Sony ZV-1 II: Vlogging gadget at a steep price
The lens of the new ZV-1 II offers six millimetres more wide-angle at the wide end. Sony has thus eliminated the biggest weakness of the previous model, but is also asking more money for it.
Sony has unveiled the ZV-1 II. The main change to the second edition of the compact, video-focussed camera is the lens. It now has a focal length of 18-50 millimetres instead of the previous 24-70 millimetres.
What sounds like little difference is likely to be crucial for vlogging applications. Anyone filming themselves must have long arms and plenty of stamina with 24 millimetres. 18 millimetres, on the other hand, offers more room, even if the digital image stabiliser still crops the shot slightly. This will be necessary with the new ZV-1 II, as the small Sony no longer has an optical image stabiliser, unlike its predecessor.
Source: Sony
More AI functions, better microphone
Other than that, little has changed compared to the previous model. The same 1"-CMOS sensor is used. It can record 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second. The maximum aperture of the lens has deteriorated slightly at the long end. It is ƒ/1.8-4 instead of the previous ƒ/1.8-2.8. In return, the ZV-1 II adopts a few AI functions from the larger ZV-E1. For example, it automatically recognises when a second person comes into the picture - and then automatically provides more depth of field with a smaller aperture.
The new microphone is said to be better and can record sound from the front, back or from both directions. Another small but much-needed adjustment: Sony has moved the thread for the tripod plate. Unlike before, this no longer covers the battery compartment.
Price-performance standstill
And then there is another unpleasant innovation: the price. The ZV-1 II costs 990 francs. That's over 100 francs more than the ZV-1 when it was launched three years ago. In view of the short list of improvements, this is questionable. The price-performance ratio seems to be at a standstill in this segment.
Source: Sony
This is presumably due to the lack of competition: there is simply no other such compact video camera with a zoom lens, good autofocus and reasonable image quality. This was already the case with the ZV-1 and has not changed. The old camera is still being sold and now costs a good 600 francs. However, the focal length range of the ZV-1 II, which is more suitable for vlogs, should be reason enough for the target group to pay the hefty surcharge.
At least until the end of June, there is a promo campaign that gives you 100 francs off an external microphone or the matching handgrip when you buy the Sony ZV-1 II:
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Samuel Buchmann
Senior Editor
Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.chMy fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.
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