Sony will release the full-frame VLOGCAM “ZV-E1” on April 21, 2023. Two colors, black and white, are being offered.

The lineup and estimated market prices are as follows.

Approximately 12.1 million pixels “Exmor R” CMOS sensor installed

The ZV-E1 is equipped with a 35mm full-size back-illuminated 12.1-megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS sensor. It features 4:2:2, 10-bit video recording, 15 plus stop latitude (when shooting S-log3 video), common ISO sensitivity from 80 to 102400 (both for still images and video), Extended ISO still image: 40-409600, video: 80-409600. It supports main body recording of 4K (QFHD) by reading all pixels.

Equipped with the BIONZ XR engine, it achieves eight times the high-speed processing capacity of the conventional BIONZ X (equipped with the ZV-E10). The motion recording of ZV-E1 supports 4K60P as standard equipment. By obtaining a license key through Sony’s cloud production platform “Creators’ Cloud”, you can upgrade the camera to 4K120P for free. This license is scheduled to be available after June 2023.

It is possible to achieve the natural skin tone that has been well-established in the VLOGCAM series, and the skin tone is optimized for both video and still images, making it possible to express the skin more impressively even when taking selfies. Equipped with a “background blur switch,” you can switch the background blur on and off with a single touch. It also has a beautiful skin effect that allows you to shoot bright and beautiful skin.

Enjoy the variety of expressions of the Sony E-mount system with interchangeable lenses

ZV-E1 supports E-mount lens exchange. You can enjoy the expression of the Sony E-mount system covering from wide-angle 12mm to super-telephoto 1200mm lenses. For example, if you want to take a full-size mirrorless camera as a step up from your smartphone, the FE 20-70mm F4 G is recommended. If you want to shoot V-Log in a small and light system, the FE 24mm 2.8 G. If you want to realize a more particular image expression, G MASTER seems to be a possible choice.

Shooting example of FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM

Full-fledged color expression is also possible

The familiar S-Cinetone in Cinema Line will be installed as a VLOGCAM for the first time, enabling full-fledged color expression. In addition, it has high sensitivity and low noise performance, and can shoot clear images with reduced noise even in dark environments.

Equipped with “My Image Style” as a new function recommended for first-time camera users. When shooting with Auto or Scene Selection, you can intuitively adjust the blur, brightness, and color of the background using the touch operation icons on the screen to create your desired finish. Even though it is automatic, you can use bokeh, brightness, and creative look.

“Cinematic VLog setting” is a new function that allows you to easily set colors and image creation collectively with intuitive operations. When turned on, the aspect ratio automatically becomes cinemascope and the frame rate is fixed at 24P. You can change the look, mood, and AF transition speed. There are 5 looks and 4 moods, and by combining them, you can create your own favorite color.

Regarding camera work, it is equipped with an optical 5-axis in-body image stabilization that achieves a correction effect of 5.0 steps. As an evolution point, the active mode, which was installed as a correction function in the conventional model, has evolved into a dynamic active mode, and the camera shake correction effect has improved by about 30%.

As a new function of camera work, “auto framing” is installed. Utilizing the subject recognition performance of the AI ​​processing unit, the camera recognizes the subject, crops around the recognized subject, and when the subject moves, the position of the crop changes according to the movement. The camera might be fixed in place, but you can shoot images, as if the cameraman is framing. Tracking is possible by touching the LCD screen. When shooting two subjects, you can focus on the first person first and switch between them easily with a touch when the other person starts talking.

“Framing Correction” is a convenient function when shooting while running parallel to the subject. When the photographer and the subject run side by side and shoot, the composition of the subject may be out of alignment. In such cases, it tracks the subject so that it remains in the same position within the composition, and automatically corrects the composition.

Equipped with an AI processing unit, it supports real-time recognition. It enables person recognition using posture estimation technology. In addition to people and animals, birds, insects, cars/trains, and airplanes are also added as new recognitions.

It is possible to make detailed adjustments such as “AF transition speed” and “AF transfer sensitivity”. In addition, it supports breathing correction that minimizes the focus breathing phenomenon that occurs when focusing during video recording. It also has a “product review setting” that allows you to smoothly focus from the face to the product and from the product to the face.

In addition, as a new function, “multiple face recognition” is installed. If you are alone on the screen, you can blur the background so that the person is in focus, but if another person comes in from behind, the camera will be adjusted so that the person behind you is also in focus. It has an automatic adjustment function.

For audio, it has a headphone jack and a microphone jack. It makes it possible to shoot movies that are more focused on sound. As for the interface shoe of the microphone, it is equipped with a multi-interface shoe compatible with digital audio interfaces. Audio can be transmitted directly as a digital signal, enabling high-quality recording without deterioration.

The standard capsule microphone is also evolving. Equipped with an intelligent 3-capsule microphone, it is possible to collect sound with the directivity selected by the shooter themselves. It can be selected from forward, backward, and all directions.

Equipped with functions that allow you to enjoy full-fledged video expression

The ZV-E1 enables expression with a particular focus on images. With S-Gamut3.cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-log3 compatibility, you can enjoy your own image expression. “Flexible ISO” provides flexibility in exposure settings. Furthermore, it is equipped with a picture profile function called “PPLUT,” that enables custom assignment of LUTs.

Although this camera is a small, lightweight and compact model, it is designed with long recording times, and dust and splash proofing in mind. The shooting grip is also supported, allowing you to achieve a wide range of shooting styles. Like the ZV-1F, it also supports touch operation. Basic operations and settings can be changed from the screen. The ZV-E1 also has a main menu that allows you to check the setting status in the list that is installed in the FX30.

For content sharing, the ZV-E1 is a model compatible with the Creators’ App while inheriting the function installed in the conventional model. When transferring images to a smartphone, the transfer was interrupted when switching screens previously, but with the ZV-E1, transfer to the background continues even if you switch to another app and work.

Which one should you choose, VLOGCAM or the full-size model of the α7 series?

The ZV-E10 is equipped with an APS-C image sensor, and although there are differences in sensor size, it achieves specifications that are comparable to Sony’s popular models such as the α7S III and α7 IV. It seems that it is quite difficult to choose between VLOGCAM and the full-size model of the α7 series.

It can be said that the VLOGCAM is attracting attention for users who want to shoot with a particular expression, who are mainly taking photos and want to start video, and who want to take their video expression to a higher level.