Sony ZV-1 II

I think the Sony ZV-1 II is a handy and user-friendly vlogging camera. Because I mainly vlog on vacation, the size of a vlogging camera is important to me. This compact camera even fits in my jacket pocket, so I always carry it with me. I like the wide 18-50mm zoom lens for vlogs. At 18mm I portray both myself and the environment. If I want to show something in the distance, I zoom in to 50mm. This zoom range is not very large compared to other vlogging cameras. I turn on the image stabilization while walking or exercising. This reduces vibration, making my images stable. The camera only has electronic image stabilization, which narrows my angle of view. I think that's a shame, because it makes me less visible.

Autofocus with tracking Sony's cameras always have fast and accurate autofocus. The ZV-1 II is no exception. When I frame myself, the camera immediately focuses on my face. I find the autofocus tracking useful when filming other people. This way, it keeps a moving subject in focus. For example, I film my cat running through the living room. The camera keeps him in focus without my help. I find the videos clear and sharp, especially in bright sunlight. I film in 4K at 25 frames per second and find the videos suitable for YouTube and social media. In low light, I notice that noise quickly arises in the images, for example when I film in a dark room with only a ceiling lamp.

Useful vlogging features As a novice vlogger, I would like to make cinematic videos without spending hours on post-editing. The ZV-1 II has a few useful functions for this. I use the Product Showcase Setting and the Bokeh Control function together for product shots with a nice, blurred background. The Product Showcase Setting makes the product in the foreground sharp. The Bokeh Control function, on the other hand, creates a blurry background, making the product stand out more. I really like the result of these functions. In the Cinematic Vlog Setting I choose from different standard color profiles, so my images do not need color correction.

Streaming features I connect the ZV-1 II to my laptop with the included USB-C cable. It immediately recognizes the camera as a webcam, so I use it for meetings and live streams. I find this a useful addition to this camera, because I improve the image quality of my streams without external software or extra accessories.