How to use Sony ZV-1 as a Webcam and Settings

EPISODE 31
The Sony ZV-1 is a popular vlogging camera and can also be used as a USB webcam. In this episode The Three Techs show how to configure the best webcam settings in the camera menus and some other pro tips including Sony’s recent firmware update to add native USB webcam streaming support.
00:00 - Start
00:26 - Initial Configuration Items
00:58 - Switching to Movie Mode
01:34 - Choosing an Exposure Mode
02:04 - Check Video Format and Resolution Settings
02:49 - The Non-Obvious Shutter Speed for Video Conferencing
04:43 - Resolution: HD vs. 4K
05:31 - Autofocus Settings
05:59 - Face and Eye Autofocus
07:12 - Movie Mode Autofocus Settings: AF drive speed and AF Tracking Sensitivity
08:12 - White Balance
09:33 - Soft Skin Effect
10:09 - Steadyshot
10:50 - Marker Displays
11:24 - Auto Power OFF Temp
12:02 - HDMI Settings: 24p/60p Output and HDMI Info Display
12:43 - Questions: Can you change the lens?
13:51 - Questions: Does it have a headphone jack?
14:13 - Questions: How long before the Sony ZV-1 overheats?
14:50 - Questions: Does the Sony ZV-1 have ClearImage Zoom?
15:26 - Questions: Does the Sony ZV-1 have a remote control?
16:11 - Questions: Can the Sony ZV-1 use an AppleCare power adapter?
17:10 - Questions: How do you connect the Sony ZV-1 to your computer as a webcam?
18:54 - Sony ZV-1 Compared to Other Webcams
Presented by
Bob Fairbairn
Tony Tang - Instagram: @tonytangpro
/ tonytangpro
Follow The Three Techs on Twitter: @thethreetechs
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Follow The Three Techs on Instagram: @thethreetechs
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#thethreetechs
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[@hirawm]

After using this camera for a year I recently figured out if you turn all the auto settings off and manually adjust it, it can have up to 5 hours of battery life max. Highly recommend it.

[@yummmniko]

What settings do you use to get such a long battery life on usb streaming? thank you

[@tarotcaba]

One the best videos on Sony Zv1 features. Thanks

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thank you so much, Tarot!

[@deafpoolgaming]

Thanks for the juicy detailed settings! love it

[@spideymoves]

Just what I needed! Thank you for the thorough steps & insight!

[@TheThreeTechs]

Glad it was helpful!

[@papertelevision]

This is an incredibly well-edited tutorial video. Nice work!

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thank you so much!

[@clemthai]

Not many views but probably one of the most useful and honest video I have seen in ages 🙏🏼👍🏼

[@lloydwill]

Very thorough. Great video. Thank you.

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thanks, Willie!

[@YTantirungrotechai]

wow.Great very detailed & very clear to understand video. Thanks a lot.

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thank you Y

[@CheapCheerful]

I did not know this, thank you.

[@michaelyoder81]

Hands down the best video on KZbin on the Sony ZV-1...and it's not even close.

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thank you, Michael! That means a lot to us!

[@ROMsquad]

the this is literally the best most informational video ive seen this far i hate the skin smoothing option it blurs your face i want people to see me as i am flaws and all scars to so they know what to expect on our meet and greets thanks you did the best job all the big channels dropped the ball you picked it up and smashed it thanks agaqin

[@jack-nykaza]

This is very well done

[@TheThreeTechs]

Thank you, Jack!

[@CedricSantizo]

A lot of valuable information. My laptop has a HDMI connection but never knew until now that that one is only for output. That is why we need the capture device. This helped me a lot. thx!

[@SuppanReviews]

Great video mate. Been looking for this details everywhere but only BS

[@ShahrizanRajak]

thank you sir

[@pawpaw7646]

Great video, thanks for the detailed instructions. Regarding the mic input: does the ZV-1 have good (low-noise) mic pre-amps? It would be nice to connect a good microphone directly to the camera to avoid delay between the video and sound, but only if the camera's mic pre-amps are of good quality.

[@teedashes]

thanks for the video i just want to highlight sound and video werent properly adjusted on this video, sound is slightly delayed on some clips i hope this is something you already know ;)

[@LMojzis]

I feel like I have accidentally invaded someone's zoom sales pitch conference.

[@schums123]

thank you for the great vid! What is the frame rate that you get from the USB connection and how to avoid the audio lag? (that we also see in the video)

[@abcammym]

I hope you didn't buy the camera Sony zv 1...I have it ..I wish I didn't buy it

[@schums123]

@@abcammym i didnt ! Ended up with a A7III. works perfectly!

[@PaulAntonescu]

Hey y'all! Can you have it plugged to not to drain the battery? Is there a menu setup I need to do?

[@_mvpnutrition]

Thank you so much for this video! I finally was able to set my ZV1 as a webcam. I came with a few issues, maybe you could help me? I haven't been able to find the answer on Google. 1. The Face/Eye Priority is AF if impossible to turn on or off (it says "This operation or setting not available as follows") 2. The Steady Shot isn't available to change either Thank you!!

[@sanjitsingh3863]

Can you change settings manually on the camera while using for live streaming?

[@DietrichLasa]

Thank you for this video. When using it as a webcam, would the USB cable transmit data and power the camera at the same time sufficiently, or would it be better to use both cables, the USB for permanent power supply (plugged into a dedicated charger) and the HDMI for the data?

[@TheThreeTechs]

When using it as a WebCam, the USB cable should be enough to provide power and data at the same time. The only caveat is whether or not your computer can supply at least 7 1/2 W to the camera to keep it running. Most modern computers can manage that but if you’re connecting it to a hub, the hub may not be able to supply that much power.

[@NozzerMW3]

Great video. I have the ZV1 which is great except for the big issue of ‘screen dimming’ when shooting 4K in bright outdoor conditions. It’s virtually impossible to use and I’m wondering if you have come across this issue and how to fix it if at all possible. I’ve considered a monitor but don’t want to waste money if the same issue occurs through a connected monitor. Any help would be greatly appreciated

[@splimber410]

In your ZV1 tutorial, I noticed in setup 3/6 the USB connection Mass Storage. Can you please tell me what that means and does it have anything to do with connecting the camera and viewing recorded video or connecting it to CapCut for editing. My camera says PC Remote and on and I can't change it. Thank you.

[@RandomlyRonnieJr]

Do you know how to remove the menu screen, for instance, I'm using the capture card and have plugged into StreamYards which is great, but I can't seem remove the menu screen on my Sony VZ1

[@craftingwithpaula]

Hi there, thank you so much for this video. I use my Ziv1 to record DIY tutorials, these are videos that only show my hands. I use OBS and matter how many times I’ve tried, the video is always lagging. I have it on 60 frames per second on the camera But if I choose the same on OBS, it gets even worse. I’ve tried everything. Please let me know if you have any ideas on how to fix this. Every time I move my hands and I do any movement, it moves slowly.

[@stephaniekessel5637]

I've just spent HOURS trying to find the answer to this... when recording, I like to have a confidence monitor where I am looking at myself in OBS and the slight lag is driving me bonkers!

[@carnivore-muscle]

You need to adjust the bitrate on OBS settings

[@Kirschgutzje]

Ty for that help...how i can defocus like u....in the Cam-option or in OBS?

[@TheThreeTechs]

Tony was using a printed cloth background that looked like it was heavily defocused but in reality was only about a foot behind him. To defocus the background on the Sony ZV-1 you could try the background defocus button on the top next to the shutter, which basically opens up the iris all the way and adjust the ISO accordingly to compensate.

[@SOCIOLOGICAL]

what is the problem on MAC OS BIG SUR?

[@FilipVanHoute]

Can you lower the filming position of your SonyZV1 by the software or in the setting of the camera? BEcause I intend to put the camera above the screen of my laptop .. and want to make sure that my face is in the middle then? Because this is something that you can do with the logitech brio software for instance ...

[@TheThreeTechs]

There isn’t a way to electronically tilt the image downward. If you want to mount this camera onto your laptop screen, it might be a bit heavy. But if you have a 3-D printer, there are free designs for a monitor holder for cameras with 1/4 20 screws. Otherwise I just use a simple selfie stick with a ball head at the top and a 1/4 20 mount and thin fold out tripod legs at the bottom. The selfie stick gives me pan tilt and height adjustment for the camera without taking up a lot of space.

[@steventrieu17]

Hi ev 1 not spport for window 11. ? I got stuck now my camera not response.. Please help.. Thanks

[@RaymondSharesRadio]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@tinyadventures2407]

Hi, Hope you are doing well! Can you suggest a USB cable for connect ZV-1 to Mac (type c)? Thank you.

[@TheThreeTechs]

You could use a USB-C to USB-A adapter that then connects to a micro USB cable

[@kalebschumann855]

Wonderful video! My only question - when I set up my camera, the image I see is a reversed image of the camera display, with all the icons that you see on the camera display (battery, frame rate, et al) except the image is mirrored. I imagine there is a setting that can fix that, but I am unsure what and where it might help! Help!

[@tashaunimani]

hey did you ever find out how to fix this? need help on this

[@kalebschumann855]

@@tashaunimani I don't remember how I did it, but there was a particular setting that I turned off. I'm sorry, I can't remember which one it was - but something needed to be turned off.

[@Mangust2]

I miss what i should configure for computer see video from the camera :) Will join conf call from notebook web cam. Maybe cable not supporting this mode

[@TheThreeTechs]

It should appear as another USB webcam in your software. You’re right that you need a USB cable that supports data transfer-not just a charging cable

[@ryanshute]

If using this camera as a webcam/streaming device only via HDMI, do you need to have an SD card installed?

[@honestnewsnet]

Was this video shot with Zv1?

[@TheThreeTechs]

Yes, the main head shots were filmed with the ZV-1 and the b-roll a shot with iPhone.

[@esmaniatv]

How do you make the background bokeh effect?

[@Damisaventures2023]

I have the zv-e10 and stream via HDMI, I cannot get rid of the white 4 brackets in corners when recording on my Blackmagic? I have HDMI info shut off but those white brackets still show up? how to get rid of these white brackets? Thanks

[@TheThreeTechs]

Haven’t used that model yet. Might be a bug if you already checked all the settings. Pedals contact Sony or check if there’s a firmware update.

[@kingwwe977]

what do I do if the lowest my camera goes to is 60/120,after that features such as autofocus. Also it heats up super quick and auto shuts down after 10 mins

[@TheThreeTechs]

Make sure you aren’t in some kind of sports or action mode. And you’ve checked all the other settings and that you’re in full manual control. Also make sure that you’ve enabled the high temperature setting so it doesn’t shut down as early. You also want to make sure that your power supply is powerful enough to keep the camera running without draining the battery. And also try to fully charge your battery before you start using it as a WebCam so that it doesn’t have to Compete with a low battery.

[@bjornbrandt4353]

Hey, there! My problem is: I keep the camera connected to USB to recharge, and when I want to use it as a web cam, and turn it on, it always first connects to the computer as a mass storage device (which would allow to download the files). In order to connect it as a web cam, I then need to switch the camera off again, disconnect the USB cable, turn it on again, switch on "USB Streaming" via the app, and connect the cable again. Also, I must make sure that a receiver app is active on the computer, or the camera would connect to the computer as a "mass storage device" again, which would require another power cycle (and disconnection of USB cable). That's extremely inconvenient, and often times quite annoying when one needs to set up a conference call quickly... So, my question (I guess) is: is there a way to prevent the camera from connecting as a mass storage device? E.g. a setting? I haven't found one... And I have never heard of the problem anywhere...

[@TechCody113]

Same here, KZbin shows the camera come up as a choice but whenever I choose it doesn’t show anything just black screen annoying af, I have a 4K web scan but camera is allot better

[@advancingwithenglish7611]

@@TechCody113 Is this what is happening when you see the black screen? I'm struggling with finding recording software that recognizes the camera. It isn't showing up as an option in Quicktime. Shows up as black screen in OBS. Shows up fine in Zoom. Totally messes up Descript recording.

[@henryj.8528]

My ZV-1 shuts down after about an hour. The firmware has been updated. Powering via an iMac/USB. After a shutdown, the battery is still nearly full, so my thinking is it must be overheating. Although sometimes the battery was completely drained. Hooked to a USB 3 port. Tried several different cables (no difference). Not recording in camera at the same time.

[@tpoole01]

I ran into the same issue.. the USB port on the Mac wasn't strong enough to power the camera while it was also streaming... I ended up getting a dummy battery to keep it powered... Solved my problem..

[@henryj.8528]

@@tpoole01 I suspect that is my problem as well. I've seen lots of success using the dummy battery. However, I have a 3 chip HD Sony camcorder that runs forever, and IIRC that's all I'm getting from the HDMI output on the ZV-1 anyway...

[@deadyoda]

Missing info on how to set it up on the computer. I'm getting a blank screen with Sony logo. Nothing else.

[@RaynFemaleProducer]

USB Streaming causes a delay (latency) in videos. Have you all come across a fix for this?

[@TheThreeTechs]

Yes. If you AV is out of sync the easiest fix is to connect your mic through your camera’s audio input and usually it will be back in sync because AV goes through the same USB path and has same delay. Assuming your audio needs to be delayed, there are other solutions: Otherwise an audio interface like the Sound Devices MixPre II has the ability to delay the audio internally. Another option is to use software like Logic Pro / Blackhole or Audio Hijack to run live audio through a delay plugin, this might be the most economical and immediate solution.

[@Jada-li9tv]

Lol, who's the guy on the bottom left who randomly says "oh-k". in the video at odd times. So awkward and distracting. I can't stop laughing 😆 🤣

[@travelexplorer]

In mac is impossible in PC super fast

[@thepearlswirl]

thank you I was wondering this

[@carstenbormann1968]

The mike input appears to have AGC (automatic gain control). That makes it useless for web conferences (you will get echo/feedback). Anything you can do to fix this?

[@Herfinnur]

As far as I know, that function can be turned on and off in the settings

[@deafpoolgaming]

the downside is the battery only last around 4 hours, and micro USB doesn't have enough juice to power it and use it as a webcam at the same time, need to buy dummy battery in order to do full day training/conference, so sad T_T

[@chuckmuirhead1586]

I have mine micro usb plugged into a docking hub and it provides enough power to keep the camera on all day and keep the buttery charged. I did notice that if is plugged into a USB 2.0, the battery would slowly die, but when ply into a USB 3.0, it had enough power. Hope this helps

[@abcammym]

I have the Sony zv 1...it's difficult to get it connected to anything...it's poor quality if u are walking around...I wish I didn't buy it 😢

[@TheThreeTechs]

Agreed that the micro HDMI port isn’t as robust as a full sized port for connecting am external monitor. I’d only use it with a small external mic or small wireless receiver.

[@abinari]

skinwalker...

[@haggispie9728]

No offense, but this did not help at all. It made my webcam videos grainy and blurry as I tried to capture a video that was compressed through another webcam platform. :( And what's up with the silent man?!