With Sony’s recent announcement of a new camera to their lineup, in the ZV-E1. This now throws another camera into the mix that may complicate your decision if you’re a beginner and looking to get your first camera or just looking to upgrade from your traditional point and shoot camera, in this article, I’ll give you 10 reasons why the Sony ZV-E10 should still be a top contender for you this year.
Price
For me, the most important factor in buying a new camera is price. Yes, in a perfect world where money isn’t an obstacle, I’d much prefer a higher end (often more expensive) camera, but this isn’t a perfect world. The Sony ZV-E10 is the most budget interchangeable-lens camera that Sony currently offer (apart from the much older A6000 camera, which was released 2014 and is still available to buy), when you buy the body only version, and even the A6000’s successor, the A6100, still comes in at the exact same price as the ZV-E10, but what this camera offers that the other cameras (at this price range) don’t, is that this is more geared towards people whose primary goal is to start vlogging or creating video content.
With Sony’s focus in the Alpha ZV range (with the ZV-1, ZV-E10 and now the ZV-E1), where the cameras have more of those modern features within them, you can tell by Sony’s action that these cameras are made with content creating in mind.
Size
At only 343g, the ZV-E10 is compact and lightweight, and is Sony’s lightest camera which is going to make it easy to carry and hold for long periods of time especially when vlogging or travelling.
The camera has a comfortable grip, and although I’d sometimes prefer if it was a little more pronounced from a safety point of view, there are accessories that you can get to give the system more of the grip and further protect the camera as a whole. A positive in being smaller than most APS-C cameras, is that it’s going to take up less space in your camera bag meaning more room for accessories.
Interchangeable Lens System
As an Interchangeable lens system camera at the budget end of the Sony E mount range, you’re going to get the same flexibility and creativity in your shooting because you can choose from a wide range of Sony (and other branded) lenses that suit different purposes, effects and your own styles, whether that’s now as a novice, all the way to professional, whether that’s with your ZV-E10 or another E mount camera.
APS-C Sensor Camera
The ZV-E10 has a 24.2 Megapixel Exmor CMOS APS-C sensor, but having this cropped APS-C sensor (compared to a full frame camera), is going to mean that cameras like this are going to be a lot cheaper, more accessible, smaller and lighter, especially when you also factor in the cost of full frame compatible lenses, then having an APS-C camera is going to save you at lot of money in the long run, which is why these types of cameras are geared towards the lower end of the market. Sony APS-C sensor camera’s have a crop factor of around 1.5 compared to a full frame equivalent, which means the lens you’ve got on your camera is going to have it’s focal length magnified by that crop factor amount, so you’ll be able to get closer to your subject without losing image quality and have a deeper depth of field at the same aperture and focal length.
But it isn’t all positives with APS-C sensor cameras because compared to the full frame sensors, you’re going to have lower image quality and performance due to these types of sensors typically having lower resolution, dynamic range, and low light performance as they capture less light and detail due the size of the smaller sensor. But these trade offs, between full frame and APS-C sensor cameras are mainly down to price, but that doesn’t mean that can’t take that perfect shot or film that ideal scene.
LCD Screen
The ZV-E10 has a fully articulating 3 inch LCD screen, that allows for touch focus, touch tracking and touch shutter functions. I’d have preferred a fully touch optimised screen and menu system (instead on the above functions only) but despite that, being able to flip out the screen to the side and rotate 180 degrees, while also being able to fold it back into the camera with the screen facing in or out, is going to allow you to rotate to difference angles and directions to position the screen how you want it, which will allow you to shoot from different perspectives at most angles and avoid glare and reflections.
Remember who the ZV-E10 was primarily made for, vloggers and content creators, so when taking those selfies or recording vlogs, you’ll be able to yourself on the screen and have those clear and obvious recording notifiers on the camera, while at the same time being able to frame your shots, check your exposure and easily adjust your settings.
Autofocus System
As with most Sony cameras, the ZV-E10 has a fast, reliable and accurate autofocus system, with face and eye detection for humans and animals, as well as real-time tracking for moving subjects and AI based subject recognition with one of my favourite features, product showcase. It also has a vlogging-specific focus mode that prioritizes your face when you’re in front of the screen, but switches to the background when you move away, useful for showing your surroundings or products without losing focus.
High Resolution Filming
This camera gives you high-resolution and cinematic footage, filming in 4K up to 30fps, which means more detail and clarity while in S&Q mode up to 120fps but only in 1080P. You’ll get access to the regular picture profiles that allow you to change preset settings that affect the color, contrast and tone of your video, all of them further customisable.
Dedicated and customisable buttons
With the dedicated buttons for video features that are located in really handy places, it makes it convenient to start and stop recording, adjust the depth of field and switch focus between your face and an object whether you in front of or behind the camera. The defocus switch lets you change the aperture value with one press to create those blurry or sharp backgrounds. The product showcase mode, lets you quickly switch focus between your face and an object by holding down the button on the back of the camera.
Live Streaming
If you’re into live streaming, or make regular use of a webcam, with the ZV-E10, instead of using an app or other third party software (like you would have to use with other cameras), as long as the camera to USB streaming (in the menu settings), you only need to connect a USB-C cable, as simple as that. Now you can use the camera as a high-quality webcam for your online meetings or broadcasts as well as streaming to your community on twitch or youtube.
Built in Microphone
The built-in directional 3-capsule microphone captures clear and natural sound from the front of the camera. The ZV-E10 package also includes a detachable windscreen that reduces wind noise when shooting outdoors.
Having used the in built microphone, I would probably rate the sound quality being just solid and good, but in most occassions as a quick pick up, shoot and record, it’s definitely an improvement on past cameras. But, if you don’t want to use the in built microphone and want higher quality audio (which some often opt for), then the audio ports allow you to connect external microphones or headphones for better sound recording and monitoring.
With the multi Interface shoe located on the top of the camera, if you’ve got a digital microphone or another accessory (such as a flash) that requires use of a hot shoe and the ability to communicate directly with the camera, then you can attach those digital accessories via this slot.
All features, that at this value, should make the Sony ZV-E10 stand out if you’re looking for a budget interchangeable lens camera. While it’s not perfect and it does have its flaws, just remember, while the top end cameras will have a lot of the features that the ZV-E10 has and in some cases may be better, you’ll find that most of the cameras at the bottom end may have some, but not all of these features.
The best way to describe the Sony ZV-E10, top features at a budget price, a camera you could potentially use in every stage in your career without ever feeling the need to upgrade.
Check out my video version of this blog: https://youtu.be/LMTbisbQmgk