Sony Launches Full-Frame Vlogging Camera

2023.03.29

Today, Sony is launching their fourth vlogging camera, now with a large Full-Frame sensor. This trend started in 2020 with the release of the ZV-1F which is a fixed lens camera built around a 1" sensor paird with a 3X zoom lens. After some traction, the Sony ZV-E10 brought the concept to a mirrorless platform with an APS-C sensor. A year later, Sony added the ZV-1F, another fixed lens camera yet with a wide prime lens.

Vlogging cameras are optimized for hand-held video capture of the user, the video equivalent of a selfie. For this reason, none of these cameras are equipped with a viewfinder and they all have a rotating touchscreen LCD. It is useful precisely for vlogging yet is troublesome for all other types of capture.

The new Sony Alpha ZV-E1 is an incredibly compact Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera that is built around a 12 Megapixels EXMOR R sensor mounted on a 5-axis image-stabilization system. It features the Sony E-mount and is compatible with all Sony FE lenses. It has a dedicated zoom controller to operate power-zoom lenses.

Given its niche market, the feature-set of this digital camera is particularly tuned for vlogging and to achieve such a small and lightweight design. There is no viewfinder on the ZV-E1 nor is there provision to add one. The 5-axis image-stabilization system provides 5-stops of efficiency, a little less than larger systems. However, the 12 MP CMOS sensor inside this camera has a huge pixel-size for extreme low-light performance. Its standard sensitivity range spans ISO 80-102400 which expands to ISO 40-409600. For stellar sensitivity along with limit on shutter-speed required for video capture makes powerful stabilization less necesary than usual.

12 Megapixels offers exactly the width required for 4K video capture. This perfect match is ideal to capture detail in video which it can perform up to 60 FPS right out of the box. A upcoming firmware upgrade will push this to a speedy 120 FPS without a drop in resolution. Full 1080p HD is already possible a 120 FPS. The Alpha ZV-E1 is also capable of streaming 4K at 30 FPS directly over USB using an M-JPEG codec. Internally recorded video is available at 10-bit 4:2:2 with H.265, H.264 and XAVC S codecs in MPEG-4 formats.

Audio capture is also possible with great precision. The builtin microphone on the ZV-E1 is made of 3-capsules to provide exceptional clarity and sound focus. The off-center Multi-Interface Hot-Shoe of this camera accepts an included wind-screen, standard flashes and 4-channel digital audio input up to 48 kHz at 24-bits. Dual mini-jacks support analog stereo input and output too.

One may be surprised at which features are available or not on the ZV-E1. This is a Full-Frame camera and so it comes with certain high-end expectations. This includes dual control-dials and a weatherproof body, which the Alpha ZV-E1 has. This camera also features an Interval-Timer and can assemble Time-Lapse in-camera. It omits HDR, Focus-Stacking, among functions which are common for the price. The most notable omission, other than the lack of a viewfinder, is a shutter. This makes the camera lighter but limits Flash-Sync to a slow 1/30s. There is no Bulb mode either and, for some reason, Sony also skipped on the high-speed potential of an electronic-only shutter. The Sony Alpha ZV-E1 can capture over 1000 JPEG, HEIF or RAW frames in a single burst at 10 FPS.

The image-stabilization mechanism allows Sony to offer dust-reduction here. To combat moire which can be a real pain in video, the 12 megapixels EXMOR R sensor is covered by an Anti-Alias Filter. For photography, this unfortunately means that even the full 12 MP resolution will not be realized. This may not bother its target market but is important to know.

The Sony Alpha ZV-E1 measures just 5.4cm think and weighs 400g, making it the lightest stabilized Full-Frame camera ever made. The camera is scheduled for a May availability for $2200 USD or $3000 CAD. Both Adorama and B&H Photo are already accepting pre-orders.

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