Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 camera was designed for content creators and vloggers. The light, compact form factor features a comfortable grip that makes one-handed operation simple, and a flip-out, tilting LCD screen that makes it easy to compose your shots. The large sensor and bright lens deliver high-quality stills and video in almost any situation, while the precise autofocus means your content is always sharp!

Exmor RS® CMOS sensor w/ DRAM

This large 1” (1.0-type) stacked back-illuminated Exmor RS® CMOS image sensor with DRAM chip not only enhances efficiency and speed of A/D (analogue to digital) conversion through its stacked structure with more circuit sections, it also realizes super-fast readout speed - thanks to a DRAM chip integrated into the sensor structure. Together with the BIONZ X® image processing engine and front-end LSI, it allows for stunning 20.1-megapixels at up to 24fps⁹ continuous shooting, breathtaking 4k movie2 and super slow-motion HFR⁷ (High Frame Rate) movie clip recording of up to 960fps, not to mention remarkable low-light low-noise capability and Sony’s incredible AI based Real-time AF Tracking and Eye-AF³ technology – keeping your images in sharp focus at all times.

Bright large-aperture lens

The versatile 24-70mm¹ F1.8-2.8 ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens precisely combines two AA (Advanced Aspherical) lens elements using advanced optical technology to achieve a fully open F1.8-2.8 aperture that allows you to enjoy shooting images and video - even selfies - with significant defocused background bokeh. Additionally, the ZEISS® T＊ Coating greatly reduces ghosting and flare.

Optimal image processing perfects selfies

Optimal image processing is realized with the latest-generation BIONZ X image processing system and front-end LSI, which deliver perceived resolution together with low noise for high image quality. It also contributes to accuracy and speed of autofocus and auto-exposure (AF/AE) with both face and eye detection AF, and contributes to focus and exposure adjustment when shooting in selfie mode.

Fast Hybrid AF even when shooting movies

The focal-plane phase detection autofocus (AF) sensor delivers fast and accurate focusing in both still and movie modes. When shooting movies, you can control the AF drive speed (default: Fast) and AF Tracking Sensitivity (default: Responsive) settings, allowing the focus to reflect both the scene and your shooting intentions. The highly accurate focusing with tenacious tracking is possible even when shooting 4K movies², where focusing requirements are notoriously severe. Focus will also switch quickly between the face and the background that you want to picture even while shooting selfies.

Real-time Eye AF for movies³

Real-time Eye AF³ uses AI-based subject recognition technology to detect eye information in real time, allowing people’s eyes to be recognized and tracked even when shooting movies. This continuous auto-focusing on the eyes when shooting people, including selfies, allows you to concentrate on framing. Focus on the left and right eyes can also be selected by touch operation.

Real-time Tracking for movies

Building on the leading-edge technology developed for the α (Alpha) and RX series, ZV-1 includes advanced AF (autofocus) functions allowing it to lock on and track subjects with high accuracy and speed while recording. The subject recognition algorithm uses AI (artificial intelligence) technology including machine learning to process color, pattern and subject distance in real time. If “Face/Eye Priority in AF” is ON and the subject is human, AI is used to detect and keep track of the subject’s eye and face in real time for extremely high tracking precision. The focus area seamlessly changes between object, face and eye³ according to the condition of the subject. Real-time Tracking can be initiated by touching a subject on the screen, after which the focus is automatically locked onto the subject.

Beautiful background bokeh

A combination of the large 1-inch (1-type) Exmor RS CMOS sensor and wide F1.8 maximum aperture ZEISS® lens, beautifully defocuses the background, bringing attention to you or your subject in the foreground. Additionally, the ZV-1 has a handy Background Defocus function, assignable to a custom button (default C1) for rapid and simple switching of bokeh background defocus settings.

Quick switch for background defocus

Sometimes you want to blur the background and draw focus to your subject while other times you want both the background and your subject to be in clear focus. Now - without deep knowledge of cameras or video settings - you can easily use a custom button to rapidly switch between fully open aperture (F1.8-2.8) for a greater defocused background bokeh or F5.6 to get less background bokeh and more of the scene in focus. Bokeh can be switched even while recording and without having to operate any of the manual (P/A/M) exposure modes. The default setting is to the C1 custom button located on top of the camera, which is easily accessible and makes selfie shooting operation a breeze.

Focus on the Subject You Want

The ZV-1 makes it easier than ever to shoot product reviews and similar content often seen on Youtube™. Gone are the days of needing to place a hand behind an object to prompt the camera to bring it into focus thanks to a new Product Showcase Setting (default to custom 2 button C2), which allows for quick and smooth focus transitions between the subject’s face and the object placed in front of the lens. This mode allows for quick and smooth focus transitions between the subject’s face and the object placed in front of the lens.

Prioritize Your Face

The ZV-1 incorporates a new feature to maintain a consistent bright face even in extreme changes in lighting. Face-priority AE detects the face and adjusts the exposure to ensure the face is depicted in an ideal brightness, even if walking from a bright place into shade, it detects your face and instantly adjusts. The AE technology also suppresses an abrupt change in exposure if the subject quickly turns away from the frame to eliminate unexpected blown-out or extremely dark shots.

Healthy and Natural Skin Tones

The ZV-1 features advanced color science re-engineered to optimize skin tones for any subject in both still and video mode. Based on a wide-range of preferred skin tones, faces are optimized for the most attractive skin tones that make the subject look healthy and natural irrespective of age, gender, or ethnicity.

Crystal Clear Audio

High quality content requires clear, excellent audio, and the ZV-1 is well-equipped to produce just that with reliable and versatile options. It’s internal option features Sony’s latest forward-facing Directional 3-capsule Mic., allowing for clear capture of the subject’s voice while minimizing background noise, especially when operating in selfie mode. The supplied wind screen accessory⁴, that fits on the MI shoe, minimizes wind interference delivering even clearer audio. For added flexibility, the ZV-1 features a standard 3.5mm mic jack and Sony’s Multi Interface Shoe™ (MI shoe), making it easy to connect external microphones.

Advanced SteadyShot™ with Active mode

The ZV-1 includes advanced image stabilization, ensuring steady video, even for the most active content creators, shooting hand-held while walking. Optical image stabilization in Active mode suppresses camera shake when shooting movies by combining optical image stabilization and electronic stabilization to maximize results. When recording in HD (Active mode), the effect from camera shake is reduced up to 11 times⁵ that of standard SteadyShot™, and when shooting 4K movie², using Optical SteadyShot (Active mode), there is an improvement in stabilization effect of up to 8 times⁵ that of standard SteadyShot.

4K2 HDR (HLG) video recording, S-Log3 support, and Interval Shooting

The ZV-1 records 4K movies² with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, with oversampling for high image quality. Extended continuous video recording is available when setting Auto Power OFF Temp. function to High. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) compatibility enables HDR capture and immediate playback without post-production, by connecting the camera to an HDR (HLG) compatible Sony TV via a USB cable. The wide color space and dynamic range available using S-Log profiles provides more creative freedom in post-production. Interval Shooting is now available within the camera, with AE tracking to reduce exposure variations. The resulting still images can be edited into a time-lapse movie on a PC.

Up to 24 fps⁹ with continuous AF/AE

The Exmor RS® image sensor offers continuous shooting at up to 24fps⁹ while the camera tracks subjects with AF/AE, even when they are moving erratically or at high speed. Blackout-free Shooting⁹ lets you track your subject's movement without interruption on the camera's LCD display just as if you were following with the naked eye.

Super slow-motion movie⁷ HFR (High frame rate)

See the unseen with super speed HFR (High Frame Rate). The ZV-1 can capture super slow motion HFR movie7 at up to 40x slower than real time. You can choose from 960fps, 480fps or 240fps to playback in XAVC S at 1920 x 1080, in either 60p, 30p or 24p. Choose between “quality priority” (4 sec.). There’s also an option to set “start trigger” or “end trigger” which will start capturing movie before or after you press the movie rec. button so you can time those split-second moments perfectly.

HDMI® clear output for uncompressed video recordings

Clean, uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 4K or HD movie signal can be transferred to an external monitor/recorder connected to the ZV-1 via the HDMI® terminal. Video can be recorded simultaneously to internal media and uncompressed video to the external recorder in real time.

¹ Angle of view (35mm format equivalent)
² 4K (QFHD: 3840×2160). A Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC card is required for XAVC S format. UHS speed Class 3 or higher is required for 100 Mbps recording. 4K continuous recording is available for approx. 5 minutes (Auto Power OFF Temp. Standard), but can be extended (Auto Power OFF Temp. High)
³ Real-time Eye AF for animals is not available movie shooting.
⁴ Audio input itself is via the camera’s internal mic. Attaching the wind screen to the mic further suppresses wind noise.
⁵ Image stabilization angle at the wide-angle end of the zoom range. When active mode is on. Relative to angle of view with optical image stabilization on standard mode.
⁶ Wi-Fi is not operational during interval shooting. Time-lapse movie creation is possible on a PC. Sound cannot be recorded when shooting interval recording.
⁷ Sound cannot be recorded when shooting slow motion or interval recording. An SDHC/SDXC memory card of Class 10 or higher is required
⁸ Availability of video transfer and playback varies depending on smartphone in use. Membership to Imaging Edge account and app on smartphone required with connection to WiFi. See Imaging Edge terms and conditions/privacy policy for details.
⁹ When using the electronic shutter with "Continuous shooting mode: Hi". Effective when the shutter speed is 1/60 or above. The slower the shutter speed, the lower the refresh rate of the display.
¹⁰ Bluetooth connection should be activated in advance. Interoperability and compatibility among Bluetooth® devices vary.
¹¹ In-camera movie playback is in the horizontal position. Whether or not movies are displayed in the vertical position depends on your device.