Sony ZV-1
Announced May 26, 2020
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Sony ZV-1 is a compact, video-centric camera that provides vloggers with high-quality 4K footage and reliable autofocus in a portable form factor. While it excels at simplifying content creation with features like a side-flipping screen and built-in ND filter, the camera suffers from mediocre battery life and a tripod mount that blocks the battery door.
Weighted from 53 reviewer scores
Pros
- Convenient vlogging tools including a built-in ND filter, directional mic, and product showcase mode
- Compact, lightweight, and pocketable design with a fully articulating screen
- User-friendly interface with a dedicated tally light and easy-to-reach record button
- Excellent video quality with 4K recording, no time limits, and effective color science
- Fast, accurate, and consistent autofocus with reliable eye and face tracking
Cons
- Short battery life and inconvenient battery/SD card access when mounted on a tripod
- Limited touchscreen functionality and complex menu system
- Limited lens field of view and lack of a wider-angle option
- Outdated Micro USB port instead of modern USB-C
- Lack of headphone jack for audio monitoring
- Launch price $799 (USD)
- Sensor 20.1MP 1-inch Stacked BSI CMOS
- Video 4K 30p
- Stabilization None
- Burst 24 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 53 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 85/100
The ZV-1 is a solid option for vloggers and photographers looking for a compact camera with a fast lens and great video and still image quality.
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[T]he Sony ZV-1 is a very viable choice and easily one of the best cameras available in this form factor.
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[T]he Sony ZV-1 is a lightweight, compact, well built camera.
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With the ZV-1, Sony has made an interesting little camera that takes RX100-series technology and gives it a video-centric twist. Its new vlogging features generally work well and appear cleverly targeted to its intended audience.
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The bottom line is that this is the best-in-class image quality when you combine the impressively sharp lens with the amazingly good sensor. That goes for both photos and videos, at low and high ISOs.
- The Verge 7.5/10
It makes no sense at all for the people who don’t need it, and it will be a godsend for those who do.
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Ultimately, the Sony ZV-1, is the best compact camera we've seen for vlogging, and entry-level video work. The quality of output is clear to see, and the camera makes it incredibly easy to get great footage!
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Designed from the ground up for content creators and vloggers, the ZV-1 combines easy-to-use features with uncompromising imaging technology, making this the perfect tool for any content creator at all skill levels.
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This is the Sony ZV-1. My also on the earth was wanting you can get it if you had.
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Some might dismiss the ZV-1 as yet another Sony RX100 variant, but it’s much more than that. The sensor and lens might be familiar, but the body, the controls, the audio and the rear screen are all new and different and optimised brilliantly for vlogging.
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The Sony ZV-1 is the company's first camera built just for vloggers. It gets some things very right—the in-camera mic is better than any other small camera I've used, the 4K video is the best you'll find in a camera this small, and the autofocus is absolutely top-tier.
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The Sony ZV-1 is the best compact vlogging camera you can buy. Its mix of a bright lens, superb autofocus and design tweaks like the side-flipping screen make it a powerful pocket video option with few peers.
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The Sony ZV-1 is an excellent investment for vloggers who are just starting out in the field, or even those who have been at it for a while but who aren’t interested in getting bogged down in overcomplicated rigs.
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The Sony ZV-1 is a beginner-friendly camera perfect for on the go shooting and vlogging. While some of the features are borderline gimmicks, the core vlogging features are solid.
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I think it might be the best camera for unboxing videos, makeup videos, even like talking head videos like this where the camera is on a tripod and you're putting things in front, because we just haven't had a camera that works quite that well.
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[U]ltimately, I think one of the RX100s would probably work better for most photographers – that’s certainly the conclusion I have come to.
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I think that this is an incredible value for the money, even though it's designed to be a vlogging camera.
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I have to say it really does live up to the hype. But there are some caveats.
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[T]his is an amazing vlogging camera.
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On the whole, the ZV-1 seems to nail Sony's vision. It's nimble, lightweight and powerful.
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Rather than updating the already excellent RX100 series, Sony’s vlogging compact makes a lot of sense. You get a one-inch sensor, a fully-articulating screen and a range of very video-friendly features.
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The ZV-1 is a strong all-rounder that punches well outside its size class. With solid stills and excellent video features, it should be on the radar of every social content creator.
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A great camera at a stomachable price, given everything it does.
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So final thoughts on this camera, it's it's really fun to use, but it's super easy to use and the variety of things you can get, the 4K, the high frame rate, so with a 960 frames per second, super lightweight.
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[I]t's really good, and the quality at the end of the day is excellent in my opinion.
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I would say, when it comes to cameras that can actually fit in your pocket. This might be my favorite.
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[...] I can definitely recommend ZV-1 to modern content creators and also to those who want very capable and portable compact camera.
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Feel like getting out there in the street, not caring about the gear and just trying to have fun while shooting, and I gotta tell you, if you're trying to do street photography, if you're trying to be discreet, if you're trying to travel light, this is the camera for you.
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The Sony ZV-1 is actually ridiculously good, especially at almost half the price of the RX100 7.
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Sony crafted the ultimate vlog camera here. They listened to user feedback.
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I think the pros of this camera completely outweigh the cons, like the 4K video on this just looks amazing, like the new color science of the Sony ZV-1, so good, auto focus spot on, stabilization wicked.
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[A]n amazing vlogging camera.
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With all that being said, the ZV-1 seems like a really capable, great camera for a lot of people, especially if you're starting out in YouTube or you just don't know about cameras that much or you don't care about all the technical stuff of cameras and learning how to use the.
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The audio and the video quality will be great, so I'm gonna be recommending this camera to a lot of people.
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For anyone who's just getting started on YouTube or wants to upgrade their vlogging setup but still maintain a very compact form factor, I think Sony has a winner with this camera.
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[T]he ZV-1 is a winner.
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I have thoroughly been enjoying this camera.
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I believe that the ZV1 punches far above its weight class, especially as a compact camera that's ideal for creators. This is a solid choice of a camera, especially if you're looking to upgrade from your phone camera or from an older point and shoot.
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[I]t's really easy to get some really good-looking video just using this camera as is.
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Initially it might seem like a lot of money, but I think it's money well spent.
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I am in love with this camera. It is really, really amazing and I can not wait to take it out, test it out more on maybe an adventure, maybe not an adventure, maybe I'll just start using this camera to shoot around the house for some of the tech videos that I do.
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I can't wait to keep using it.
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Ultimately, this camera is great for anyone looking to get into vlogging, YouTube or just to upgrade from a smartphone.
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I have to say I've really enjoyed working with this Sony ZV-1. I think it's a fantastic camera.
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If you're looking for an all-in-one camera still here in 2023 and you're looking to save the most amount of money, have multiple camera angles, and have everything look similar, the Sony ZV-1 is still the best tool for the job here in 2023.
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You've got microphone input, you've got a really good built-in microphone, you've got picture profiles, the dynamic range on the camera is great, and I would say the picture quality coming out of this is far superior to that of the iPhone 11 Pro.
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I do think it's a great little camera so the hype was probably real, like the quality is really good, but I'm going to have a few more videos coming out about it so do subscribe to see those, but yeah thanks for watching and catch you next time.
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It's amazing though how that thing survived and just the whole cliche of best things come in small packages. And I think that's definitely something for the Sony ZV-1.
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It's definitely a massive leap in the right direction for vloggers and compact cameras in terms of video.
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This camera is without a doubt for vloggers and YouTubers. If you are creating tutorials, reviews, or vlogging and are looking for a camera that has a ton of features packed into a super portable form factor, then this camera is for you.
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[V]ery solid camera, love the features.
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What Sony has managed to pack into this camera for its compact size is actually pretty impressive.
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For me, if I did not have another camera, then that ZV-1 would certainly be on top of my camera list to actually get for my content creating workhorse.
