Sony ZV-1. The best vlogging camera for most people

 world's best vlogging camera

Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is a 20MP compact camera geared towards vlogging. It has a new and novel directional microphone next to the flash hotshoe and there's a fully articulating touchscreen display. The ZV-1 shoots in 4K up to 30p and Full HD up to 120p and features a 24-70mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 lens.

Although the Sony ZV-1 is designed specifically with vloggers in mind, it’s quite capable as a conventional compact stills camera too. If you're a hybrid shooter who is interested in capturing both video and stills, but doesn’t want to carry around two cameras, the ZV-1 has a lot to offer.

Key specifications:

• 20 megapixel 1” BSI CMOS sensor
• 24-70mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 lens
• Fully articulating, 921K dot, 3” touchscreen display
• 4K/30p, 1080p/120p and high-speed modes up to 960fps
• 8-bit. Log and 'HLG' shooting modes
• Directional 3-capsule microphone with wind-screen
• Excellent autofocus in stills and video
• Can be charged via USB while in use
• 3.5mm microphone jack
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for image and video transfer
• Rated at 260 shots per charge

The ZV-1 can be had for $800 USD. The Sony GP-VPT2BT Bluetooth shooting grip, which doubles as a compact tripod, can be purchased for an additional $98.

The Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III offers additional zoom with a built-in lens and has the same size sensor as the Sony.  It has the same dimensions and the same size screen, but it uses contrast detection autofocus which is prone to distracting hunting.  On the other hand, its touch interface is responsive and refined, and it offers live streaming to YouTube directly from the camera (and uses your phone as a hot spot).
  Panasonic's G100 has a novel microphone set-up, using three small microphones and software for 'audio tracking' of talking subjects.  In our tests, though, we found the Sony to sound slightly better.  Panasonic's contrast-detect autofocus may be too 'wobbly' for your taste, and it has enough cropping in 4K to make vlogging at arm's length impossible.
  The Apple iPhone 11 will give you the widest field of view and the biggest screen – not to mention it's the lightest you can have.  Its small sensor will limit how much you can blur your background, though.

	Sony ZV-1	Canon G7 X Mark III	Panasonic Lumix G100	Apple iPhone 11
Type	Compact camera	Compact camera	Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera	Mobile phone
MSRP	$800	$750	$749 (w/ 12-32mm lens)	$700 (64GB)
Sensor size	1"-type (116mm2)	1"-type (116mm2)	Four Thirds (225mm2)	1/3.6"-type (12mm2)
Zoom range	24-70mm equiv	24-100mm equiv	24-64mm equiv	23mm equiv
Autofocus type	Phase detection	Contrast detection	DFD (contrast-detection)	Contrast detection (on front-facing camera)
Video spec	Up to 4K 30p	Up to 4K 30p	Up to 4K 30p (1.26x crop)	Up to 4K 60p
Screen	3.0" 0.92M-dot	3.0" 1.04M-dot	3.0" 1.04M-dot	6.1" 4.45M-dot
Media format	SD	SD	SD	Internal / Cloud storage
Connectivity	Wi-Fi Bluetooth (for transfer of GPS data)	Wi-Fi Bluetooth	Wi-Fi Bluetooth	4G cellular internet connection Wi-Fi Bluetooth
Dimensions	105 x 60 x 44 mm	105 x 61 x 41 mm	116 x 83 x 54 mm (exc lens)	151 x 76 x 8 mm
Weight	294g	304g	352g (exc lens)	194g

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Overall score 

85%

Good for

Vlogging and video capture, travel photo and video, family photography.

Not so good for

Users that need a longer zoom range and users that have no need for video or the video-focused features of this camera.

Summary

The ZV-1 is a solid option for vloggers and photographers looking for a compact camera with a fast lens and great video and still image quality. Its novel microphone and video-friendly ergonomics are big plusses, but we want to see Sony introduce a more modern touch interface and update their menus to appeal to a wider audience. Overall, whether you're a dedicated video maker or just want an easy-to-use camera for good quality clips, the ZV-1 is worth a look.