aspect ratio (2.35:1) with black bands above and below the image.

Steady Your Shot.

A compact, precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors plus optimized algorithms achieve up to 5.0-step stabilization. Dynamic active Mode further improves stability by up to 30% compared to previously, while the Framing Stabilizer automatically maintains the subject's position in the frame, using Dynamic active Mode and AI-based subject recognition.

AI-Based Auto Framing For Movies.

Using AI-based subject recognition technology, the Auto Framing feature automatically crops the frame to keep the subject in a prominent position when shooting movies. Even though the camera is mounted on a tripod, framing is continually adjusted so that recorded footage looks like the subject was being followed by an experienced camera operator.

Real Time Recognition Auto Focus.

With its innovative AI processing unit, the ZV-E1 uses subject form data to accurately recognize movement, providing an improvement of approx. 60% in human eye recognition. Human pose estimation technology recognizes body and head position, so you can even track a subject facing away from the camera or wearing a mask.

Better, Cleaner Audio.

The Intelligent 3 Capsule Microphone captures clear audio, including the voice of your main subject. Depending on your shoot, you can set the microphone's directivity to Front, Rear, All Directions or Auto.

Flexible ISO, Exposure Freedom.

Flexible ISO is an S-Log3 shooting mode that allows ISO sensitivity to change according to the brightness of the scene, while aperture and shutter speed are set manually. ISO can be set to AUTO or manually set between 640 and 102400 (160 and 409600 in expanded ISO mode) as required for optimum exposure.

Simple Touch Controls.

Swiping the left or right edge of the monitor display reveals touch function icons at the top that control the shooting mode, Cinematic Vlog Setting, and more.Additionally, the function (Fn) menu can be displayed by swiping up on the monitor. Other refinements include exposure compensation and white balance touch-control icons that have been added to the existing F-stop, shutter speed, and ISO icons at the bottom of the monitor display.

Vlog to your full potential

Expressive imagery that emphasizes the subject
Working with the ZV-E1's 12.1 MP full-frame sensor, the latest BIONZ XR engine provides high-speed processing to support 4K 60p, 120p upgradable15 recording, while an AI processing unit improves subject-recognition capabilities for advanced vlogging applications.

Full-Frame, back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R sensor
The ZV-E1 is Sony's first dedicated vlog camera with a 12.1MP back-illuminated 35mm CMOS image sensor, delivering 15+ stops of latitude, low noise, high sensitivity, and gorgeous full-frame bokeh.

BIONZ XR image processing engine
With up to 8x more processing power, the new BIONZ XR image processing engine boosts high sensitivity, precise gradation rendering and color reproduction, and low-noise performance.

AI processing unit
The ZV-E1 is equipped with an AI processing unit specifically dedicated to processing significant amounts of data to enable wider and more accurate subject recognition.

Intuitive Cinematic Vlog Setting
By using Cinematic Vlog Setting and choosing a Look and Mood, you can create cinematic vlog footage that matches the scene and your creative intent. The overall cinematic feel is further enhanced by the use of a 24 fps frame rate and the widescreen Cinemascope aspect ratio (2.35:1) with black bands above and below the image.

Rely on stable camera work
A compact, precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors plus optimized algorithms achieve up to 5.0-step stabilization. Dynamic active Mode further improves stability by up to 30% compared to previously, while the Framing Stabilizer automatically maintains the subject's position in the frame, using Dynamic active Mode and AI-based subject recognition.

AI-based Auto Framing for movies
Using AI-based subject recognition technology, the Auto Framing feature automatically crops the frame to keep the subject in a prominent position when shooting movies. Even though the camera is mounted on a tripod, framing is continually adjusted so that recorded footage looks like the subject was being followed by an experienced camera operator.

Real-time Recognition AF
With its innovative AI processing unit, the ZV-E1 uses subject form data to accurately recognize movement, providing an improvement of approx. 60% in human eye recognition. Human pose estimation technology recognizes body and head position, so you can even track a subject facing away from the camera or wearing a mask.

Slow and Quick Motion
When directly replaying movies in slow or quick motion in S&Q mode while using the XAVC S-I format at 60p, a maximum bit rate of 600 Mbps (4:2:2 10-bit, H.264, All-I) delivers outstanding image quality. When using the XAVC S format, up to 10x slow motion with Full HD resolution is possible at 240 fps (24p recording), providing fresh perspectives on dynamic sports and other types of action.

Creative zoom control
The zoom lever on top of the grip controls compatible powered zoom lenses and also enables Clear Image Zoom for unpowered zoom and prime lenses, which can reduce the number of lenses required for a shoot.

Record your main subject's voice clearly, whatever the setting
The Intelligent 3 Capsule Microphone captures clear audio, including the voice of your main subject. Depending on your shoot, you can set the microphone's directivity to Front, Rear, All Directions or Auto.

Details make the difference

10-bit 4:2:2 in-camera recording
The ZV-E1 can record 10-bit 4:2:2 video internally when using Long GOP or All Intra compression, making it possible to grade for fuller, more natural gradations while generally providing greater editing freedom.

S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3
S-Log3 offers enhanced reproduction of shadow to mid-tone (18% gray) gradations. Color spaces include S-Gamut3, with even better color reproduction than S-Gamut, and S-Gamut3.Cine, a color space that has been designed to provide a look similar to scanned cinema film.

Import and use custom LUT files
User LUT files (.cube format) can be imported and assigned to picture profiles to create a specific look. The look is recorded in-camera, so color correction in post processing can be minimized or eliminated.

Flexible ISO for greater exposure setting freedom
Flexible ISO is an S-Log3 shooting mode that allows ISO sensitivity to change according to the brightness of the scene, while aperture and shutter speed are set manually. ISO can be set to AUTO or manually set between 640 and 102400 (160 and 409600 in expanded ISO mode) as required for optimum exposure.

Compact and lightweight with intuitive control

The world's smallest, lightest, full-frame interchangeable lens vlog camera
The ZV-E1 is the world's most compact, lightweight vlog camera with a full-frame CMOS sensor and lens interchangeablity, making it ideal not only for handheld shooting, but also for gimbal or drone mounting.

Accessible controls
The side-opening vari-angle LCD screen and the positioning of the Still/Movie/S&Q selector, REC button and other controls make it easy to shoot selfies and vlogs.

Intuitive touch operations
Swiping the left or right edge of the monitor display reveals touch function icons at the top that control the shooting mode, Cinematic Vlog Setting, and more. Additionally, the function (Fn) menu can be displayed by swiping up on the monitor. Other refinements include exposure compensation and white balance touch-control icons that have been added to the existing F-stop, shutter speed, and ISO icons at the bottom of the monitor display.

Z-series battery and optimized power performance
Drawing on Sony's high-capacity Z battery, the ZV-E1's new image processing engine, image sensor, and related circuitry have been designed for optimal power economy under all shooting conditions.

Dust-and moisture-resistant design
A wide variety of accessories are available to support vloggers during shoots, from high-quality external microphones to an easy-to-handle grip for smooth, one-handed operation.

Convenient features for confident shooting
Shoot with confidence while the ZV-E1 assists with a range of helpful features, including a recording lamp on the front of the camera, a self-timer for movies, and a prominent recording indicator on the monitor.

Accessories to support your shooting needs
A wide variety of accessories are available to support vloggers during shoots, from high-quality external microphones to an easy-to-handle grip for smooth, one-handed operation.

Connect and share

Easy and stable smartphone connectivity
Connection stability when transferring images from the camera to the Creators' App on a smartphone has been greatly improved, with stable transfers continuing in the background. Shot Marks help make uploading clips easier and more efficient.

Stream top-quality live content
Connected to a personal computer or smartphone via USB, the ZV-E1 can function as a high-quality webcam for live events or online meetings. Take advantage of narrow depth of field, stunning bokeh and advanced AF to create unique imagery.

Creators' Cloud platform
Creators' Cloud is a platform that supports creative work from shooting to production by combining advanced Sony camera technology with cloud-based AI. It's also a place for discovery and collaboration with other creators around the world. Explore web, mobile, and PC-based apps providing efficient solutions that integrate cameras with shooting and production apps and services.

Additional Features

Natural skin tones, Soft Skin Effect and background bokeh
The colors and textures of human skin and foliage are rendered consistently, even in challenging lighting conditions. Improved gradation rendering produces better skin tones and highlight roll-off in portraits, while the Soft Skin Effect smooths out small wrinkles and blemishes and adds clarity around the eyes and mouth. When you want to emphasize your main subject, a press of the Bokeh Switch creates impressive full-frame background defocus.

Framing Stabilizer maintains a constant subject position within the frame
The Framing Stabilizer feature automatically keeps the subject's position in the frame constant, which can be particularly useful when walking alongside the subject. Advanced AI-based subject recognition technology works with the camera's Dynamic active Mode image stabilization to reliably keep the subject in the frame even while in motion during handheld shooting.

Create memorable imagery with ease with Cinematic Vlog Setting
Cinematic Vlog Setting provides an intuitive way to create scenes that look like feature movies. By choosing a Look, Mood and AF transition speed, anyone can create cinematic vlog footage that ideally matches the scene and creative intent. The Cinematic Vlog Setting includes options such as S-Cinetone that can enhance skin tones, Mood options that can emphasize specific colors, and the AF transition speed that determines how quickly autofocus will switch between subjects. The overall cinematic feel is further enhanced by the use of a 24 fps frame rate and the widescreen Cinemascope aspect ratio (2.35:1) with black bands above and below the image.