Sony ZV-1F - The Little Camera That Could - IT'S NOT THAT BAD

[@Arlene_witha_y]

The audio sounds pretty great! I’m glad i ordered this camera for my new KZbin venture.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thanks. As mentioned I do use an external mic (sennheiser mke 200) but even the onboard mic I was pretty impressed with, would totally recommend using the included wind screen if you don’t have an external mic at first. 😁

[@Janlaurenz75]

I use it almost every day,also for pics....it's all i need..

[@ToddDeSilva]

That’s awesome. It is a great little camera to always have on you.

[@pxldj]

I purchased one and I am happy, for the price is a solid B camera

[@ToddDeSilva]

Absolutely.

[@jamelahmartin]

At this point you are going to think I’m stalking you, lol! But I gotta support great content!

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thanks I appreciate it and it’s all good 😜

[@AmbercoolPhotography]

One of Sony's signatures was always to pack everything into the smallest form it can since the 90s. This is more indicative of what their first A7 should have been to be honest.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Yeah, I think that was probably why I went with the A6100 when switching from Canon, for the price it was a good decision. Hard to beat.

[@jeromeluna7495]

Excellent video thank you so much, I’m about to buy one just for head shot KZbin podcast, I didn’t wanna use my smart phone 📱

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thanks. I used 2 of them for the one podcast I do. They really are pretty good little cameras.

[@hendyjt]

Would you mind share the podcast video that uses these zv1f? Im planning to use them for podcast too, but still cant find an actual sample for podcast setup 19:13

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@hendyjt for sure. I believe I started using the two zv1-f’s around season 2 episode 17 (dr. David Howe). They were used as the angle views (the straight on wide is my a6100). youtube.com/@guardiansandgladiatorspodcast?si=h9wY2EoynMJwFSKl

[@wallyquiroz6312]

thanks a lot! I bought my zv-1f today, nice light lil camera and its got everything I need!

[@ToddDeSilva]

Glad you like it, I use mine almost everyday

[@JeffBourke]

You should work in marketing - “it’s not that bad” 😂😂😂

[@nicoletiana]

i just got this camera and i love it so far!!!!

[@ToddDeSilva]

Nice!!

[@Noeezee1]

Awesome video bud, you earned a sub!!

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thank you!!!

[@triumph_cv]

Was hoping you'd post some samples of your street photography with that camera using the luts.

[@ToddDeSilva]

definite oversight by me. I really should have done that.

[@BeardedSte]

Zed is definitely the right way to say it. Have you noticed a background shake at all. Another reviewer described it as a jitter. I'm wondering if that is a fault on his camera or a general thing. Nice review by the way.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thanks. A little depends how I hold it and whether or not active stab is on. If I’m holding it with just my hand it’s a little noticeable compared to if I have it on my manfroto pixie

[@taylorgroove]

hello todd, new susbriber :) thanks for this amazing video, i about to buy de zv1 for the same porpuose than you had, my personal podcast, (i need 3 cameras, so i dont want to brake the bank on this personal project) my only concern is about the battery limit, how you can fix that issue??? i need to record at leats 75 minutes, thanks in advence for you respone :), greetings from Ecuador.

[@taylorgroove]

i love to see your podcast also ....thanks :)

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@taylorgroove the podcast is called Gaurdians and gladiators. What I did to get around that was I used a dual port 20w usb c plug and a couple 10ft cables. Worked like a charm

[@taylorgroove]

@@ToddDeSilva Amazing! thanks for the soon response, did you think thas a good idea to boy this camera on 2024 in concern that may be i will have some interest clients for make some podcast on their houses or business?? or should i go on the zv-10(there will be a substancial diference on image using the standard lenses or sigma kind?)

[@ToddDeSilva]

@ you will definitely get more from a zv10. My main setup was a Sony a6100 for the main wide shot and the 2 zv1fs for the 2nd angles. For my space it was perfect (15x15 ish room). That is what worked for my budget and quite honestly worked really well. I used the zv1’s offer when I went on a different location as they were quicker to set up. The image quality is what it is, this entire video was filmed on those cameras so the quality I think speaks for itself. Again, I’m not going to tell you what you should. Just get what’s best in your budget. I hope that helps.

[@taylorgroove]

@@ToddDeSilva thanks a lot for this helpful comment, i´ll think a little, but probably buy one of each, and then decide if a go for the optimal set up for my needs(2 zv-10s for guest and host and the zv 1F for the open shot) or may be use the little ones for close shoots and the big one for the open camera) thanls a lot i really aprecciate your help, have a nice night!

[@davidfirth1]

I have a pair of ZV1 cameras (m1 and m2) that I hear the same nonsense about. They get the job done, the IQ is good, the built-in audio is good when you don't or can't put on a bigger mic, they fit nearly anywhere, and they'll run a long video if you hook them to a power bank. If you have any control over lighting, they're real happy. The ZV1F is a good concept, and there are a lot of vloggers who never use any more features on their bigger, "feels premium" cameras than the little Sony will do the same. Thanks for swimming against the current on this one.

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@davidfirth1 my pleasure. It always bugs me when the big guys poo products that are clearly not for them. It was the same with the Panasonic S9. Always good to watch the little guys sometimes 😜

[@starunscripted]

New sub! Do you recommend for my sit down youtube videos? Is it better than using my Samsung laptop (blurry videos on my youtube channel).

[@ToddDeSilva]

Any camera will always be better than a laptop camera. I have used it for a few sit down videos. As long as you have decent light it will look really good.

[@starunscripted]

@ToddDeSilva Thanks so very much, Todd! I hope you have a wonderful New Year! God bless you abundantly!

[@ParanormalPopcorn]

you should slap it on a gimbal and test it out.. would like to see it in action.

[@ToddDeSilva]

If I had more than to dji osmo mobile 3 I totally would. 😜 I’m sure it would look great.

[@jensarne5773]

Thank you, very helpful! Nice colors. I am not into video but I love compact cameras. I guess you could use an external viewfinder like 21mm. For photography a hotshot would have been nice - for flashes and high speed synch but maybe it is a way around it.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thank you, much appreciated! Not sure would be able to add an external flash or viewfinder, as you mentioned, this particular model only has a coldshoe mount, so worst case scenario you could at least have a constant light mounted on it....better than nothing I suppose. :-)

[@ianjunitedk]

That's exactly the camera that I bought. Yes, you are right, its a nice bit of kit for a decent price.

[@imboredDB]

Hi, please tell me what you don't like about it?😮

[@ianjunitedk]

@@imboredDB If I am knit picking maybe there could be a few more zooms, attachable lens, but for the price i think it ticks a lot of boxes seriously

[@quieora1789]

Thanks for the video! Which camera do you recommend between the Sony ZV1 and the Sony ZV 1F for videos (no vlog)on KZbin where I play the guitar and for some holiday photos?

[@ToddDeSilva]

If that's what you are doing and those are your two choices, then you best bet would for sure be the ZV1, itll give you a zoom for when you are vacation and want to take pictures, otherwise it's pretty much the same camera. Cheers

[@quieora1789]

thanks so much!! @@ToddDeSilva

[@DavidALovingMPF102]

Yes. We have 3 dogs..in out feed me bark bark hair all over lots of poop meds expensive dog food but FAMILY..I use the ZV-1F for tight shots that need a blurry background. Great camera but I wish that the battery lasted longer and the camera should be bigger. All those tiny buttons close together. Nice that I can get to the card and battery compartment when it's on a tripod. The sensor 13.2 X 8.8 is ok, but the industry should not call it a one inch. That is jargon from 1930. I put a very tiny drop of hot glue on the power button. The led on it lights up the clear glue and I can find the button by touch if the top is out of sight. Good video.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Thanks. I agree with the dog thing. They are family. We foster so Ali g with our dogs there can be anywhere from an extra 1 to 12 others hahahah. At this point I’ve gotten pretty used to the small buttons, totally agree with the sucky battery too.

[@OCDStee]

Great video! 😁👍 What replacement battery would you recommend please? Thank you 🍻

[@ToddDeSilva]

Honestly I would spend the extra $ and get the Sony branded one. I have some off brand for my a6100 and they are not that good…probably last half as long as the Sony one.

[@OCDStee]

@@ToddDeSilva Great stuff! Thanks for the heads-up 👍

[@akshatmathur4560]

Can we use this cam as both a vlog and a documentary or short film kinda camera ?

[@ToddDeSilva]

Sure. I use it almost exclusively as my Vlog camera. You could use it as a short film/ doc camera. You’d just have to be a little creative with the placement of it with it having a wide angle. I use mine as a b and c angles in my podcast (3 camera setup with the Zv-1’s as side cameras)

[@truthseeker6804]

you can but its not recommended to get fixed non zoom lens. get zve10 or canon r50.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Totally agree, that's why I mentioned in the video that I use these for my b & c cams, my A6100 is my main. Both of those you mentioned are good choices too.

[@motoalley]

great video, i recent;y ordered one of these off of bestbuy, for $440 CAD from a seller, ive tried the gopro hero 10 but it over heats and shuts off, so being on a limited budget, i researched and originally i was going to go with the zv-1 but noticed that the zv-1f was cheaper, watched a bunch of quick reviews and decided for the price, that it may be a good fit for when im in the garage. cant wait to get it, thanks for the info.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Right on. I haven't had any over heating issues. Just make sure you turn the heat warning setting to high. I just recorded a video in 4K 24p yesterday at lunch (sunny and 27C) continuously for 45 minutes with no issue.

[@motoalley]

@@ToddDeSilva had no idea there's a heat setting in these,I'll have to play around with it a bit more

[@headspace69]

The audio with the camera by itself is full and a bit bassy.

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@headspace69 yeah, part of the reason why I use the small sennheiser mic on it. Don’t get me wrong, if you can’t get a mic, it’ll suffice, but having one of the small external mics makes it that much better (rode micro, sennheiser mke 200, sony ecm g1), or just go the wireless lav route.

[@RichardTaylorgardening]

Hi im really struggling with the set up ie the video volume is pants any info would be appreciated thank you Richardx

[@ToddDeSilva]

Not sure what you mean by the video volume is pants. Is it too loud, not loud enough? are you using an external microphone? Where are you recording? lots of variables not accounted for. Cheers

[@RichardTaylorgardening]

@ToddDeSilva thank you for replying ok so out of the box wind sock on and then off just testing at home inside can not hardly hear anything on playback when close to camera or when I left camera recording in front room and walked to bedroom small 1 bed bungalow thanks Richardx

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@RichardTaylorgardening So it just sounds (pardon the pun), like you may need to adjust the camera's audio gain. If you push the "FN" button there should be an icon that looks like a microphone. I found with just using the built in mic the level should be around 25 (as shown in the video). If the option isn't there it is located in the menu under I believe "Audio Recording". I do often fiddle with the audio in post, like adding multi-channel compression, but even if you don't do that, that,s where you should start. As good as the internal mic can be, I will always recommend getting an external mic, like the RODE Micro or Sennheiser MKE 200...or whatever fits in your budget, I just wouldn't go too cheap.

[@BurritoMage]

Can I get a link to the custom profiles I def want to check out his free ones and then probably buy his others

[@ToddDeSilva]

www.veresdenialex.com/8-free-sony-film-simulations They will work on any Sony camera that has custom profiles. I don’t make any $ of these, just providing the link to a great service.

[@odouglascardoso]

How do you lead with slog2 noise in black spots of the image?

[@ToddDeSilva]

I don’t normally shoot in slog2, I tent to use slog3 and cinegamut I believe. As long as I’m exposed okay, I try and just either post the shadows or add some contrast when I’m doing all the colour correction as best I can. With the smaller sensor size sometimes it’s hard to manage the noise. Obviously shooting at a lower iso will help that, but is the log modes were limited to iso 1000 so we have to work with what we have.

[@odouglascardoso]

@ToddDeSilva uhmmm nice, I will try something with slog3 to check de black spots. When I shoot slog2, I discovered if a put my black gamma to wide and leve -7, it worked well. Adding contrast and pushing some shadows the blacks turns to real blacks with no noises. And the highlights stay high without destructions or make needed to preserve. Thanks Todd

[@tube.brasil]

what about overheating when recording in 4K?

[@ToddDeSilva]

I have had 0 issues with recording 4k. I use my 2 to record a podcast I do, it’s usually over an hour long and it records the whole time without warning. Sure it’s a bit warm, but so is my a6100 (used as the main angle).

[@headspace69]

So what do you think about the movo vx R10 for external audio

[@ToddDeSilva]

I can’t give an honest opinion on it as I’ve never used it, however is looks a lot like the rode micro, and most of those style of mics tend to be fairly decent. I love my rode micro, used it almost exclusively on my cameras before I upgraded that (and I still use it in certain situations). A cautionary warning though, I’ve been burned by cheaper products. Just do your homework before settling on a cheaper mic. If you feel like it’ll work for you then go for it!

[@Treborray]

Gret video !

[@sachomes]

You mentioned it is not desirable to use the camera in zoom mode. Why not?

[@ToddDeSilva]

Mostly because it’s a digital zoom, so you will use a bit of quality in the image and you lose some of the focus tracking (it goes to a wide zone focus area). That’s only bigger deal for video, still works fine however. Hope that makes sense.

[@kizsmart]

Which is better a6100 and zv 1f

[@ToddDeSilva]

It depends on the situation. When I’m doing “pro” shoots, my a6100 hands down is better. But if I’m doing vlogging or basic stuff, I find the zv1f is better. Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. Since the a6100 has interchangeable lenses it’s potential is that much more.

[@gurmolaksingh6673]

Its good for gym video

[@ToddDeSilva]

With the wider angle lens, it should be fine. As long as the lighting is decent I don't see a problem with it. I use 2 of these for a podcast I do in my garage/gym and I only have overhead tube lights and it's just fine for me. It's sensor is bigger than most smartphones so it'll be as good, often much better than them.

[@MrYarabandi]

i am thinking to buy it. two things concern me: slow autofocus reaction time and cheap looking, non ergonomic body design. zv-e10 is the one in my heart, looks pro, fast autofocus, release date 2021 but expensive for my bugdet. zv-1 is the perfect price-properties budget for me but it is released in 2020. i can be OK with the ugly designed body but I assume newer is better in terms of technology. every year the developers make things better, so i am pretty confused. zv-1f seems very good in terms of "straigt out of the camera" color grading, watched many videos about those three.

[@ToddDeSilva]

While I can’t say you SHOULD get it. I would suggest if this will be a first camera, and you have the budget I would honestly suggest getting one of the interchangeable lens bodies (Zv-e10/e1 ) as I mentioned in the video I use this as a b/c camera. I do use it mostly as a Vlog camera and my out and about photography camera. More pro shoots I use my a6100 . Absolutely right about the new is better, but if you are constantly waiting for the next thing you’re never going to pull the trigger. Sure my a6100 is old and doesn’t have all the new bells and whistles, but it still does 4k, has 120fps and super easy yo work with.

[@MrYarabandi]

@@ToddDeSilva thank you so much man. everybody makes videos about how terrible zv-1f is and your video was exactly the internet was waiting for. i would buy it without hesitation if the product showcase autofocus was not sluggish. keep up the great work.

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@MrYarabandi thanks! Really appreciate it

[@akshatmathur4560]

Also is this camera good for slow mo and timelapse shots?

[@ToddDeSilva]

It can do 120fps at 1080p so it’s pretty good. The S&Q mode can also do pretty good Timelapse’s.

[@SteveWillo]

would this camera be good for a "talking head" style KZbin video creation?

[@ToddDeSilva]

For sure. It’s a 20mm full frame equivalent lens, so anything from 3-5 feet should be just fine.

[@SteveWillo]

Thanks Todd, my budget is very low so I was looking for a camera to start KZbin with :) @@ToddDeSilva

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@SteveWillo it’s a good starter. Most of the videos I did from 2023 were done with this camera (unless otherwise stated or the cinematic vids)

[@JoeCastellon]

Wait, so is it or is it not that bad? 🤔

[@ToddDeSilva]

Clearly not that bad since I have 2 of them 😜😂

[@JeffBourke]

I think they really scammed a lot people buy quietly not putting phase autofocus in it though.

[@ToddDeSilva]

Yeah that was kind of a bummer that they borrowed the “canon cripple hammer” for that.

[@JeffBourke]

@@ToddDeSilva they marketed it as “exactly the same as a ZV1 but with a fixed lens”… it’s poor form.

[@ToddDeSilva]

@@JeffBourke this true. I totally agree.