Sony notetaker review7/6/2023 ![]() ![]() Image stabilization on the ZV-E1 is a bit of a mixed bag, this is a camera that is meant to be used handheld, so offers three levels of stabilization to compensate. The low amount of false positives on the Sony is also excellent, only very occasionally did it manage to incorrectly identify and lock onto inanimate objects, which can’t be said for all systems. When filming people, the camera kept the focus locked to subjects' heads even when they were facing in other directions, and then when returning to face the camera swapped to eye focus faster than I could blink. Where the ZV-E1 shines above other systems though is it's subject recognition and tracking, Sony has one of the best human subject recognition systems in the business, it is capable of tracking people down to their skeletal movements. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) If you are in the market for a 4K vlogging camera, then the latest from Canon, Panasonic, or even Fujifilm are fairly indistinguishable from one another for the purposes of social media, streaming or vlogging video. However, while beating phones, I don’t think that the 4K video direct from the ZV-E1 is any better than the 4K video from other cameras I have tested. The additional depth of field also wiped the floor with any artificial ‘cinematic mode’ from the phone. This is where the full frame sensor and its larger pixels can shine, with improved dynamic range capturing the tones and shadows more effectively. The ZV-E1 produced some very nice quality footage, with a much more accurate tonal range than what I filmed on my phone, with more natural processing compared to the HDR-heavy phone video. These options are available for more creative filmmakers, but I just wanted to work with the footage straight from the camera as this feels like the intention of this camera. Starting with video quality, for the purposes of testing, I tried to use the camera as if I were a vlogger and my video was going straight up on my hypothetical YouTube channel, so I shot my footage in 4K 24fps without any S-Log or any other settings requiring additional post-production work. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) Sony ZV-E1: Video Perfomance The ZV-E1 comes equipped with Cinematic Vlog settings, featuring preset LUTs that can be combined to adjust the footage's look and mood, and users can load their own LUTs for in-camera processing. The camera offers a redesigned menu, incorporating the best features from Alpha and FX bodies, as well as a My Style quick menu for easy adjustments. Sony markets the ZV-E1 as the perfect tool for in-camera content creation, providing more creative options and one-touch controls for shooting settings. It is also capable of live video streaming at 4K 30p or FullHD 60p via USB-C. In terms of video specifications, the ZV-E1 can capture 4K60p footage without pixel binning and the camera supports S-Log and 10-bit 4:2:2 all-intra internally, and can be connected to an external monitor using a microHDMI for external recording. The camera inherits the impressive autofocus features from the A7R V, including person and animal subject recognition that tracks movements of limbs and body, making it possible to focus on partially obscured subjects. The Sony ZV-E1 utilizes the same sensor as the A7S III, and features a 12MP back-side illuminated sensor with an impressive 15+ stops of dynamic range and ISO range of 80-102,400 (extendable up to 409,600), powered by the Bionz XR processor and a dedicated AI chip from the latest Sony A7R V. ![]()
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