The Camera I Recommend To The Non G.A.S. Afflicted: Sony ZV-1.
I look at those with a healthy accounting of what cameras are for, with a healthy dose of respect.
Wow. You just want the picture? That is great.
I can’t say I was ever in that camp.
Since the day my Dad showed me around his cameras as a child I was a G.A.S. sufferer of no means. Well. Other than my allowance. Though generous it only covered film and flashes for the OG Polaroid One Step he bought for me. Which I confirmed years later was to limit my mitts being placed all over his Polaroid SX-70. No hard feelings. I understand completely. Though I was a cautious kid, delicate bellows and fragile folding bits are a terrible match for a child’s short attention span. This was further cemented when he also showed me around his Pentax ME Super. In fact borrowing his Pentax ME Super many years later to run through a roll of film…
…is what triggered my trip down the digital interchangeable lens system rabbit hole. It was also the subject of my first camera related post on the blog. Fortunately, just in time before tariff-a-palooza fully kicks into gear, it seems I may have neared the bottom of my personal rabbit hole…
…but for rational folks there is a relatively cost-effective alternative.
Why am I posting about this camera now, after obseesing about the other end of the gear spectrum recently? I am glad I magined you asked.
Because I almost made a huge mistake. I almost traded it… again. After I wrote the post above I let it go. Not bacause there was anything wrong with it. Because I was not using it enough. But I eventually regretted that decision and bought it back again.
After comparing it to a G.A.S. darling I acquired I said I would keep it.
And it crushed it every time I took it out, including on an evening march.
But then in the midst of a trade fit I placed it in a trade pile, but after I thought about it for a moment I clawed it back. Why? Quite simply, I would have bought it again. Definitely. Inevitable.
And there is this.
It is great at a few things, and no less than very good at everything else.
Video.
Crushes it. Take a look at the video above. Compared it back to back with a fast lens and an APS-C camera body and I preferred the ZV-1.
- ND Filter so filming in broad daylight is not an issue.
- F/1.8-f/2.8 aperture means it copes well with low light as well.
- That small aperture provides good subject isolation.
- Tally light.
- Big fat record button.
- Swing around screen is perfect for this task.
- Unimpeachable AF. Product AF.
- Stores gyro data for post recording stabilization.
- More stuff.
Some site one ding.
The 24mm full frame equivalent not being wide enough.
This is a compromise I am happy to make. Because…
- I have been blessed with a healthy wingspan so it is a non-issue for me.
- If it were I would gladly buy a grip or handle, because…
- I much prefer the f/1.8 aperture and ND filter over the second gen ZV-1 which loses both of those features.
While video is great it is also good at what I use it for most of the time.
Stills.
- Again, the AF.
- I could go on and on, but I have never caught the AF slipping with this camera. Perfect for when you just want the pic.
- The colors.
- Not a single complaint here.
- The thin depth of field and background blur are impressive for such a tiny sensor.
- Very sharp lens.
- ZEISS at its ZEISS-iest.
- Close focus is amazing.
- It focuses alarmingly close for a lens not listed as a macro lens.
- IBIS.
- This tiny thing has the nerve to have IBIS.
- ND Filter.
- Mentioned already but I will mention it again.
- One button blackground blur.
- True for video as well but I forgot to metion it up there so I will throw it in here. As it says on teh tin it automagically maximized background blur which is perfect for novices or experienced folks.
- Controls.
- One could use this purely as a fully automatic point and shoot, but once you get the hang of it, this is a camera that lets you control everything if you wish.
- A very useful zoom range.
- A 24-70mm equivalent lens.
- Flash.
- As much as makes no sense it uses Sony’s TTL system so use a flash at f/2.8 and 70mm with a bounce flash and you can pull off a decent portrait in a pinch.
- A bunch of neat tricks baked in.
- Panoramic mode, styles or themes, you name it. Has more stuff than I remember half the time.
And on top of all of that there is this.
Ready.
- So small that it is easy to take anywhere.
- So unassuming that no one will pay you any mind.
- So fast to start up by just flipping the screen around you are not likely to miss anything.
- So solid at AF and exposure, you are not likely to miss anything.
The perfect camera when you just want the picture. And lastly there is this…
Affordable.
These run around $500 used.
Not what one would call cheap but I struggle to come up with a camera that can do just about everything for the same or less.
Yes, if you lean to video there may be a better option.
Similarly if you plan to take stills you may find a better option there.
But one that is adept at both? For less?
I have tried a lot of cameras and nothing jumps out as superior at being so well rounded while also being so compact and competent.
As capable of a moody grab…
…a tag along camera running errands with one of my kids…
…a street camera…
…and capture a crisp black and white.
There is only one downside that I can think of.
Chiclet/PEZ batteries.
Easily addressed. I ordered this case/battery dealie and carry it with.
Why carry with?
These batteries are so small that I lose track of them when I carry them loose. The case not only acts as a USB-C charger, helpful since the OG ZV-1 has the not aften used OG small USB port, but gives me a much better chance of them not disappearing on me.
One ding that should be put to rest is the no EVF thing.
After the release of much more premium/pricey also no EVF cameras that have garnered much buzz, such as the SIGMA BF and Fujifilm X-M5, this should no longer be seen as a downside.
I also believe it fits well with the use case for this camera. As mentioned in the video above have found that an EVF on such a small camera is not a good fit ergonomically. Also suits the from the hip run and gun type of phorotography I tend to do with this camera. Take a look at the NYC street pic samples below. The combination of IBIS, stellar AF, articulating screen, and small size makes for a discrete candid scene capturing combination.
After retrieving it from the trade heap, I quickly put it to use and it was once again confirmed how great this little camera is.
Just some quick pics while taking the long way to pick up food.
Product pics.
Add all of that rambling up and price it at around $500 used, and that is exactly why this is the camera I recommend when asked.
Largely because it does not matter what you throw at it.
Whether for video or stills you will come away with a great end result.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
5 Replies to “The Camera I Recommend To The Non G.A.S. Afflicted: Sony ZV-1.”
Comments are closed.