The Sony ZV-1 ($799.99) is the company's first compact camera built just for vloggers. It shares a lot of its tech with the RX100 family, including the lens from the RX100 VA and the imaging engine from the RX100 VII. Those models are stills-first, though, while with the ZV-1 you get a more video-friendly design, with a flip-forward LCD and a best-in-class internal microphone. It's a good camera for vloggers, but not a home run—the lens is a little tight for walk-and-talk footage, and the battery life is underwhelming.Small Enough for Pockets The ZV-1 is a small camera, just 2.4 by 4.2 by 1.7 inches (HWD) and 10.4 ounces. Its lens doesn't completely retract into the body—it juts out a little bit—but it's compact enough for most pockets. Sony has opted for a composite material for the body, a departure from the metal exterior used by the RX100 series. It's a fine change if you ask me—the body feels solid and the finish is likely to hold up better over time. There's still a bit of m...

The Sony ZV-1 is a pocketable camera with strong still image quality and features geared specifically toward vloggers.

Compact form factor; Flip-out touch screen; Bright, sharp zoom lens; Excellent in-camera audio; External mic and flash support; 4K video capture

A wider-angle lens would be welcome; Limited touch features; Face detection struggles when wearing protective mask; Underwhelming battery life; No in-camera flash

The Sony ZV-1 should win the hearts of many vloggers thanks to its blend of compelling video features, very good quality footage and ease of use. The Sony ZV-1 is an excellent investment for vloggers who are just starting out in the field, or even those who have been at it for a while but who aren’t...

Powerful yet easy-to-use features, Relatively inexpensive, Very good quality video and stills, Excellent AF, Very good quality audio, Can be used as a webcam

May not be versatile enough for advanced vloggers, Image stabilization could be better, Streaming and webcam features not available on macOS Big Sur

Sony has added a lot of features to the ZV-1 camera. The entire autofocus and its feature pack stand out, the image and video quality is worth the praise and the design and convenience of the shooting grip can't be ignored.

The Sony ZV-1 is the best compact vlogging camera you can buy. Its mix of a bright lens, superb autofocus and design tweaks like the side-flipping screen make it a powerful pocket video option with few peers.

Class-leading autofocus; Bright lens for lovely video bokeh; Hotshoe and 3.5mm mic port; Side-flipping screen ideal for video; Fits in your pocket

Average video stabilization; Touchscreen still very limited; Micro USB rather than USB-C

Some might dismiss the ZV-1 as yet another Sony RX100 variant, but it’s much more than that. The sensor and lens might be familiar, but the body, the controls, the audio and the rear screen are all new and different and optimised brilliantly for vlogging.

Vari-angle rear screen; Clip on wind shield; Brilliantly fast AF

Minimum focus distance changes with zoom; Stabilization seems pretty jerky; Why a 3:2 screen and not 16:9?

The new Sony ZV-1 is a camera that the Japanese electronics manufacturer has smartly modelled after its RX100 premium compact cameras that have won many fans over.

The Sony ZV-1 is a compact camera aimed at vloggers and video creators, while also delivering decent photo capabilities. It inherits the 20 Megapixel 1in sensor, confident phase-detect autofocus, 4k video up to 30p, and 24-70mm f1.8-2.8 zoom of the RX100 V(A), but features a number of upgrades to...

If you’re looking for a compact all-in-one vlogging camera, then look no further than the Sony ZV-1. While the device might not be up to scratch for indoor filming, it’s an absolute beast when taken outside, thanks to its unbelievable mic quality and precise autofocus.

A nearly perfect camera for vloggers

: Beautiful recording quality; can record up to 4K; good image stabilisation; rotatable LCD screen; and a dedicated Bokeh switch to blur background easily

: Low battery life; no dial mode; no viewfinder

The Sony ZV-1 is a beginner-friendly camera perfect for on the go shooting and vlogging. While some of the features are borderline gimmicks, the core vlogging features are solid.