Call them what you will – vlogging cameras, travel cameras, YouTube cameras – but whatever you call them, there’s certainly a growing demand for smaller cameras with greater capabilities, making them a huge asset for Sony and beyond.
The first generation of ZV cameras It showed a lot of potential, but it hit a few bumps in the road to perfection. The ZV-E10, in particular, uses a sensor that doesn’t excel at video recording, forcing constant crop factors when shooting 4K footage.
Thankfully, Sony has gone the extra mile with the ZV-E10 II, making some substantial and noticeable improvements. This new version features a new 26MP sensor (new to the segment but not in an absolute sense, it’s the same as the Sony FX30 and Sony a6700), a much larger battery, and the modern and infinitely better menu system.
How it’s made
There are no major changes in the design compared to the first ZV-E10, but the original model was already excellent. The camera remains compact and lightweightweighing only 292g, with a square and minimalist shape. On the back there is still a 3-inch articulated screen and 1.04 million dots, ideal for video, but like all ZVs, it lacks an electronic viewfinder (EVF).
The grip is slightly larger to accommodate the new Z battery, which has 50% more capacity without compromising the camera’s compact size. The SD card reader is on the opposite side of the battery compartment, as it should be.
Il grip is comfortablealthough those with very large hands may have some difficulty. I used the camera mainly with the new kit lens, which is the perfect size for this camera. However, using bigger goalsthe camera becomes unbalanced and requires two-handed use. The ZV-E10 II is clearly designed for entry-level lenses from Sony or similar solutions from other brands, although Sony does not offer focus breathing compensation for third-party lenses.
Other changes include a Three-way switch for photo/video/S&Q modeseasier to use than the previous button, and a power switch below the shutter button. The camera has fewer buttons and dials than Sony’s more advanced models, but it retains the essentials, with common settings like ISO, exposure and timer around the scroll wheel.
Il menu has been revised and improvedmaking it easier to navigate and quickly access common settings, similar to a smartphone experience.
ZV-E10 vs ZV-E10 II
New sensor
The ZV-E10 II uses the same 26MP BSI CMOS sensor as the a6700 and FX-30much faster than the previous version. Now it can record video 4K fino a 60 fps without the significant rolling shutter that plagued the previous 30 fps model.
Video a 10-bit
Thanks to the latest processor, the ZV-E10 II can capture 10-bit videorecording Log footage with precision and greater flexibility in color and tone grading, as well as capturing true HDR footage.
Updated Features
Il new Bionz XR processor allows for a compatible SD card slot UHS-II. While it doesn’t include Sony’s AI processing unit, it does integrate new recognition algorithms of subjects and focus breathing compensation function with recognized Sony lenses.
Bigger battery
The ZV-E10 II uses the larger battery NP-FZ100greatly improving battery life over the original ZV-E10’s FZ50.
Zoom kit updated
The ZV-E10 II comes with the kit Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS IIwhich can now focus while zooming, aiding in camera stabilization. However, there are no changes to the lens’s optical design.
Performance
Yes, the ZV-E10 II can take pictureseven of good quality, but It’s not really a camera for photographersThe body has minimal control over image settings, the lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) forces you to compose only through the screen, and the lack of a mechanical shutter can cause distortion with fast-moving subjects.
The choice of lens greatly influences the usefulness of the camera for photography. Theincluded lens is video orientedbut as an E-mount camera, there are many compatible lenses, but the compact size of the body limits the choice.
Despite this, the camera shares sensor and processor with Sony a6700so with the right lens and conditions, images can be of high quality. There are some ‘Look’ options to tweak the style of images, but they are not as advanced as Fujifilm’s Film Simulations or Panasonic’s Photo LUTs.
For those who are mainly video makers who occasionally takes picturesthe ZV-E10 II is perfect. However, for those who place more importance on photography, the Sony a6700 or the Alpha series are better alternatives.
In the video, the ZV-E10 II is comparable to the Sony FX30. It offers uncropped 4K30p and 4K60p with a negligible 1.1x crop, but no 4K120p. Standard 4K is very good quality with balanced detail and dynamics. The cinematic vlog mode uses Sony’s S-Cinetone grading, and you can import custom LUTs or record in S-Log with 10-bit color.
Il three-capsule stereo microphone built-in offers good directional audio quality, with a windshield included in the package. However, a good external microphone is always preferable for superior audio quality.
L’autofocus is improved compared to the previous model, but it can be slow in complex scenes. Battery life is significantly improved thanks to the NP-FZ100 battery, with a battery life of approximately 195 minutes of continuous recording.
Verdict
This time it seems that Sony has succeeded in its intent to create an extremely valid and solid product; the ZV-E10 II offers video High quality 4K with (almost) no croppinga significant improvement. The handling is excellent with small lenses and generous grip it is a welcome addition for such a compact camera. The Significantly improved battery life allows you to shoot longer without interruptions. For streamers, the camera offers better options higher resolution streaming and more ways to connect.
However, there are still some limitations. Il small body does not pair well with larger lenseswhich can be a disadvantage for those who use bulkier or more expensive lenses. Furthermore, in Video mode (4K60) the tendency after 20 minutes of recording is to have a extremely hot body and which could, perhaps at the best moment, compromise the recording. ours is more of a concernespecially for the warmer months which expect really high temperatures. Absentfinally, theIBIS su camera So any kind of stabilization is delegated to the lens or to software.
While it’s not perfect in every way, it’s very close to perfection for a vlogging camera. Although the price is higher than the original model, it offers a good value for money for its featuresand there is nothing like it on the market. The body only (ZV-E10M2) is available for 1,100 euros, while with the kit lens (SELP16502) the figure rises to 1,200 euros.
Source: www.tomshw.it
