Not content with building amazing cameras for landscape photographers with the a7R IV or sports photographers with the a9 II, Sony has turned its sights well and truly on the Vlogging scene with the release of the ZV-E10 – a dedicated interchangeable lens mirrorless camera for video content creators.
You may remember Sony tested the waters a short while back with the Z-V1, which had a 1-inch sensor and fixed lens. Well, the ZV-E10 ramps things up further by packing a larger APS-C sensor and offering Sony’s E-mount, meaning Vloggers will be able to mix up their lens selection and open new creative doors when it comes to focal length.
The Exmor CMOS sensor actually packs 24.2-megapixels of resolution and is backed up by a BIONZ X processor engine, but it’s the sheer wealth of video features that will really catch the content creator’s eye. These features include; “Background Defocus”, which can smoothly switch between a blurred (bokeh) and sharp background, along with what Sony is calling “Product Showcase Setting” mode, which allows the camera to automatically shift focus from the subject’s face to an object being highlighted.
Despite taking interchangeable lenses, the ZV-E10 – which is available in white or black – remains a compact offering, tipping the scales at only 343g. There is a big recording button on the top plate and, when recording a tally light illuminates on the front of the camera, along with a red frame displaying around the LCD, which boasts a side-opening vari-angle design.
When it comes to video quality, the ZV-E10 can capture 4K (QFHD: 3840 x 2160) video shooting and Slow Motion with high picture quality (FHD 120p). In fact the camera can even shoot oversampled 6K which transforms into 4K for an excellent picture. What’s more, the ZV-E10 offers Electronic image stabilisation with Active Mode is also available and delivers stable video recording which will come in handy when you’re shooting video handheld.
Vloggers also know how important audio is to their videos and the ZV-E10 features an internal Directional 3-Capsule Mic, which Sony says; ‘enables the ZV-E10 to capture crystal clear sound recordings that accurately capture the speaker’s voice and the supplied wind screen to greatly reduce wind noise.’ For expanded audio options, the ZV-E10 also includes a Digital audio interface via Multi Interface (MI) Shoe and a mic jack to connect an external mic. A headphone jack enables content creators to monitor audio levels, too.
Other features include a battery that’s good for up to 125 minutes or 440 images on a full charge, an original Face Priority AE (auto exposure) algorithm capable of rapid AE transitions, so that the subject’s face is not over or under exposed and the ability to Live Stream when connected to a computer. Available from the end of August, the Sony ZV-E10 will cost around $700 / £679.
