Designed for Content Creators and Vloggers. The Sony ZV-E1 Mirrorless Camera includes a range of features aimed squarely at content creators and influencers. Its Cinematic Vlog setting, rear LCD with side flip-out design, built-in front-facing three-capsule mic, external-mic and headphone jacks, Face Priority Auto-Exposure, Soft Skin effect, Background Defocus feature, Product Showcase setting, Active SteadyShot image-stabilization system, large REC button, and compact, lightweight design all make it a particularly vlogger-friendly camera.

12.1MP Full-Frame Exmor Sensor and BIONZ XR Image Processor. The redesigned 12.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor features a back-illuminated Exmor R design for greater clarity and improved noise reduction. It gives you an impressive 80-102400 ISO range for stills and movies that can be extended to ISO 40-409600 for stills and ISO 80-409600 for movies. When this sensor is coupled with the revised BIONZ XR image processor, you get up to 8x faster processing, faster overall camera speed, and markedly reduced rolling shutter. On top of that, this sensor-processor combination gives you up to fifteen-plus stops of dynamic range for stills and video, and 10 fps continuous shooting for up to 1000 uncompressed RAW stills.

UHD 4K 120p Video. This camera captures UHD 4K video at up to 120 fps and Full HD at up to 240 fps using full pixel readout with no line skipping or pixel binning, and all recording modes offer internal 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling. The ZV-E1’s lack of recording-time limits on video clips and its heat-dissipating construction make it the perfect choice for long-form recording, and it supports the All-Intra and XAVC S-I intraframe codecs that give you consistent performance and quality at bit rates up to 600 Mb/s.

CineVlog Video Mode. CineVlog mode, which you can activate with a single press of an onscreen button, instantly gives you a more cinematic look by putting the camera into the low-contrast S-Cinetone color profile, shooting at 23.98p, and giving you a 2.35:1 cinematic widescreen crop, although the footage is still output at 16:9 UHD. CineVlog mode also gives you the option to apply Moods—which adjust color response, and Looks—which adjust tonal response and contrast, in any combination to give your videos the exact vibe you want.

Additional Vlogging-Specific Video Features. The ZV-E1 includes a few automated video modes meant to simplify the creation of high-quality, production-ready video for people creating content on their own. The My Image Style feature gives you onscreen camera-settings buttons labeled in non-technical, layperson’s terms, making it easy to get your image just right. The Product Showcase mode overrides face-detection autofocus and gives temporary focus priority to items held in front of the camera. The ZV-E1 supports instant time-lapse settings with fully customizable frame rates, recording, light, and interval parameters. You get exceptional image quality when using Slow & Quick Motion mode to directly replay movies while using the XAVC S-I format at 60p. When you’re using the XAVC S format, you can replay movies at up to 10x slow motion in Full HD resolution at 240 fps.

Connectivity and Streaming. You can use the Sony Creators’ App, which replaces the Imaging Edge App, to connect to the Creators’ Cloud platform which lets you share and store media, edit, and collaborate, all in the cloud. The ZV-E1 can use USB output using UVC/UAC control via a computer for streaming and broadcasts, with the USB output supporting up to 4K30 video. The camera itself is also capable of livestreaming by using its webcam function in tandem with a computer. The ZV-E1 can output up to 4K30 video to a computer via USB-C, and it supports UVC/UAC control-protocol standards.

Fast Hybrid Autofocus System. This camera’s Fast Hybrid autofocus system uses 759 phase-detection points for photo and 627 phase-detection points for video to give you fast, accurate focusing in a broad range of lighting conditions with sensitivity down to 6 EV. You can use autofocus in all recording modes, and it greatly benefits video and still-shooting applications. It locks onto subjects quickly and has an AI-based Real-Time Tracking feature for moving subjects, but you can also use touch tracking instead. The Real-Time Eye AF feature is designed for maximum sharpness when shooting portraits, and it works on humans and animals alike. You have control over how quickly and smoothly focus shifts from subject to subject for even greater fine tuning.

Autofocus Tracking Features. The ZV-E1’s autofocus system features a range of AI-based tracking features, many of which are new. Its Real-Time Recognition AF feature works with seven selectable subject types. Its Human mode tracks people by their body and head positions for maximum sharpness when shooting portraits, and the Real-Time Eye AF feature’s performance has been improved by 60%. Its Animal, Bird, and Animal/Bird modes are 40% more accurate for recognizing a variety of animal types—including insects—and pinpointing and tracking their heads and eyes. This system also has dedicated Car/Train and Airplane modes, which can detect and track those subjects with utmost accuracy, even at high speeds.

Five-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization. The built-in image-stabilization system helps keep things smooth even when you’re shooting hand-held or in low light. Its Optical Active mode increases stabilization when you’re shooting while walking, and the Dynamic Active mode adds electronic stabilization that’s ideal for quick camera moves and longer focal lengths. The Framing Stabilization option adjusts the sensor crop in Dynamic Active mode to keep the subject centered in the frame while stabilizing your footage.

Side Flip-Out LCD and Audio Options. A rear 3.0-inch, 1.07m-dot touchscreen LCD features a side flip-out design that’s great for filming yourself and taking selfies with ease. The camera’s top plate incorporates a directional three-capsule mic built for forward-directional audio recording, and there’s a 3.5mm mic port, a headphone jack, and a Multi-Interface Shoe to accommodate external mics and accessories.

Versatile Control Options. This camera offers control options optimized for content creators. There’s a giant Record button for ease of use when vlogging, and a dedicated function button that can be programmed to offer quick adjustments of several different functions, allowing users to forego menu diving. If you prefer touchscreen controls, the ZV-E1 has you covered. Swiping the left or right edge of the touchscreen lets you access shooting mode, Cinematic Vlog mode, and more, while swiping up on the touchscreen pulls up the function menu.

Power and Memory. The ZV-E1 is powered by the NP-FZ100 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is rated for roughly 570 stills or 120 minutes of video recording per charge. It records images and video to a single UHS-II SDHC/XC memory card. Please note that 4K video capture in S-Log3 requires a UHS-I Class 3 or faster memory card.

This camera does NOT include a separate battery charger, it charges the battery in-camera with the supplied USB C cable and power adapter. If you'd like to rent a separate battery charger, please check it out here.

Q & A