Sony has gone all in on vlogging with the ZV-1F, an ‘eco-friendly’ compact camera that has an RRP of $1049 and will be available from early November.
Vlogging is the new blogging. It might not mean much to you, but there are legions of Gen Z’ers making the TikToks and doing the Twitches. But it ain’t just for the young’uns. The slowly-ageing Millennials have found an audience on YouTube and Instagram, while Gen X and Boomers are going on Facebook live – sometimes completely by accident! Everyone generation now has its vloggers.
And after years of toying around with shakey footage shot on a smart phone in Selfie mode, the vloggers have graduated to vlog-friendly cameras that shoot stable, high-quality video. It’s quite remarkable how everyday citizens are now armed with tools to create content that rivals TV production.
These videos are ordinarily shot on a ‘hybrid’ camera – such as the Nikon Z 30, Panasonic Lumix GH6, or Fujifilm X-S10 – that can do it all.
But this ZV-1F is a serious vlogging camera dedicated purely to the art of shooting a selfie video.
It has all the features a vlogger could want. A flippy screen, 4K 30p video, 20mm f2.0 fixed lens to get right up close, lightweight at 229 grams to sit comfortable on a shooting grip, Eye AF, and Skin Tone optimisation to smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles.
The vlogger generally wants to be perceived as a friend of the natural environment. So they may rest easy knowing the ZV-1F build includes recycled plastics.
Here is the press release:
Sony Expands Vlogging Line-Up with New ZV-1F, the Vlog Camera that Boosts Creative Power
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 14 October 2022 – Sony today announced the new vlog camera
ZV-1F Packed with creative power, easy-to-use vlogging functions, advanced connectivity,
and eco-friendly features, it is the new go-to camera for vloggers and creators who want to
capture stunning stills and video. The pocket-size camera has been optimised for vlogging
with Sony’s latest technology to make content stand out.
ZV-1F key features:
● Fixed ultra wide-angle 20 mm 1 F2.0 prime lens
● Background bokeh and Face priority AE
● Skin tone optimisation including Soft Skin Effect
● High precision focusing and Eye AF for both humans and animals 2
● Active Mode (electronic) image stabilisation when shooting video 3
● Creative Look presets for ultimate visual expression
● Slow motion and quick motion options to enhance creativity
● Product Showcase Setting for product reviews
● Enhanced touchscreen features with Touch Zoom and Step Zoom 4 functionality
● Clear voice recording with 3-capsule mic and wind screen
● 4K 30p /FHD 120p
● Easy smartphone connection to transfer content for social platforms
● Eco-friendly features for reduced environmental impact
“We are certainly living in an exciting age of video creation, and with video-first content
creators in mind, the ZV family of cameras was born in 2020”, said Jun Yoon, Head of Digital
Imaging, Sony Australia and New Zealand. “The ZV-1F is the third member of the ZV family
and while it shares many commonalities with the ZV-1 and ZV-E10, it also introduces a list of
new features, such as an ultra-wide 20mm F2.0 prime lens and touchscreen. We can’t wait
to see the new content made with the newest ZV family member”
Boost Your Creative Power
The ZV-1F has been designed to let the subject shine in any scene with an ultra-wide 20mm
prime lens for wide field of view to capture more background. The ZV-1F also offers
background bokeh in both stills and video to further highlight the subject or create a softer
look.
Skin tone is optimised for both video and stills with a ‘Soft Skin Effect’ option that smooths
and reduces wrinkles when shooting video and creates a natural skin tone effect for stills.
Face Priority AE automatically adjusts the brightness when shooting so that faces can be
captured with optimal brightness, even in situations where the light changes. The ZV-1F also
boasts high precision focusing and Eye AF for both humans and animals which allows the
autofocus to fix tenaciously on the face and eyes without getting diverted by other subjects.
Users can easily change subjects via the camera’s touchscreen.
What’s more, when shooting video, image stabilisation is available in Active Mode 5
(electronic) to ensure footage is steady and smooth when walking.
The newly available Creative Look function gives users several preset options to create
desired atmospheres in both stills and video with differences in tone, brightness, colour
depth and more. A total of 10 modes are available to enhance creativity and allows users to
share content immediately with no need for editing.
The ZV-1F also features S&Q mode 6 to shoot in both slow motion at 5 x slower speed 7 and quick motion at 60 x faster 8 hyper lapse speed to achieve a desired effect.
In addition to stills and video, high-quality sound is vital to capture perfect content. A
Directional 3-Capsule Mic and wind screen provide clear voice recording and reduced noise
in windy outdoor conditions.
A Simple Compact Vlogging Device
The ZV-1F has been designed for total ease of use, so that vloggers can focus on content
capture and intuitively use the camera without difficulty. Weighing only approx. 229g 9 it is
compact and lightweight enough for everyday use and can be carried everywhere. It also
features a Vari-Angle LCD touch screen with features and settings changed by touch,
including the ability to zoom 10 , so operation is instinctive.
The ZV-1F includes a Bokeh Switch button to allow users to quickly switch between
background bokeh when they want to highlight the face and without, even whilst recording
video. It also features a Product Showcase setting to allow users to seamlessly shift focus
between face and products – perfect for reviews.
The ZV-1F also features a self-timer 11 and recording lamp to make video content even easier
to capture.
Connectivity and Accessories
The new vlog camera, ZV-1F, has been optimised for use with a smartphone. Sony’s new
smartphone app Imaging Edge Mobile Plus™ 12 allows users to connect to the camera via
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and transfer images and video. Content captured can be easily
transferred to a smartphone and then uploaded to social platforms. Users can even mark
shots for posting on social using shot marks 13 during shooting or on the camera. Additionally,
users can cut out and transfer specific 15, 30, or 60 second 14 marked clips to their
smartphone and post directly to social without the need to edit the length to suit the platform.
The Imaging Edge Mobile Plus™ app also allows users to control many of the camera’s
settings like date, time and area as well as software updates and support guides. It can also
operate the ZV-1F remotely and display battery level and remaining storage capacity.
Users can even use the ZV-1F as a high-quality live-streaming device 15 . With an appropriate
video conference application or similar software, the ZV-1F can function as a high-
performance web camera when connected to a computer or smartphone via USB 16 .
The ZV-1F is compatible with the GP-VPT2BT 17 Shooting Grip with Wireless Remote
Commander which offers cable-free control of zoom, recording and more, and expands into
a mini-tripod for stable hands-free shots. An external microphone can also be easily
attached to the accessory shoe 18 for clear sound recording.
Supporting a Sustainable Future
The ZV-1F was designed with environmentally friendly features and technology to ensure a
sustainable future. Recycled materials 19 including SORPLAS TM 20 are used in both the camera
body and bundled accessories like the newly developed wind screen 21 that have been
adapted to maintain performance. Plant-based non-woven fabrics are used for product bags
to reduce plastic packaging.
Availability
The new ZV-1F will be available in Australia from early November 2022.
Footnotes
1 35mm format equivalent
2 Still images only. Does not work with all types of animal
3 Slight image crop in Active Mode. Active Mode is not available when recording frame rate is 120 (100) p for
normal movies and frame rate is 120 (100) fps for S&Q
4 Users can select from zooms of 1.0/1.5/2.0/4.0x to quickly change the angle of view. In FHD, zooms of 1.5x and 2.0x use Clear Image Zoom and 4.0x uses digital zoom; in 4K, 1.5x uses Clear Image Zoom and 2.0x and 4.0x use digital zoom
5 Slight image crop in Active Mode. Active Mode is not available when recording frame rate is 120 (100) p for
normal movies and frame rate is 120 (100) fps for S&Q
6 The recording format in S&Q mode is XAVC S HD. Sound recording is not possible. A Class 10 or higher
SDHC/SDXC card is required. UHS speed class 3 or higher is required for 100 Mbps recording
7 S&Q mode recording at 120 fps (frame rate) 24p (recording frame rate).
8 S&Q mode recording at 1 fps (frame rate) 60p (recording frame rate).
9 Approx. 229g (8.1oz.) body only /Approx. 256g (9.1oz.) with battery and memory card included
10 Users can select from zooms of 1.0/1.5/2.0/4.0x to quickly change the angle of view. In FHD, zooms of 1.5x
and 2.0x use Clear Image Zoom and 4.0x uses digital zoom; in 4K, 1.5x uses Clear Image Zoom and 2.0x and
4.0x use digital zoom
11 Not available when shooting movie in still image mode by pressing MOVIE button
12 The Imaging Edge Mobile Plus app can be downloaded from the following site. Please use Imaging Edge
Mobile Plus Ver. 1.0 or later. www.sony.net/ca/
13 Two types of shot marks: Shot Mark1 and Shot Mark2
14 Depending on where the shot mark is added, the length of the cut-out video may be shorter than the set length.
15 When streaming via USB, the resolution is 1280 x 720 and the frame rate is 30 fps
16 When streaming via USB, the resolution is 1280 x 720 and the frame rate is 30 fps. To use this function, the OS on the PC or smartphone side must support UVC/UAC. When connecting to a mobile device equipped with a USB Type-C(R) port, please use a commercially available USB cable or terminal conversion adapter.
17 Sold separately
18 Since this model’s accessory shoe does not have electronic contacts, it does not support operation of an
external flash, audio input, etc
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