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Sony ZV-1

 
Sony ZV-1 front
 
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 294g - 105 x 60 x 44mm
  • Revealed May 2020
  • Refreshed by Sony ZV-1 II
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
86
Overall
67

Sony ZV-1 overview

Sony ZV-1 is Sony's Large Sensor Compact camera first announced on May of 2020. The camera has got a 20MP, BSI-CMOS 1" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 5472 x 3648.

Sony introduced the more recent Sony ZV-1 II (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this camera.

The ZV-1 is placed #10 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras and all around #189 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can try our Advanced camera finder to see camera ratings based on your personalized factors.

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Here is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony ZV-1 family

The Sony ZV-1 is part of a family of products. You can see the complete range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-ZV-1-Mark-II front thumbnailSony ZV-1 II
ZV-1 vs ZV-1 II
18-50mm
F1.8-4.0
20MP1"2023
Sony-ZV-1F front thumbnailSony ZV-1F
ZV-1 vs ZV-1F
20mm
F2
20MP1"2022
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Sony-ZV-1 front thumbnailSony ZV-124-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2020

Sony ZV-1 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of pros and cons of the Sony ZV-1 based on factors that are oftentimes seen as necessary in a camera.

comes with HDMI socket
comes with mic socket
display is selfie friendly
exports RAW formats
fast at the long end (f2.8)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
features focus via touch
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
good zoom range (24-70mm 2.9 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has touchscreen
high frames per second (24.0 frames per second)
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (294 grams)
offers face detect focus
offers tracking focus
pretty good screen size (3")
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
quite wide (24mm)
screen articulates fully
screen has good resolution (922 k dots)
supports bluetooth
supports phase detect auto focus
you can focus manually
bad battery power (260 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
missing headphone socket
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Sony ZV-1 Sensor info

The Sony ZV-1 features the Bionz X processor chip. The dimension of the sensor on the Sony ZV-1 is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor can resolve 5472 x 3648 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

Photography Glossary

The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 20MP and provides a native ISO range of 125 to 12800. This ISO can also be increased electronically to 80 to 25600. RAW files are saved which means that the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The image below illustrates the ZV-1's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The ZV-1 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.7 and is showcased in green.

Sony ZV-1 sensor size Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony ZV-1 dimensions

Sony ZV-1 is 0.65 lbs (294 gr or 10.37 oz) and features outer proportions of 105mm x 60mm x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7"). The weight of general Large Sensor Compact camera is 396 gr and the Sony ZV-1 is lighter when compared to various competitors.

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Listed below is a photo of the Sony ZV-1 beside a soft drink to help you to have a sense of its scale.

Sony ZV-1 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will highlight the button layout on the ZV-1.

Sony ZV-1 topview buttons dials

Sony ZV-1 Lens info

The ZV-1 is equipped with an inbuilt lens featuring a focal range of 24-70mm making it a 2.9 x zoom which is not huge but it can be helpful in certain scenarios.

At the widest 24mm, it offers an aperture of f1.8 making it incredibly good in low light occasions and capturing a shallow depth of field. It is going to also enable you to use a lower ISO in order to get more clean pictures. With the tele end, 70mm comes at f2.8 which is quite decent and enables you to use high shutter speeds.

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Sony ZV-1 Connectivity

The ZV-1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC and Bluetooth support can be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to copy pictures and in some cases adjust camera settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

A few applications even provide a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external display. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB socket.

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Sony ZV-1 Video info

The highest video quality on the Sony ZV-1 is 3840 x 2160 and it can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S format. 2160p offers a fantastic quality for video. You can easily crop to Full HD to get clearer video. Be wary of the large file sizes and make sure you have got decent SD cards that have fast write speed. Even though the camera includes a mic jack, it is lacking a headphone jack which means that you will not have the ability to keep an eye on your sound levels.

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Sony ZV-1 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing in the Sony ZV-1 so you need to be cautious in rainy and dusty conditions.

Sony ZV-1 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony ZV-1 has got a 3" fully articulated display supporting a resolution of 922k dots.

It includes a selfie friendly display to shoot self portraits and even group photos if needed. Moreover the display is touch friendly which means that you can easily switch focus point as well as adjust settings using your fingers.

Sony ZV-1 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Sony ZV-1 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

In those bright outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders are rather helpful.

Sony ZV-1 Shutter info

Sony ZV-1 can shoot continuously at 24.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds. The camera also includes silent electronic shutter of 1/32000 seconds. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter may lead to "rolling shutter" under certain situations.

Photography Glossary

Sony ZV-1 Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony ZV-1 includes external flash ability but is lacking in-built flash.

Sony ZV-1 Autofocus info

Sony ZV-1 includes both Phase Detect Auto Focus along with Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more faster and precise when compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera has got Face detect making it handy for portraits.

The Sensor has got 315 focus points to choose from. Sony ZV-1 has touch to focus. You can easily use your fingers to adjust focus points. It also features Tracking Auto Focus for things on the move. Sony ZV-1 comes with manual focusing if required in low light or you want more accurate control on focusing.

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Sony ZV-1 Battery life

The battery power in the Sony ZV-1 is built to last for 260 clicks as per the CIPA standards which is lower when compared to its competitors. The typical Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U offers the highest (450) battery life in this type of cameras.

Following is a listing of Large Sensor Compact cameras that have the highest battery life:

Sony ZV-1 for different categories of photography

The following diagram indicates a overview of the Sony ZV-1 for different categories of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section below.

Sony ZV-1 as a Portrait photography camera

The Sony ZV-1 gets a score of 73 which is above average, and means the camera is a very decent pick for portraits. Photographing portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support in addition to the option to work with external flash.

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focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files

Sony ZV-1 Street photography factors

Coming in at a very high points total of 85, the Sony ZV-1 is a outstanding option for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of image quality and portability.

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screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
boasts focus by touch
lighter than others (294g)

Sony ZV-1 Sports photography factors

A above average sports photography score of 71 means the Sony ZV-1 is a very decent fit for photographing sports. A camera must have excellent focusing plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (24.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (260 CIPA)

Sony ZV-1 Travel photography information

Size is really critical when picking a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sony ZV-1 gets a outstanding 81 as a travelling camera which is a wonderful fit to take on your travels.

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lighter than competition in class (294g)
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
low battery power (260 shots)

Landscape photography with Sony ZV-1

For anybody planning to pick a camera for landscape photographs, the most essential aspect will be image quality. The Sony ZV-1 at it's very good score of 70 for a landscape camera is a very decent option amongst its rivals.

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has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery (260 CIPA)

Vlogging with Sony ZV-1

A camera for vlogging should come with a articulating screen, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Sony ZV-1 is a brilliant fit for vlogging as it comes to a fantastic score of 86.

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decently wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic jack
lighter than others in class (294 grams)

Sony ZV-1 Alternatives

If you are searching for alternatives to the ZV-1, here is a range of the top rated cameras which fall under the class of Large Sensor Compact.

The graph here shows you an overview of the ZV-1 versus it's top ranked competitors mentioned previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might view as alternatives. To see a extensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Sony
Model type
Sony ZV-1
Category
Large Sensor Compact
Revealed
2020-05-27
Physical type
Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
Bionz X
Sensor size
1"
Sensor dimensions
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
5472 x 3648
RAW images
Highest native ISO
12800
Highest boosted ISO
25600
Min native ISO
125
Min boosted ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points
315
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture
f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance
5cm
Focal length multiplier
2.7
Screen
Display type
Fully Articulated
Display size
3"
Display resolution
922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed
1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate
24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash modes
Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
294 grams (0.65 lbs)
Dimensions
105 x 60 x 44mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.7")
Other
Battery life
260 pictures
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
Single
Cost at launch
$750