The ZV-1F compact vlogging digicam was launched in October 2022 as a extra inexpensive model of 2020’s fashionable ZV-1, with each providing a number of options designed particularly for vlogging and content material creation. Now the brand new Mark II model of the ZV-1 has been launched in Might 2023.
So how does the brand new ZV1 II differ from the cheaper ZV1F, and which of those cameras is the best one for you?
We’re bringing you this in-depth Sony ZV-1 II vs Sony ZV-1F head-to-head comparability that will help you select between them.
Sensor
Each the ZV-1F and the ZV-1 II use an analogous 20.1 megapixel, 1-inch (13.2 mm x 8.8 mm) stacked Exmor RS sensor, so the picture high quality is actually the identical.
The ZV-1F has a special sensor, although, which solely helps contrast-detection auto-focusing (425 factors), quite than the hybrid section/distinction detection AF system discovered within the ZV-1 II.
Processor
Each cameras use precisely the identical highly effective Bionz X picture processor, which permits the ZV-1 II to shoot at as much as 24 photographs per second utilizing the digital shutter and the ZV-1F to shoot at a nonetheless very respectable 16fps.
ISO Pace
The ISO vary of the Sony ZV-1F and ZV-1 II is identical, ISO 100 to ISO 12,800, which might be expanded by one cease to 25,600 utilizing the particular Multi Noise Discount mode.
Lens
That is the only largest distinction between these two cameras.
The ZV-1F has a set focal size 20mm f/2 lens. This usefully gives a large angle of view that makes it very appropriate for vlogging and selfies, however loses out on the additional versatility of a zoom.
The brand new ZV-1 II has a good wider 18-50mm f/1.8-4 equal zoom lens that is barely higher suited to vlogging, significantly when holding the digicam at arm’s size for selfie recording and group photographs.
The ZV-1F could not have a zoom lens, however that hasn’t stopped Sony from incorporating what they’ve referred to as a touch-controlled step zoom for each stills and video.
With only a contact of ZOOM icon on the the LCD panel, you may choose from 1.0x/1.5x/2.0x/4.0x choice. This makes use of a mix of Sony’s Clear Picture Zoom and digital zoom to shortly change the angle of view.
Sony additionally present the Clear Picture Zoom digital zoom perform on the ZV-1 II which will increase the focal vary from 50-100mm “with none considerable loss in picture high quality”.
On the ZV-1 II the zoom might be operated through the use of the touchscreen along with utilizing the bodily rocker swap on prime of the digicam, with selectable zoom steps once more working from 1x / 1.5x / 2x / 4x plus icons for W (wide-angle) and T (telephoto) to shortly change the angle of view on the press of an onscreen icon.
Autofocus
The ZV-1F notably lacks the Hybrid AF sensor that utilises as much as 315-phase detection factors and 425-contrast detection factors, as discovered on the costlier ZV-1 and ZV-1 II.
As a substitute, it solely has 425-point distinction detection system, which though typically fairly snappy, does not permit for a similar degree of for the quick and easy topic monitoring that section detection AF helps.
Each of them supply Sony’s glorious real-time monitoring system, together with Eye AF for people/animals for stills and people for video, plus the Face Precedence autoexposure (AE) perform, which detects and prioritises the topic’s face and adjusts the publicity to make sure the face is depicted at a really perfect brightness.
New to the ZV-1 II is the Multi-face Recognition mode which has trickled down from the lately launched ZV-E1 full-frame digicam.
On this mode the ZV1 II will robotically cease down the aperture when one other individual comes into the body to assist be certain that all of the individuals are in focus, quite than simply the unique one, which is a good characteristic for group selfies the place you need everybody to be in focus.
Additionally new to the Mark II model is animal AF tacking within the film mode – on the ZV-1F it is restricted to stills capturing solely.
Video
The core video specs of the 2 cameras are primarily the identical.
So on each the Sony ZV-1 II and the ZV-1F, video might be recorded in 4K decision at as much as 30fps, while Full HD might be recorded at as much as 100/120fps relying on whether or not you might have chosen the PAL or NTSC format.
The stacked sensor moreover offers each cameras the flexibility to supply particular HFR modes the place you may shoot brief video clips at 250, 500 or 1000fps, with footage then saved at 25fps for tremendous gradual movement playback.
Each fashions characteristic Sony’s S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma and HLG curves which allow them to document better dynamic vary.
Sony have added the Cinematic Vlog setting from the ZV-E1 to the brand new ZV-1 II mannequin.
This lets you select from a variety of various cinematic Appears and Moods and mix them to your personal specific model. The ensuing video is the robotically shot within the widescreen Cinemascope facet ratio (2.35:1) at 24fps with black bands above and beneath the picture. for a real cinematic really feel, all by merely choosing the Cinematic Vlog choice.
Sony’s vary of Image Profiles are additionally current and proper, which means you may match the footage shot with the ZV-1 II or ZV-1F with higher-end cameras such because the A7 IV.
New to the ZV-1 II are a number of 10 completely different Inventive Appears, once more inherited kind the ZV-1 E1.
Audio
Sony have improved the microphone high quality on the brand new Z-V1 II when in comparison with the ZV-1F.
The upgraded clever 3-capsule mic from the ZV-E10 now gives three completely different settings – entrance, rear and all instructions – so that you’ve extra management over the sound recording relying on the place your topic. is positioned.
It additionally sports activities a wind discount design with a removable Lifeless Cat wind protect supplied within the field. Clear voice isolation is nice for recording your voice and never the background, and there is additionally a devoted Multi Interface Shoe for an exterior microphone and different additional equipment.
Each cameras additionally supply an all vital 3.5mm microphone enter, however there isn’t any headphone output on both mannequin.
Vlogging Options
Each digicam’s supply Sony’s particular vlogger-friendly options – Background Defocus, Product Showcase and a Tally mild.
Each have a Background Defocus button. For vloggers the purpose of this button is to modify between having the background blurred or clear. In photographic phrases it’s switching the aperture between the biggest out there for the connected lens and a stopped down worth.
The Product Showcase mode is an autofocus mode that alerts the digicam to modify the main focus from an individual’s face to an object which may be held up in entrance of the digicam. It’s a fashionable YouTube approach for when wanting to point out an merchandise to the viewer, however on cameras with slower autofocus it may go away the main focus mounted on the presenter’s face with the product out of focus, and vice versa. The Product Showcase mode solves that subject, including one other plus level for vlogging with these cameras.
A recording lamp (tally mild) can be supplied on the entrance face of the digicam physique for an at-a-glance indication of the present video recording standing, and a purple colour recording alert sq. is displayed on the LCD display screen too (each might be turned off).
Dwell Streaming
Dwell streaming is feasible immediately from each cameras just by connecting it to a pc or suitable cell gadget by way of USB, eliminating the necessity for a video seize card. This enables the digicam’s video and audio capabilities for use for reside social media and video conferencing. Each the UVC and UAC requirements are supported for improved image and sound high quality throughout streaming.
ND Filter
The brand new ZV-1 II usefully has a 3-stop built-in ND filter – the ZV-1F does not have one in any respect.
An ND filter lets you shoot at bigger apertures on shiny days, which is extraordinarily helpful when capturing video and making an attempt to stay to the shutter pace being double the body charge rule.
Burst Taking pictures
Because of the stacked picture sensor, the Z-V II gives a really quick most burst charge of 24fps with steady AF/AE monitoring, whereas the ZV-1F can shoot at a nonetheless very respectable 16 fps.
Physique and Design
Final 12 months’s ZV-1F and 2023’s ZV1 II cameras are just about an identical by way of their exterior design, aside from the completely different lens design.
The place they differ is the onscreen controls, with the ZV-1 II offering a vastly improved and expanded smartphone-like consumer expertise that higher fits its audience.
You may shoot totally utilizing the on-screen icons alongside the underside of the display screen, and a easy swipe-up from the underside shortly accesses the Operate menu display screen which homes often used settings.
All the identical exterior buttons and controls are the identical on each fashions, there’s simply much more touchscreen management out there on the brand new ZV1 Mark II.
You may cost each digicam by way of its USB-C port utilizing an exterior powerbank or related, one thing that was sorely missing on the unique ZV-1 model.
Additionally, in the event you use the exterior Sony GP-VPT2BT Bluetooth capturing grip (which Sony strongly recommends), it not blocks the battery/reminiscence card compartment on the ZV-1 II.
Climate Resistance
Neither the ZV1 II or the ZV1F supply any licensed degree of weather-sealing, so you may have to be cautious and/or shield the digicam in inclement climate.
IBIS
As regards to stabilisation, there may be Optical Steadyshot built-in to the ZV-1 II’s lens, however not on the ZV-1F.
This offers you a few stops additional to play with when taking nonetheless photographs, and it’ll easy out the lightest of actions when capturing video.
Each cameras supply the choice to modify on Energetic SteadyShot in video, which is a digital type of stabilisation. This crops in to the picture barely to present the digicam so digitally transfer the picture body round to compensate for any bigger actions.
It really works very effectively, creating very secure footage when handholding and taking out all however the heaviest of footsteps when strolling. The catch is that due to the slight crop, if you’re vlogging your face will seem bigger when within the body.
We’d counsel solely utilizing it when strolling or zooming in to point out one thing, and when presenting to digicam persist with utilizing the Normal Steadyshot mode.
Lastly, camera-shake metadata is recorded by the built-in gyro sensor that is inside each cameras, permitting handheld footage to be smoothed out and stabilised in post-production utilizing Sony’s Catalyst Browse / Catalyst Put together desktop utility.
Viewfinder
Neither digicam has a viewfinder, so in the event you do not take pleasure in utilizing an LCD display screen for composition, you may have to look elsewhere totally.
LCD Display screen
Each cameras have a 3-inch, 921,000 dot LCD display screen which is hinged to the facet of the digicam and gives 180 diploma rotation.
This implies it may be flipped out to the facet and rotated forwards by 180 levels for vlogging or self-portraits (or selfies as they’re now identified), in addition to having the ability to fold the display screen in to the digicam physique to supply safety if you simply wish to carry the digicam free in a bag or pocket.
JPEG and RAW
We’re not fairly positive why, as there isn’t any technical cause to do that, however Sony determined to not embody RAW file help for stills on the ZV-1F, simply JPEGs. The costlier ZV-1 II does allow customers to seize RAW and JPEG format information.
Maybe this determination was made to simplify the digicam for its extra video-focused audience, but it surely does vastly restrict its enchantment to stills photographers who might need been contemplating the ZV-1F as a succesful pocket digicam. You may want to leap to the ZV-1/II to get this characteristic.
Reminiscence Playing cards
The ZV-1F and ZV-1 II each have a single reminiscence card slot which helps UHS-I kind SD playing cards.
Battery Life
Each cameras use the NP-BX1 battery, with battery life quoted as being between 45-75mins of video or 260 stills.
Worth
The older Sony ZV-1 is priced at £550 within the UK and $500 within the US.
The brand new Sony ZV-1 II prices €1000 in Europe, £XXX within the UK and $XXX within the US.
Conclusion
The brand new Sony ZV-1 II improves on and is positioned above the unique ZV-1 from 2020, which in flip nonetheless has extra options and prices greater than 2022’s ZV-1F. So that you additionally want to contemplate the unique ZV-1 when selecting between this model of digicam from Sony.
Instantly evaluating the brand new ZV-1 II to final 12 months’s ZV-1F clearly reveals that the previous is a extra highly effective, better-featured mannequin, however then it does price nearly twice as a lot because the ZV-1F.
With the latter digicam providing numerous the identical core specs because the ZV-1 II – 4K/30p, 20 megapixels, Sony’s particular vlogger-friendly options – there’s quite a bit to be stated for saving some huge cash and choosing the cheaper mannequin.
Having stated that, the ZV-1F’s lack of optical picture stabilisation, much less refined auto-focusing, slower burst capturing, no ND filter and glued quite than zoom lens could push some customers firmly in the direction of the costlier however crucially extra succesful ZV-1 II.
So what do you assume? Would you select the Sony ZV-1 II or the Sony ZV-1, and why? Depart a remark beneath!