New full-frame vlogging camera from Sony, the ZV-E1 - the ultimate experience for content creators

 

Today, Sony unveiled the new ZV-E1 interchangeable-lens vlog camera, featuring a high-performance 35mm full-frame sensor for the ultimate content creation experience. The top model in Sony's vlog camera series, it features Sony's developed E-mount^[i], advanced technologies, cinematic-quality images with rich color grading, low noise levels, and high sensitivity. The world's most compact and lightweight body^[ii] offers exceptional mobility, and enhanced operational capabilities provide vloggers with maximum creative freedom and versatility.

 

Key features of the ZV-E1:

• The world's smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable-lens vlog camera
• Full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with 15+ stops of exposure and high sensitivity
• Sony E-mount system
• BIONZ XR™ processor
• AI-based autofocus with Real-time Recognition^[iii] and flawless Real-time Tracking^[iv]
• 4K 60p, 4K 120p upgradeable^[v]
• Cinematic Vlog Setting^[vi] including S-Cinetone
• 5-axis in-body optical stabilization and Dynamic Active Modev stabilization
• AI-based Auto Framing^[vii] and Framing Stabiliserviii
• S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3
• Breathing Compensation function for focus shift compensation^[viii]
• Product Showcase Setting^[ix] and a quick bokeh switch button
• Intelligent 3-capsule microphone with variable directivity
• Vari-angle touch LCD screen for convenient operation during use
• Easy and stable smartphone connectivity
• Durable design

"The ZV-E1 is designed to provide the best content creation experience for vloggers who want to improve the quality of their content,” said Yann Salmon Legagneur, Director of Digital Imaging and Solutions Marketing for Sony Europe. "This is an amazing camera for creators who want the best vlogging camera that uses AI technologies to deliver the best content.”

 

Expressive footage that highlights the subject

The ZV-E1 is a camera specifically designed for vlogging, offering a 35mm full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with approximately 12.1 effective megapixels for higher sensitivity, lower noise levels, and beautiful bokeh.

With up to 8 times^[x] greater processing power compared to previous models, the BIONZ XR™ processor significantly enhances high-sensitivity performance and provides better grading and color reproduction, less noise, and many other advantages. The large volume of data generated by the processor can be processed in real-time when shooting 4K (QFHD: 3840 x 2160) at 120p^[xi]. The BIONZ XR processor also significantly improves autofocus speed and accuracy.

You can record video in high-quality 4K (QFHD) with a full-frame sensor data readout speed of 10-bit 4:2:2 without pixel binning. This allows you to take advantage of the aesthetic benefits of full-frame during video recording and obtain high-resolution 4K footage without moiré or unwanted artifacts.

Users can shoot in 4K 60p quality with the option to upgrade to 4K 120p via the Creators’ Cloud platform for exceptionally smooth videos with up to 5x (max.) slow-motion^[xii]. With direct playback of video in slow or quick motion in S&Q mode ^[xiii] and using XAVC S-I format at 60p, the maximum speed of 600 Mbps (4:2:2 10-bit, H.264, All-I)^[xiv] ensures excellent image quality. After the update and when using XAVC S format, up to 10x slow-motion can be recorded at Full HD resolution and 240 fps^[xv], opening up new perspectives for capturing dynamic sports or other fast-moving actions.

With 15+ stops of exposure ^[xvi], you can capture natural-looking footage in any light without losing detail in highlights and shadows.

The standard ISO range extends from 80 to 102400 for both photos and video clips. The extended range for photos is from 40 to 409600, and the extended range for video recording is from 80 to 409600.

 

Turn your cinematic dreams into reality

The ZV-E1 can create impressive content using Cinematic Vlog Settings^[xvii] - an intuitive way to create scenes that look like big cinema. By selecting the appropriate style and mood through the Look and Mood settings^[xviii], anyone can create cinematic quality footage that perfectly conveys the spirit of the scene and the author's idea. Cinematic Vlog Setting includes Looks styles^[xix] that reproduce natural mid-range tones, soft colors, and smooth highlights, which is extremely important when you want to reproduce a cinematic feel or enhance skin tones, as well as Moods^[xx] that emphasize certain colors, and AF transition speed control, ^[xxi] to determine how quickly it switches between different subjects. The overall cinematic feel is complemented by a frame rate of 24 fps^[xxii] and a widescreen Cinemascope format (2.35:1)^[xxiii] with black bars above and below the image.

For a truly cinematic look, the ZV-E1 also offers S-Cinetone. Based on Sony's Cinema Line technologies, S-Cinetone provides natural mid-range tones, which are important for reproducing healthy and beautiful skin and achieving cinematic quality.

With carefully selected new Creative Looks, you can easily create interesting-looking photos and videos directly from the camera. Creative Looks offers 10 preset styles that can be used as-is or further customized. In addition, with the new My Image Style option^[xxiv], you can now shoot in Intelligent Auto or Scene Selection mode, and with the icons on the touch screen, you can easily change background bokeh settings, brightness, and colors, and select an appropriate Creative Look.

 

AI and the latest technologies always guarantee impressive footage

Real-time Recognition AF uses innovative AI-based processing that utilizes subject shape data for accurate motion recognition - human body pose estimation technology uses human body shape and pose data to recognize not only eyes, but also head and body position with high accuracy, making it possible to lock focus and track a subject that is not facing the camera. The AI-based processor can even distinguish between individual subjects in different poses and recognize individual faces - an improvement that allows for more reliable tracking in the most challenging situations, such as when the subject's face is angled, hidden in shadows, or backlit. In addition to humans and animals^[xxv], with the help of the AI processor, objects such as birds^[xxvi], insects, cars/trains, and airplanes^[xxvii] can now be recognized for even greater flexibility and reliable results, whether shooting photos or videos.

The ZV-E1 uses AI-based Real-time Trackingiv, which can be activated by pointing at the subject and half-pressing the shutter button. The camera automatically tracks the subject, allowing the user to focus on framing and composition. The new camera offers fast Hybrid AF for quick, flawless tracking and detailed AF settings for maximum precision and complete control.

Compact and precise stabilization and gyroscopic sensors with optimized algorithms achieve up to 5.0-stop^[xxviii] stabilization, which helps to take full advantage of the ZV-E1's image quality and capabilities. Camera movement is effectively detected and corrected on 5 axes^[xxix], and the built-in image stabilization in the vlog camera ensures effective stabilization for a wide range of lenses, including E-mount lenses that do not have their own stabilization.

Dynamic Active Mode^[xxx] stabilization is approximately 30% more effective than the Active Mode^[xxxi] of previous models. This makes it easier than ever to capture smooth and stable vlogs with bold and dynamic content while on the move.

Another amazing feature of the ZV-E1 is AI-based auto framing for video recording^[xxxii], which is ideal for recording interviews, musical performances, cooking sessions, and much more. Using AI-based subject recognition technology, the Auto Framing function automatically crops the frame to keep the subject in the most visible position while shooting. Even without moving the camera, it performs continuous automatic framing adjustments for smooth subject tracking, which is a useful feature when shooting alone. You can easily select the subject you want to track from the camera's touch screen or from your smartphone via the Creator’s App.

The Breathing Compensation function^[xxxiii] suppresses image shift during focusing to maintain a constant angle of view and smooth, dramatic, and effective focus. The camera also offers the Multiple Face Recognition function,^[xxxiv] which automatically changes bokeh settings when focusing on more than one face, such as in group selfies or portraits, thus avoiding problems like lack of focus on faces in the background.

The ZV-E1 also offers the Framing Stabiliser function,xxxiv which automatically maintains the subject's position in the frame. Advanced AI-based subject recognition technology, along with the Dynamic Active Mode of image stabilization, keeps the subject smoothly and steadily within the frame while you move freely, shooting handheld. This allows you to create smooth, expressive video clips, such as tracking shots or circling the subject.

With the ZV-E1, skin tones are optimized separately for photos and videos so that skin looks natural and beautiful, whether you're taking a selfie or shooting a vlog. The camera also features a Bokeh Switch button for better background bokeh with a single touch^[xxxv] and an impressive soft skin effect when shooting video^[xxxvi].

Of course, the ZV-E1 also includes the Product Showcase setting ^[xxxvii] for videos that feature products, so users can easily and smoothly shift focus from the presenter's face to the product in front of the lens and vice versa.

 

Smooth, easy, and versatile zooming

Users can expect more freedom in zoom control^[xxxviii] with the ZV-E1. With the zoom control button on the top of the grip, you not only control compatible motorized zoom lenses but also use Clear Image Zoom with standard zoom and prime lenses with less image distortion. This can significantly reduce the number of lenses required for your projects.

Real-time Recognition AF, Real-time Tracking, and focus area settings remain active when using digital zoom or Clear Image Zoom, allowing you to benefit from the camera's precise and fast phase-detection AF system, even when working with digital zoom.

 

Control time to capture unforgettable moments and situations

Creating Time-lapse clips directly from the camera is a convenient feature for users who want to record time-lapse clips, such as the movement of clouds, people and cars, or other slow-moving objects in a unique and effective way: the exposure interval^[xxxix] can be set from 1 to 60 seconds to easily compress slow actions into attractive time-lapse clips.

 

Advanced audio for captivating vlog content

The ZV-E1 features a high-quality 3-capsule microphone with directivity control, which captures clear audio even outdoors, where wind and ambient noise are usually a problem. The microphone also has a windscreen that significantly reduces wind noise while shooting in windy outdoor conditions. You can choose between Auto^[xl], Front^[xli], All Directions^[xlii], and Rear^[xliii] settings to direct the microphone depending on the environment you are shooting in, with the direction automatically changing based on the position of recognized faces for optimal recording quality.

The camera also features a Multi Interface (MI) shoe with a digital audio interface and jacks for microphone and headphones for more recording options.

 

Express your ideas with new editing capabilities

The ZV-E1 supports the latest video recording modes - the fast readout and processing speed of large amounts of data from the full-frame sensor allow for full sensor data readout in 4K without pixel binning and enables recording in various formats for noticeably better image quality and more flexible, efficient editing in post-production.

The ZV-E1 can record 10-bit 4:2:2 video with Long GOP or All Intra compression, supports intra-frame (All-I)^[xliv] encoding and XAVC HS^[xlv] format with MPEG-H HEVC/H.265 codec for approximately twice the efficiency.

The vlog camera also offers the Flexible ISO function, which can be set to AUTO or manually adjusted from 640 to 102400 (160 and 409600 in extended ISO mode and Picture profile with customizable LUT tables for creating specific styles when shooting in modes other than the pre-set Log modes.

 

Designed for easy and seamless vlogging

The ZV-E1 features a user-friendly design, including a side-opening vari-angle touch LCD screen for convenient operation while recording. The layout of the control buttons and grip is optimized for maximum comfort when vlogging.

 

Work confidently with new convenient features

The new vlog camera provides more uninterrupted shooting time thanks to Sony's high-capacity Z battery and USB PD (Power Delivery) supporting fast charging^[xlvi]. For even better performance, the processor, sensor, and associated power circuits are specifically designed for optimized energy efficiency in all shooting conditions.

 

Compact and lightweight design for exceptional mobility

The ZV-E1 is the world's most compact and lightweight vlog camera with a full-frame CMOS sensor and interchangeable lenses^[xlvii]. The exceptional mobility the camera provides to vloggers opens up new possibilities for creative expression.

The ZV-E1 features a dust and water-resistant design^[xlviii] and can be used even with one hand if you use a Shooting Grip with wireless remote control (GP-VPT2BT)^[xlix].

 

Creators’ Cloud and easy smartphone connectivity

Content creators can easily connect to their smartphone and share content via Sony's recently launched new Creator’s Cloud platform[l]. Users can quickly upload videos to their smartphone using Shot Marks^[li] to mark individual sections of recorded material with a length of 15, 30, or 60 seconds,[lii] to use on social media.

You can use Creator’s App to control the ZV-E1 from your smartphone and transfer photos and videos captured with the camera to your smartphone. From your smartphone, you can monitor the camera's battery and media vlog status, as well as edit the camera's date and name according to your specific needs. Creator’s App also offers a convenient way to update your camera's software.

 

In-depth Editing

The ZV-E1 records image stabilization and camera rotation metadata, which can be used for editing with the free desktop application Catalyst Browse, the paid desktop application, or the Catalyst Prepare plugin ^{[liii] [liv]} for quick and precise stabilization of footage during editing. During editing, you can also use the focus breathing compensation function.

 

High-Quality Live Streaming

You can stream live content with the highest quality because when connected to a computer or smartphone^[lv] via USB, the ZV-E1 can also function as a 4K (2160p) webcam with many new creative possibilities during your online meetings, live events, or even conversations with family and friends.

 

Sustainable Design

The ZV-E1 is designed to be sustainable in line with Sony's commitment to a sustainable future through global initiatives such as Road to Zero and renewable energy targets by 2030.

The camera's windscreen uses fibers^[lvi] from recycled PET bottles^[lvii] for less negative impact on the environment without compromising quality and functionality.

Last but not least, the ZV-E1 packaging is environmentally friendly, plastic-free, and recyclable. It uses Sony's developed “Original Blend Material” – bamboo, sugarcane, and recycled paper. Also, the product bags use non-woven fabric made from plant fibers^[lviii] for a minimal environmental footprint of Sony products.

The ZV-E1 also includes new features for people with disabilities that facilitate camera operation in many ways, including a screen reader function for people with impaired vision^[lix]. These features enable everyone to enjoy the pleasure of shooting and playing videos with the ZV-E1.

 

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