Sony ZV-1

ahalpert

ahalpert

Major Contributor
https://www.cinema5d.com/sony-zv-1-hands-on-review-a-new-camera-not-only-for-vloggers/

Sony just announced a camera for vloggers. I'm not personally interested in it, but the camera costs <$1k and has a built-in ND filter (electronic, I assume). This makes me wonder if the A7SIII will have one as well.

(What's also interesting is that the camera has a Face Autoexposure mode which will keep the exposure balanced for your face, which seems like a much smarter autoexposure method than balancing the whole frame. Combined with Eye/Face AF, this seems like a really capable tool for amateurs and vloggers.)

UPDATE: it looks like Sony already introduced a built-in ND filter in a consumer body in the RX100 V (although they removed it in later versions of the camera?) On that camera, it was a 3-stop ND filter that was not electronic. So perhaps my interest is unwarranted.
 
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I think the ND was repleaced by having a '28-200' lens instead of the '24-70' with ND.

assume space was at a premium.
 
I think its all good apart from it is a sony. (buttons menu) cant mount on a tripod properly, cant change the battery, can/cannot power expternally.

still thinking about what it is (or isnt)

generally Im not sure I could go out with it.
 
Really good walkthrough from Gerald Undone on YouTube. Doesn't really go wide enough for vlogging, also has funny 4k/24 with ibis on instead of 30p. AF seemed really good, rolling shutter was very good. I think the price is beyond what I will pay for a pocket video camera, maybe used when it falls enough, the lens would be good enough for a lot of the personal stuff I've done.
 
This is just a Sony RX100V with mic in and a screen that folds to the side instead of up (where a hot shoe mic would block it). It's not a bad camera by any means, I still have my RX100IV (which is identical to the V but with much worse rolling shutter and somewhat worse AF) and it's a very powerful little monster. Still my travel camera to date. For vide I use it on a light and small gimbal that was designed for mobile phones.

I think it's a bit too expensive for its target audience. And it's not great to see Sony taking almost five years to add a mic in jack.
 
Makes me wonder if Sony will ever release an A7 SIII at all, period? They've kind of painted themselves into a corner with their traditional product hobbling/upselling strategy.
I was working at the Sony DMPC a few months ago when I went to a few classes and asked every contact at Sony I know if they had even heard a peep, off the record, about the
existence of an A7 SIII and all said they have heard zilch about one. These connections would probably have at least thrown me a subtle hint that something might be
coming and I was met with universal "haven't heard a thing".

I wouldn't hold your breathe on that one. Could show up out of the blue but there are usually some subtle rumblings as it's getting ready to come to market and it's radio silence over there.
Same with an FX6. My contacts were laughing at people getting all hyped over an FX6, they said it hasn't even been decided if one will be made at all while in the meantime on social media and forums
everyone's acting like it already exists when it doesn't. Or at least didn't as of February 2020.
 
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There are several scenarios here. It's a good bet that there will be a video-centric camera from Sony under $4,000, likely under $3,500. It doesn't make much sense for them to release an A7RV with 61 MPX and 8K, so it ought to be closer to either R5 or S1H. Naturally, it wouldn't have to be called A7S XXX either.

Their plans have, obviously, taken a hit from Covid and the general decline of the photo-video industry due to smartphones. There are massive discounts right now on all kind of consumer gear. Under the circumstances, new product has to make a pretty decent leap forward to attract attention. So, it'll be something from Sony. We just don't have the name figured out yet.
 
According to sonyalpharumors.com, the A7S II "successor" plus another "new type" of FF camera are coming late June. Interest in the R5 is huge, and it seems to have lit a fire under Sony.

Either way, I'm about to sell my S1. Canon will have good options for me even if Sony doesn't.
 
https://youtu.be/VRKOOni-OOk

ZV1 vs iPhone 11 Max for vlogging

I just buzzed thru it, but it seems to me that the iPhone handles high contrast scenes a bit better (with their settings) and has slightly smoother stabilization on footsteps.

The ZV1 had an advantage with the ND filter
 
I make a lot of YouTube Videos with Chroma Key, and other effect for my educational and product reviews, and I have to tell you I am loving the ZV1. I place it on a tripod, took off skin filters, took off stabilization, and shooting in 4k. Mostly inside shots in my studio. I really like the color, video quality and how easy it is to edit. It handles Chroma Key like a dream. Now these are my own comments, and for my own video needs, but I have nothing negative to say about the camera...okok, short battery life, but I have it plugged in during my shoots, so no problem. And I use a separate recorder for audio. Its really a fun camera. And if you really want to do a blogging things, just get yourself a longer selfie pole because of the 28mm lens.
 
It is a nice camera to capture vlogstyle or just have something very light and compact with excellent easy of use and the best AF I've used from a Sony camera for video.

I like that as the screen flips out the camera starts and when closed it turns off. So far I can't see it being used to snap many photos but for point and shoot video it's great. It's not like the RX100 series at all. Mostly plastics and less direct controls on the body an RX100 will feel more robust. Flippy screen is great! In fact it reminds me how I felt when I first bought a Panasonic GH1.

I'm usually not to fond of 1" inch sensor cameras but it does look much better than point and shoot cameras and compared to my Fuji X100V AF just works and it has IS.
So far I'm not really sure how to best utilise it but I think it will get me some odd shots during production that'll end up in the final edit of corporate videos.
 
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