The pocketable vlogging powerhouse has a forward-facing screen, 4K, and other video-first features
The Sony RX100 family of cameras has long been a favorite of photographers searching for a pocketable camera with image quality that’s competitive with the latest and greatest smartphones.
A larger-than-standard 1-inch class image sensor, bright zoom lens, and integrated electronic viewfinder have been the hallmarks of the RX100 family, but while the series offers excellent video, with more recent entries recording at 4K, there are some drawbacks for video creators—most don’t offer a mic input or an on-body accessory shoe.
Enter the Sony ZV-1, the company’s first camera built for vlogging. It shares a lot of tech with the RX100 family, including the 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens most recently seen in the RX100 VA, and the stacked image sensor and processor from the RX100 VII.
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But while the RX100 is tuned for photographers, the ZV-1 is all about video capture. It makes some big ergonomic changes to get there, dropping the electronic viewfinder entirely and adding a vari-angle hinge to the LCD, so it can swing out and face forward for selfie videos. A tally light is on the front too; it glows red when you’re recording.
A multi-interface hot shoe is included in lieu of a viewfinder. You can use it to mount an on-camera microphone; the shoe has digital contacts for use with Sony’s on-camera micorphones, as well as a standard 3.5mm input.
The in-camera microphone has been improved too. It’s larger, taking up as much room as a pop-up flash (the ZV-1 doesn’t have a built-in strobe), with a three-capsule design for improved clarity.
