I tested the popular Sony ZV-1 II and it is very close to becoming the vlogging camera of my dreams

ZDNET Key Takeaways

• Although compact, the Sony ZV-1II does not compromise on performance and quality.
• The ZV-1 II is easy to use and the autofocus performance is as good as you would expect from a Sony camera.
• Better image stabilization would greatly help the camera’s video recording performance.

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Sony’s camera offerings have always been extraordinary tools for creators, allowing them to capture content for work and various creative projects. In the early days of vlogging, the company even had several great options for photographers and videographers. However, they were mostly expensive and almost too complicated for beginners to use.

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For creators and vloggers, myself included, most just want to turn on the camera and shoot, which is why Sony released the original ZV-1. The ZV-1 wasn’t a bad vlogging camera per se, but it had its flaws, such as limited shooting distance. Sony has since released a new ZV-1II, and I got my hands on the camera to find out how much better it is than the first. Keep reading.

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For starters, the ZV-1 II is aimed at content creators looking to capture high-quality video or photos quickly, especially when they’re on the move and don’t have a tripod in hand. As someone who is no longer as young as I once was, I must admit that it has been fascinating to witness the progression of quality in point and shoot cameras over the years. The ZV-1 line of cameras is a great example.

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On the ZV-1 II, you get a one-inch image sensor capable of capturing 20-megapixel images and capturing 4K video at up to 30 frames per second. Some will scoff at the 20MP spec and I understand that. However, I can attest that the image quality is good enough for Instagram posts or even thumbnails for your next YouTube video. The image below is an example. Clarity in this regard is sufficient. The colors are pleasing to the eye and if you really want to enhance the colors in post-processing, you can do so. Even in a JPEG file.

As I began testing, I wanted to delve a little deeper into the photography aspect of the camera. It’s not very difficult to make a wide shot look great on a mirrorless or DSLR camera, but what about something in the mid-range or with a tight focal length? Are details lost when the lens zooms? Here’s a photo of a random man (read: me) in the typical vlogging pose with a focal length of about 16mm (full frame). The color is very saturated, the details of my face are clear and notice the clarity of my eyes and the texture of my beard.

Now let’s look at a focal length of about 50mm (full frame) with the ZV-1 II. Even with 20 MP, I can still see nice details in my face and eyes. There is also a natural looking blob between my face and the wall behind me.

A vlogger will be more concerned about the performance and video quality of the ZV-1 II. As with the previous version of this camera, the 4K video quality looks excellent. Sony’s color science has always been noteworthy. It’s great that they’ve carried that over to their less expensive line of camera bodies, like the ZV-1 II.

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In particular, the autofocus will have vloggers smiling from ear to ear because it’s reliably fast and locks on to subjects almost instantly, even in not-so-great lighting conditions, according to the tests I’ve done. For a more natural posture when vlogging, I would even recommend choosing the Sony one. mini bluetooth tripod. It’s not cheap, costing about $140, but the improved stabilization (something I’ll talk about more shortly) and handy buttons make the camera even more manageable.

I’ll also give a nod to the camera’s light weight, which doesn’t put a strain on your forearm or shoulder like a typical mirrorless camera would when vlogging or recording content on the go.

What I would like to see in the next model.

I cannot overlook some of the elements that can be seen as limitations of the ZV-1 II. For the price, the image sensor is not bad. But the lack of stabilization can be evident if you are not careful as a photographer. I took the bee image below at 1/200th of a second, which is not a slow shutter speed, but slow enough to capture any micro-jitters my hands had while shooting.

Notice the blur in the image. If you’re having trouble noticing the blur, compare the image to the previous shot of the bee. You will see how the blur is absent in the last image. Image stabilization in the camera body or lens would definitely have alleviated this problem.

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From a video standpoint, 4K video looks great, but there is about a 1.1x crop in the footage. So, if you frame your shot for a photo at a particular focal length, the same settings on the lens will be a little tighter in 4K video recording. Of course, Sony updated the lens to bring a wider field of view and focal length to the ZV-1 II, but there’s still a bit of clipping. Fortunately, the wider lens angle hides the crop better than the previous model.

ZDNET Buying Tips

The point and shoot market is packed with quality cameras right now, and Sony ZV-1II ranks high on the tier list. For $799, it’s a solid value, especially if you’re just starting to record content. As a vlogger, you have the option of mounting a small external microphone to the microphone jack, and the camera should last about an hour of video recording.

The ZV-1 II’s visuals won’t be the best you’ve ever seen, but it’s still worth considering if speed and ease of use are what you’re looking for.