CAMERA TEST
It may be targeted at vloggers, but with a 12.1MP fullframe sensor, the Sony ZV-E1 has professional image quality at its core. Richard Sibley puts it to the test
The Sony Alpha ZV-E1 is the latest camera in the ZV range, which is aimed at content creators. I would describe these users as people who want to share stories or information, but aren’t themselves photographers or filmmakers. As such there are some subtle differences between the ZV range and Sony’s Alpha and FX-series cameras, which are designed for photographers and videographers respectively.
Sony wasn’t the first to come up with a camera for these users, but it’s the only firm with an entire line-up designed for their needs. The most important feature of the ZV-E1 is that it is the first in the range with a full-frame sensor. In fact, it uses the same 12.1MP full-frame sensor as the professional Sony FX3 and A7S III cameras.
That’s a big step up from the ZV-1 compact camera with its 1-inch size sensor, and the ZV-E10, which has an APS-C sensor. It is aimed at those wanting to create video of the very highest quality from an easy-to-use camera.
Priced at £2,350 body only, or £2,600 with the FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 lens, the ZV-E1 is over £1,000 cheaper than the Sony A7S III and Sony FX3. To bring the ZV-E1 to market at that price there are many differences, both physically and in the camera’s capabilities, compared to these more professional options.
However, it isn’t all compromise, as there are some user-friendly features that have been added to appeal to its specific market.
Features
As stated, the major feature of the ZV-E1 is the 12.1MP back-illuminated full-frame CMOS sensor, that Sony claims to have a high dynamic range of over 15EV. This means there’s low noise and lots of recoverable detail in shadow areas. This sensor is widely favoured by commercial filmmakers who may be shooting weddings and events under poor lighting conditions.
The data from the sensor is fed to Sony’s Bionz XR engine, which allows the ZV-E1 to shoot 4K at up to 120fps in a variety of different formats. However, one of the first key differences from the A7S III and FX3 is that it also has Sony’s recent AI processing unit that handles subject recognition.
AI subject recognition is great for creators who want to concentrate more on the stories they’re telling rather than the intricacies of focusing and exposure. The ZV-E1 wi
