Sony launches its pocket-sized digital camera ‘ZV-1’

July 24, 2020 technuter

Sony India has announced the ZV-1, a new pocket-sized digital camera designed and developed for creating high-quality, versatile content. A lightweight, compact “all-in-one” style camera, it combines video-forward design and compact body, along with easy-to-use functionalities packed with uncompromising advanced imaging technology, making it a perfect tool designed especially for the content creators and vloggers on the go.

Mr. Mukesh Srivastava, Business Head – Digital Imaging, Sony India, said, “Designed to fulfill the needs of video creators of this generation, Sony’s new ZV-1 is created to offer ultimate shooting and vlogging experience across scenarios. Incorporating direct feedback from our extended community, we have ensured content creation is made simple without any tricky setup. Featuring an innovative design with many new technologies such as the selfie-friendly vari-angle LCD screen, body grip, and a recording lamp with various settings and modes, it will allow creators to make content in ways they have never been able to before with less effort.”

The ZV-1 is designed keeping the vloggers and content creators in mind. This compact, lightweight (approx. 294g / 105.5mm x 60.0mm x 43.5mm) camera is the first Sony camera with a side-opening Vari-angle LCD screen, allowing creators to simplify their setup. Vloggers can comfortably operate the ZV-1 with just one hand, thanks to the easy-to-hold comfortable grip and a large movie REC button which is located on the top of the camera for quick access to video recording. It also comes with a recording lamp on the front of the camera that indicates active recording.

The ZV-1 offers advanced image stabilization, ensuring steady video even with hand-held shooting while walking. When recording in HD mode, optical and electronic stabilization methods are combined to reduce shaking up to 11 times whereas while shooting a 4K video using Optical Steady Shot mode, there is an improvement in stabilization effect to up to 8 times, compared to that of standard Steady Shot. The ZV-1 is comes with the GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip with Wireless Remote Commander, offering additional stability and comfort combined with cable-free connectivity.

ZV-1 is well-equipped to produce just that with reliable and versatile audio options. The ZV-1’s onboard mic features Sony’s latest Directional 3-capsule Mic, designed for forward-directional audio recording allowing to capture subject’s voice clearly with less wind noise. For added flexibility, the ZV-1 also features a standard 3.5mm mic jack (3.5mm) and Multi Interface Shoe (MI shoe) making it much easier to connect a wide range of external microphones.

The ZV-1 features advanced color science re-engineered to optimize skin tones. To enhance emphasis on the subject’s face – especially when shooting in selfie mode – the ZV-1 creates a smooth and natural complexion, while also maintaining sharp images of the mouth and eyes in both videos and stills.

The ZV-1 offers a simple solution to easily switch between two levels of background bokeh while recording. The new Bokeh Switch function enables the vlogger to rapidly adjust the optical aperture between more and less background, defocusing blur without losing focus on the subject. Located on top of the camera, this Bokeh button is easily accessible and makes the selfie shooting operation a breeze. The large 1.0-type CMOS sensor and wide-aperture lens deliver images with professional background bokeh, as well as clear detail even in challenging low-light conditions.

The new ZV-1 makes it easier than ever to shoot product reviews and similar video content. Gone are the days of placing a hand behind an object to prompt the camera to bring it into focus. Thanks to a new Product Showcase Setting which allows for quick and smooth focus transitions between the subject’s face and the object placed in front of the lens. Built on the leading-edge technology developed for α (Alpha) and RX series cameras, this new compact camera includes advanced autofocus (AF) allowing it to lock on and track subjects with high accuracy and speed while recording. For maintaining focus on the intended subject or subjects in busy environments, Real-time Eye AF and Real-time Tracking for video allows the ZV-1 to seamlessly switch focus between multiple subjects while controlling the AF speed and tracking sensitivity.

The new ZV-1 comes loaded with accessories meeting the needs of content creators. The vlogger kit accessory incudes a GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip with Wireless Remote Commander and 64GB Ultra-High-Speed Media Card & an additional Battery NP-BX1.

Despite the small form factor there are a multitude of pro-level movie making capabilities, including:

4K movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in high bit rate XAVC S codec.
Industry standard 3.5mm microphone input
Hybrid Log-Gamma (HDR)/ S-Gamut3.Cine / S-Log3, S-Gamut3 / S-Log3
Interval Shootingfor stunning time-lapse videos
Super Slow Motionrecording at up to 960fps

Compatibility with ‘Movie Edit add-on’ from the “Imaging Edge” mobile application for image stabilization while editing Highlight ability to edit aspect ratios for IG etc.

Price and Availability

ZV-1 camera will be available in India exclusively on Amazon from 6^th August 2020 onwards