Sony Vlog Camera ZV-1 II Sony - Review 🏆

Sony has established itself as a leader in the digital camera market, known for making high-quality mirrorless cameras that appeal to both professionals and enthusiasts. The ZV-1 II is Sony's newest vlogging-focused camera, succeeding the original ZV-1 model that launched in 2020.

The ZV-1 II builds upon the video-centric features of the original ZV-1 with the aim of creating an ideal compact camera for vlogging and online content creation. While retaining a similar form factor and 20.1MP 1-inch sensor as its predecessor, the ZV-1 II brings updated hardware such as a new vari-angle touch screen and hot shoe connector. It's designed for one-handed shooting, with a side flip-out screen and easy access buttons. The ZV-1 II also has improved autofocus and image stabilization for smoother videos.

Overall, the ZV-1 II enters a competitive field of compact cameras tailored for vlogging, but brings Sony's proven imaging technology in a portable, lightweight body. This review will take a deeper look at the ZV-1 II's capabilities for video, photos, audio and more.

Design

The Sony ZV-1 II has a sleek and compact design that is well-suited for vlogging and travel. It measures approximately 4.15 x 2.36 x 1.7 inches and weighs 10.4 ounces with battery and memory card. The body is constructed out of high-quality polycarbonate resin plastic with metal lens mounts.

The ZV-1 II features a side-opening 3-inch touchscreen LCD that can tilt up 180 degrees and down 74 degrees. This vari-angle screen is useful when taking selfie shots or recording vlogs. The buttons and dials are designed for easy one-handed use. There is a large record button on top along with a zoom rocker and shutter button. The back has buttons for photo/video mode, playback, and menu access. A multi-interface hot shoe is available on top for attaching accessories like an external mic or light.

Overall, the small form factor and thoughtful button layout make the ZV-1 II highly portable and convenient for vlogging and travel. The vari-angle screen enables flexible viewing angles for self-recording.

The Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-W810 is another excellent choice for photographers seeking a budget-friendly point-and-shoot camera. It boasts a 20.1 MP Super HAD CCD sensor and 6x optical zoom lens, ensuring high-resolution images. The camera also features a suite of intuitive modes like Smile Shutter and Party Mode to help capture the perfect shot effortlessly. Weighing in at just 4.8 ounces, it is lightweight and easily portable, making it ideal for everyday use or travel. The DSC-W810 supports HD video recording and includes a 2.7-inch LCD screen for easy framing and reviewing of shots.

Image Sensor

The Sony ZV-1 II features a 1-inch stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with approximately 20.1 effective megapixels. This provides high resolution for capturing detailed images and video. The large sensor size enables better low light performance compared to smaller sensors, allowing higher ISO settings with less noise.

The back illuminated sensor design improves light gathering efficiency, further contributing to excellent low light capabilities. Combined with the fast BIONZ X image processor, the ZV-1 II delivers outstanding image quality in both stills and video across a wide sensitivity range of ISO 125-12800. This makes the camera very versatile for shooting in varied lighting conditions.

Overall, the image sensor in the ZV-1 II delivers excellent resolution, dynamic range, and high ISO performance in a compact camera body ideal for vlogging and content creation. The large 1-inch sensor size stands out in its class for superb image quality.

Another comparable model in Sony's lineup is the Sony RX100 V. This camera also features a 1-inch stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor, offering excellent image quality and fast performance. With an advanced autofocus system and 24 fps continuous shooting, the RX100 V is geared towards those looking for high-speed photography and versatility in a compact form. Its capabilities make it an excellent alternative or complement to the ZV-1 II for photographers and creators.

Lens

The ZV-1 II comes with a built-in 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens, providing a useful wide-angle to portrait-length zoom range. With a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8 at the wide end, the lens lets in plenty of light for shooting in low light conditions. The 7.5x optical zoom range gives you good flexibility for different types of shots, from wide landscape vistas to tightly framed portraits.

The lens uses a 9-blade circular aperture diaphragm design for attractive background defocusing. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization provides up to 4 stops of shake correction for smoother handheld video footage and sharper still images. The lens is not removable but provides great quality and versatility in a compact integrated design ideal for vlogging and travel.

Video Capabilities

The Sony ZV-1 II offers excellent video capabilities for vlogging and video content creation. It can shoot video at up to 4K 30p resolution with full pixel readout and no pixel binning. This results in very detailed, sharp 4K footage.

For smoother footage, the camera can shoot at up to FHD 120p. Slow motion video is possible at up to 4x slow motion in FHD.

The ZV-1 II records video in both XAVC S and AVCHD formats. XAVC S is a more modern, higher bitrate codec that provides better quality than AVCHD.

Autofocus modes available when shooting video include Fast Hybrid AF, which utilizes both phase-detect and contrast-detect AF for fast and accurate focus. Real-time Eye AF is also available, detecting and maintaining focus on your eyes when shooting vlogs. Real-time tracking AF keeps moving subjects in focus.

Photo Features

The ZV-1 II has a number of impressive capabilities when it comes to still photography. The camera can shoot continuously at up to 20 frames per second, ensuring you won't miss a moment of action. There are several autofocus modes to choose from, including Real-time Eye AF for humans or animals, and Real-time tracking that keeps moving subjects in focus. For those who want maximum editing flexibility, the ZV-1 II can shoot RAW images. RAW files contain more image data than JPEGs, allowing for greater adjustments to exposure, color, and details when editing later on a computer. The ZV-1 II provides plenty of control over still photo capture for both amateurs and more advanced photographers.

Connectivity & Ports

The Sony ZV-1 II has robust connectivity options for a compact camera. It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth which allows for wireless image transfer and remote camera control via the Imaging Edge app.

For wired connections, it has a USB Type-C port that supports USB charging and high-speed data transfer. A micro HDMI port allows you to output video to an external monitor or recorder. There is also a 3.5mm microphone jack for connecting external mics, as well as a multi-interface hot shoe on top of the camera for attaching accessories like flashes, microphones or monitors.

One downside is that there is no headphone jack, so you can't monitor audio directly through the camera while recording video. However, the USB port can be used with certain adapters to provide a headphone connection.

Overall, the connectivity options allow for a lot of flexibility whether you want to transfer images wirelessly, connect external mics for improved audio, or output video to an external display. The lack of a headphone jack is a bit disappointing but workarounds are available through the USB port and compatible adapters.

Battery Life

The ZV-1 II comes with a large capacity rechargeable NP-BX1 battery that provides enough power to capture up to 430 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. This is a significant improvement over the original ZV-1's 260 shots per charge rating.

In real world usage, the battery life will vary depending on usage patterns. Shooting a lot of 4K video will drain the battery faster than occasional still photos. The camera can be charged via its USB-C port, which is convenient for charging on the go via a power bank or laptop.

One nice feature is that the ZV-1 II supports USB power delivery, meaning you can continue to power the camera indefinitely while shooting if you have it connected to an external power source like a USB battery pack. This helps work around the limited battery life when you need extended shooting times.

Overall the battery life is decent for a compact vlogging camera of this size. Carrying an extra battery or external power bank provides peace of mind for all day shooting. The USB charging options give you flexibility in keeping the ZV-1 II powered up.

Audio

The Sony ZV-1 II has excellent audio capabilities for a compact vlogging camera. It features a built-in 3-capsule mic that uses advanced processing for crisp, clear audio recording. The mics are multi-directional, meaning they can pick up sound from the front, rear, and sides of the camera. This is ideal when recording yourself, as you can move around freely while maintaining good audio capture.

There's also a mic jack for connecting an external microphone, like a lapel mic or shotgun mic. This allows you to upgrade to higher quality audio if needed. Manual audio controls like wind filter and attenuator allow you to optimize the audio for your shooting conditions. You can monitor audio levels through the camera's headphone jack as well. Overall, the ZV-1 II provides versatile audio options in a small form factor. The built-in mics reduce the need to carry extra gear while still delivering strong performance for vlogging and video creation.

Conclusion

The Sony ZV-1 II is an excellent vlogging camera that builds upon the already great ZV-1 with some nice upgrades. The vari-angle screen, wide-angle lens, 4K video, and multi-directional microphone make it a fantastic choice for vloggers and content creators.

Some of the key pros of the ZV-1 II are the improved autofocus, especially for video, the upgraded 20.1MP sensor and BIONZ XR processor which provide better image quality, and the sleek new monochromatic design. The vari-angle touchscreen, microphone jack, and live streaming capabilities are also big pluses.

That said, there are a few cons worth noting. The lack of in-body image stabilization means you'll need to be careful when shooting handheld video. Low light performance is just okay, and the battery life could be better. There's no headphone jack which could be limiting for monitoring audio.

Overall though, the ZV-1 II builds on an already excellent camera and improves the autofocus, image quality, and design. For vloggers and content creators wanting a great all-in-one video/photo camera with a vari-angle screen and excellent microphone, the ZV-1 II is easy to recommend. It provides fantastic performance for both video and stills in a compact and lightweight body.