What is the ZV-1 worth that Sony seems to have created to become YouTuber?

Sony ZV-1 Camera Turns You Into YouTuber -

• With its expert compact camera ZV-1, Sony offers videographers who want to showcase themselves on YouTube and social networks a practical, easy-to-use tool that provides images of much better quality than those of a smartphone.

• Launched at 799 euros and offered with an optional control tripod sold for 199 euros, the ZV-1 can indeed appeal to novice videographers, but also those, confirmed, in search of accessible and efficient equipment.

• However, the ZV-1 is not free from flaws, including disappointing battery life and the impossibility of live streaming.

The

, you know?

Without knowing it, many of you are already practicing it by filming and sharing videos where you put yourself in the scene.

Otherwise the YouTubers having a storefront and generally well equipped with equipment to film themselves, amateurs eager to share, who a recipe, who a rant, who a travel diary (in the world before) ... generally use their smartphone or their webcam.

With the expert Sony ZV-1 compact camera, particularly well endowed for video, budding vloggers eager to climb the slider in quality will be served.

Sony's ZV-1 camera first dedicated to vlogging.

- SONY

For novices or experts

Clearly designed for video, the ZV-1 surprises with its compactness.

Neither too small to remain easy to handle and accompany us everywhere, nor too massive (105.5 x 60 x 43.5 mm), the device remains light: 294 grams.

It is also very easy to handle.

On the side, the small

handle

is a real contribution, even when you have big hands.

Equipped with a large 1 inch sensor of 20.1 million pixels, the ZV-1 is weighted with an equivalent 24-70 mm lens with focal length opening at f / 1.8 - f / 2.8.

It can shoot in Full HD up to 120 frames per second and in 4K up to 25 frames / second (which is not much).

The screen mounted on a ball joint is of capital assistance to be able to film or photograph yourself by orienting it in its direction.

We would have liked it to be a little brighter for outdoor shoots.

Sony's ZV-1 camera launched at $ 799.

- SONY

Novices will prefer automated functions, such as “Intelligent” mode where the ZV-1 automatically detects the type of scene and adapts its settings accordingly.

Alternative: the classic Scene modes (Portrait, Night Scene.).

The more informed will be able to invest the usual PASM settings (Program Auto, Aperture priority, speed, manual exposure).

Vloggers in the lens

A few welcome extras for vloggers: shooting in vertical format, smoothing the skin to heal its look, as well as a

effect

(blur on the back of the subject) that can be triggered by pressing a simple button (C1 button on the box).

No need to venture into the settings of the aperture of the camera to get it and play on the depth of field.

Product Presentation mode and its ultra-fast focusing up to 5 cm from the lens.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Another advantage: a mode called "Product Presentation".

Activated, it focuses extremely quickly, up to 5 cm, on an object presented in front of the lens.

Practical and very effective for a

Tik Tech video

… Also effective during our tests, the autofocus with subject

thanks to

eye

.

Sony knows how to do it: impossible to have the face that does not remain clear during a performance in front of the camera.

To share views or edit them quickly from a smartphone, for example,

Sony's

application

allows you to connect to the ZV-1 via WiFi.

Not very ergonomic with its menus from another time, this application however worked well in each of our tests, allowing us to repatriate photos and video on board an

.

Which, like any other smartphone, can also take control of the camera remotely.

Spy, get up!

It is possible to control the Sony ZV-1 remotely from a smartphone.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

For sound, the manufacturer has equipped its ZV-1 with a three-capsule microdirectional located on the top of the device.

With him, the audio rendering is quite clear.

To film outdoors, a windshield is provided.

Positioning itself automatically above the microphone once housed in the accessory shoe, it virtually eliminates any unwanted effects due to the wind.

Well seen.

The windscreen included with the Sony ZV-1 camera.

- SONY

Almost mandatory accessory for filming outdoors if you do not have a pole or tripod, the GP-VPT2BT support acts as a tripod, but also as a handle with Photo / Video / Zoom controls.

It is used to trigger the

effect

with the reproduction of the C1 button on the housing.

Clever.

The GP-VPT2BT support offers better handling with a few remote controls.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Gaps to fill

Some points to review, however.

The ZV-1's screen is tactile, of course, but only to focus on a subject.

As with the screen of a smartphone, we apply the finger where we want the image to be clear.

But here, it is impossible to scroll through the shots, the menus ... by sliding the tip of the index finger on the surface of the screen.

And even less to zoom in / out in an image to check its quality.

We sorely missed it.

The GP-VPT2BT support is sold for 199 euros.

- SONY

We also missed a selector dial on the top of the device.

Less restrictive is the absence of optical viewfinder (and flash) which have given way to the accessory shoe.

As for instant and

enthusiasts

, they will come back:

sharing

is impossible.

Not everyone obviously needs it, but it can be disabling.

Sony did not see fit, either, to provide the device with a headphone jack.

Too bad to check the audio quality during an interview ... Finally, the autonomy of the ZV-1 is barely: 1h30 in video.

The worst part is that Sony does not provide a charger, but a simple USB cable (and not USB-C!).

Result: you have to wait for the camera to recharge to use it, or buy a charger and a second battery (count around twenty euros for a charger and two exotic brand batteries on the web) ... In the meantime, a

can do the trick between two sequences.

Price side, it will invest 799 euros for the device and 199 euros for its tripod (Sony indicative prices, but we find them a little cheaper).

It is a sum, but ultimately a relative investment for equipment which, if not perfect, offers great latitude to start producing quality video content.

And incidentally, the ZV-1 is also a very good expert compact camera.

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