The Sony ZV-E1 Camera Walkthough & Video Deep-Dive

1. Getting Started

The Sony ZV-E1 is one of the most potent compact cinema cameras currently on the market. For practical purposes, consider it a miniature Sony FX3 – sharing much of the FX3's capabilities but in a more condensed form, minus the top handle. Sony's family of cameras caters to a wide audience, ranging from fledgling photographers to seasoned professionals. The ZV-E1 strikes a perfect balance, offering excellent value given its mid-range position and pricing.

This camera is equipped to deliver 4K recording, provides 10-bit color depth – a boon for color grading pros – and supports SLOG3 and S-Cinetone.

2. Battery Life

Sony emphasizes the ZV-E1 can be powered by afully-charged NP-FZ100 battery, can capture up to 570 photos or record 95 minutes of video. The newer Sony models boast significantly improved battery lifespans compared to their predecessors. My strategy involves carrying 2-3 batteries, which suffice for a day's work.

A notable advantage of Sony cameras, including the ZV-E1, is their USB-C charging capability. This is particularly convenient when you're in a café or winding down your day, as it allows you to repurpose your iPad or laptop's cord to charge your camera. You could also opt for a separate charger to juice up one battery while you shoot with another.

If you use the ZV-E1 as a streaming camera or webcam and connect it via USB-C to your computer, you won't need to swap out batteries. Your computer will sustain the camera's charge while it's in use.

3. Which Sony Lens To Use?

The Sony ZV-E1 is a full-frame camera compatible with Sony's E-Mount lens system. When choosing a lens, make sure it supports "Full Frame Coverage," as Sony also offers E-Mount lenses designed for its crop sensor cameras.

Interestingly, you can fit these more cost-effective crop sensor lenses to your full-frame camera, but at the expense of significantly cropping your image. For instance, a 50mm Sony E-Mount lens crafted for crop sensors, given the 1.5x crop factor, functions more like a 75mm lens. For optimal image quality, it's recommended to avoid crop sensor lenses and instead invest in a full-frame lens.

Should you need further lens suggestions, here are a few I appreciate:

• Sony 20-70mm F4: This lens is incredibly versatile. The 20mm setting is perfect for vlogging, while the 70mm allows for striking close-up shots.
• Sony 24-70 2.8 GM: This lens is exceptional for lifestyle photography. Although slightly larger and heavier, it's the top-tier zoom lens available for this camera.
• Sony 16-35mm: Ideal for dedicated vloggers, this wide zoom lens comes in a compact F4 version and a marginally larger F2.8 one. Remember that this camera has a relatively small body, which may seem disproportionate to these faster F2.8 zoom lenses.

Lastly, I recommend some compact, budget-friendly third-party lenses that pair excellently with this camera. The Tamron 28-75 2.8 and Sigma 28-70 2.8 lenses, priced under $1000, deliver outstanding performance for their size and cost. I've extensively used both and have shot most Moment courses using them.

4. Audio Inputs

The Sony ZV-E1 features anin-built tri-capsule microphone, designed to automatically fine-tune its sensitivity to focus on the primary speaker while attenuating ambient noise. This functionality is super great for vloggers who have to record their voices clearly without using external microphones. You can also utilize the 3.5mm microphone input on the camera’s left side for superior audio or capture sound from an external source. This feature facilitates the connection of an external microphone, such as a shotgun or wireless Lavalier mic, to enhance audio quality.

The Rode Wireless Go or the DJI Mic Kit are a few of my personal favorites for external microphones.

4. Touch Screen

The Sony ZV-E1 has a three-inch touch-responsive LCD that can rotate 180 degrees to face the user for vlogs. This feature greatly helps those who want to monitor their face-framing and composition in real time. The screen offers up to 135 degrees of vertical tilt, which allows me to shoot from the hip or in tricky positions on the go.

In terms of usability, the Sony ZV-E1's flip-out screen is super user-friendly. The touch interface is intuitive and reacts promptly, permitting adjustments to parameters like focus, exposure, and white balance. It also facilitates transitions between shooting modes, provides access to the camera's menus, and enables quick focus point alterations or toggling between autofocus and manual focus during video recording.

5. Video Recording Formats

The ZV-E1's recording formats hinge on your preference for 1080p or 4K and your desired file compression level.XAVC HS 4K provides highly compressed 4K footage with small file sizes but can burden computers and editing software. I mostly use XAVC S 4K for its balanced file size and smooth editing playback. XAVC S also comes in 1080p or HD, which is beneficial for easier editing and scenarios where 1080p is the final output resolution, as in our Moment courses.

Consider your video's destination, supported resolutions, and storage considerations. For instance, while 4K allows cropping in post-production, platforms like Thinkific and most YouTube typically favor 1080p.

Lastly, less compressed codecs with high bit rates offer smoother editing experiences but fill up storage more quickly. I reserve these for shorter, high-quality footage recordings, such as short films.

6. Picture Profile (S-Log vs. Cinetone)

Consider your editing intentions first. Suppose you’re a content creator seeking to expedite your process with ready-to-edit footage. In that case, you might want different settings than a filmmaker leveraging this camera's 10-bit color depth.

For nice footage straight from the camera, disable the Picture Profile. You'll have a well-saturated, contrast-rich image ready for editing and posting.

The ZV-E1's two primary picture profiles,S-Log3 and S-Cinetone, offer distinctive advantages. S-Log3 is a flat profile preserving dynamic range, providing flexibility for post-production color grading. However, its screen image can appear desaturated, potentially complicating exposure and focus judgment. Conversely, S-Cinetone, modeled after Sony's Venice cinema camera, immediately delivers a contrasty, saturated, and cinematic appearance, reducing post-production efforts. This profile suits those preferring in-camera perfection, but it restricts post-production manipulation.

The ZV-E1 also has various picture settings, including gamma curves, color modes, and detail settings. While initially daunting, these offer super customized control over your final appearance. Experimenting with these settings with test footage to see which one you like the most.

7. Stabilization

The Sony ZV-E1 incorporates five-axis in-body image stabilization, providing steady footage if you're shooting by hand (but I always typically use a gimbal to reduce the shake).

You can opt for different stabilization modes. The Standard mode employs sensor-shift stabilization suitable for everday shots. For enhanced stability, the 'Active' mode integrates sensor shift and digital stabilization but slightly crops your footage, affecting your frame.

But the standout feature is the Dynamic Active mode, which combines optical and electronic image stabilization and offers up to 30% superior performance. Despite the cropping, it's nice for high-action sequences, casual shooting, and longer focal lengths.

8. Streaming & Webcam Setup

Utilizing the Sony ZV-E1 as a webcam is pretty straightforward. You need just a USB cable and a computer with the necessary software. Connect the ZV-E1 to your computer via USB, select it as your video source in your computer's settings, and install any nessecary drivers or software based on your system.

Configured as a webcam, the ZV-E1's high-quality video output, up to 1080p at 60fps, is perfect for streaming or video calls. The camera's advanced autofocus and image stabilization features ensure stable, focused videos, enhancing your video calls or streams, even with motion.

9. Directly Apply LUTs

The coolest feautre if you're editing on the go. This camrea can support custom LUTs (lookup tables) like the Sony FX3 and Panasonic GH series. LUTs, color, and tone modifications allow you to attain the exact look you want while shooting.

With ZV-E1, you canuse LUTs to preview Log mode corrected footage or directly apply them in-camera for instant pre-graded footage. When shooting in Log mode, uploading LUTs facilitates a preview of the final output, applying LUTs to the footage in real-time to better understand the anticipated color and tone adjustments. This proves beneficial if you want to preconceive a specific look before editing.

To save editing time, you can apply LUTs in-camera for immediate pre-graded footage, helping to maintain a consistent look or meet tight deadlines. But it's important to note that by applying a LUT in-camera, you sacrifice the grading flexibility typically offered by Log capture.

Overall, this camera rocks. The Sony ZV-E1 is designed to improve your filmmaking experience, regardless of your skill level. It's compact, powerful, and engineered for super-tight performance. From intricate LUTs and picture profiles to USB-C charging, in-body image stabilization, and exceptional lens compatibility, the ZV-E1 is a great B-cam for pros or the first camera you choose if you want to step up from a Fujifilm camera or the iPhone.

But as with any tool, knowledge and practice are the key to harnessing its full potential. You should check out our online course, where we'll dive deep into the camrea and maximize settings for even more sick footage. It's a comprehensive guide filled with practical tips and demonstrations to help you become super well-versed in no time. Plus, I go over my personal settings for an added personal touch.