The Sony ZV-1 sits fairly in prime spot of our greatest vlogging digicam information, and three years after its launch its successor has arrived within the form of the Sony ZV-1 II. 

In keeping with Sony, customers of the Sony ZV-1 fed again that its lens is usually not fairly extensive sufficient for vlogging, and consequently the most recent mannequin options an all-new lens with a wider subject of view.

So what else is new on this compact entry-level vlogging digicam? Let’s dig additional into the ZV-1 II’s headline options to seek out out. 

Sony ZV-1 II value and launch date

• £870 within the UK. US and Australia pricing TBC
• Accessible from June 2023
• Additionally accessible as vlogging equipment with GP-VPT2BT grip 

The Sony ZV-1 II is offered by itself, or as a part of vlogging equipment, with the essential equipment together with Sony’s GP-VPT2BT grip, which prices $138 / £170 / AU$249 if purchased individually.

Disappointingly, the Sony ZV-1 II’s checklist value is rather a lot greater than that of the ZV-1 at launch, which was $749 / £699 / AU$1,299, maybe because of the present international financial scenario. 

For now, Sony plans to maintain the ZV-1 on the cabinets alongside the ZV-1 II, along with the ZV-1F, which has a set 20mm F2.zero lens, and we’ll shortly be publishing a Sony ZV-1 Vs Sony ZV-1 II head-to-head to focus on the important thing variations. 

Sony ZV-1 II lens: Broad-angle marvel

• Constructed-in 18-50mm F1.8-4.zero lens
• 2x zoom rocker extends focal size to 100mm

Throughout a briefing on the brand new digicam, Sony advised us {that a} wider lens topped the wishlist of ZV-1 customers, who indicated that the widest 24mm focal size usually proved to be not fairly extensive sufficient for vlogging. Thus, now we have a brand new lens within the ZV-1 II.

That digicam incorporates a 24-70mm F1.8-2.Eight lens, whereas the ZV1-II has a a lot wider 18-50mm F1.8-Four lens that provides extra space across the creator who’s self-shooting. The ZV-1F has a set 20mm lens, which makes plenty of sense for vlogging, however you don’t get the identical versatility for b-roll pickups {that a} zoom lens offers.

You’ll discover that the telephoto finish of the brand new lens doesn’t lengthen so far as the ZV-1’s, although, plus the utmost aperture is smaller which might adversely impression picture high quality in low mild. Nonetheless, the ZV-1 II does additionally function a zoom rocker that gives a 2x Clear Picture zoom to increase the utmost attain of the lens to 100mm. It’s not an optical zoom, however from expertise we’ve by no means actually observed a drop-off in video high quality when utilizing the Clear Picture zoom. 

None of those compact vlogging cameras function in-body picture stabilization, and those who need to easy out strolling vlogs with out being slowed down by a gimbal might want to use digital stabilization, which introduces a small crop of the picture space – one other case for this wider lens.

Lens alternative is crucial as a result of you possibly can’t swap out the built-in lens of those cameras. If we had been to select one of many ZV-1, ZV-1F or ZV-1 II on lens design alone, the ZV-1 II makes probably the most sense for vlogging.

Sony ZV-1 II specs and options: Acquainted floor

• 1-inch 20MP sensor
• Improved touchscreen operate
• Multi-directional built-in mic

Subsequent up on notable adjustments from the ZV-1 is a completely contact succesful display. It won’t sound like an enormous deal, however for such a small digicam whose operate depends so closely on the display, the boundaries on the ZV-1 display had been an actual downer. Remember that the ZV-1F already affords full contact operate. 

The built-in 3-capsule microphone has been tweaked too, and customers can now choose sound from the entrance, the rear or auto, whereas the microphone within the different ZV-1 cameras is auto solely. It’s in the end like having a directional mic and could be helpful for situations the place you recognize the route you need to prioritize sound from, however from utilizing this operate within the ZV-E1, we’re not 100% satisfied it’s notably higher than the auto setting. 

Sony has additionally rolled out the ‘cinematic vlog setting’ as present in its flagship vlogging digicam the Sony ZV-E1, that provides a alternative of baked in coloration presets as an alternative of fiddling round in submit. The function really makes much more sense on this compact digicam suited to customers of all ability ranges – select the way you just like the video to look in-camera and shoot, job carried out.

The USB port has been up to date from micro USB within the ZV-1, too, to USB-C right here. In any other case, there’s not lots else to report. All three of those ZV-1 cameras are nearly the identical measurement and dimensions, make the most of Sony’s 1-inch sensor and identical era BIONZ X processor, with 20MP JPEGs and 4K / 30p 8-bit video. Unbiased of the lens, picture and video high quality is similar.

Is the Sony ZV-1 II price it?

For actual world use, the tech within the ZV-1 II is basically unchanged from the ZV-1, save maybe for the touchscreen. Actually, that is all in regards to the new lens, and definitely it’s probably the most versatile lens of the three ZV-1 cameras for vlogging. Is the value hike justified for a brand new lens? Debatable. However you’ll discover out extra when our full evaluate of the ZV-1 II lands quickly.