Sony ZV-E10 Review

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Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Sony Alpha ILCZV-E10
Resolution:	24.20 Megapixels
Sensor size:	APS-C (23.5mm x 15.6mm)
Kit Lens:	3.13x zoom 16-50mm (24-75mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	No / LCD
Native ISO:	100 - 32,000
Extended ISO:	50 - 51,200
Shutter:	1/4000 - 30 sec
Max Aperture:	3.5 (kit lens)
Dimensions:	4.5 x 2.5 x 1.8 in. (115 x 64 x 45 mm)
Weight:	12.1 oz (343 g) includes batteries
Availability:	08/2021
Manufacturer:	Sony
Full specs:	Sony ZV-E10 specifications

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Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

ZV-E10 Deals

24.20 Megapixels	Sony E	APS-C size sensor

Sony ZV-E10 Preview -- Now Shooting!

by Jeremy Gray
Preview posted: 07/27/2021

Updates:
09/28/2021: First Shots added

In spring 2020, Sony introduced the ZV-1, a fixed lens camera aimed at content creators and vloggers. The compact camera is built around a 1"-type sensor and 24-70mm-equivalent zoom lens. It offers many video-friendly features, but for those looking for higher-end video performance and the flexibility offered by an interchangeable lens design, the ZV1 doesn't quite fit the bill. Enter Sony's new ZV-E10.

The ZV-E10 is a new Alpha camera and is built upon the expansive E-mount system. The ZV-E10 includes a larger APS-C image sensor, promising shallower depth of field, better image and video quality and more versatility. The ZV-E10 also comes with the same great autofocus features as users have come to expect from Sony's A6XXX series of cameras. At its core, the ZV-E10 aims to blend the vlogger-friendly design of the ZV1 with the high-quality performance and flexibility of a Sony A6100. Let's take a closer look at Sony's new camera and see what it promises to offer.

Sony ZV-E10 Key Features and Specs

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS image sensor
BIONZ X processing engine
ISO range of 100-32,000 (expandable to 50-51,200)
Fast Hybrid AF, Real-Time Eye AF and Real-Time Tracking AF
Face Priority AE
Electronic image stabilization and stabilization data in file metadata
Natural Skin Tones and Soft Skin Effect
Digital Audio Interface via Multi-Interface shoe
Built-in directional 3-Capsule mic with supplied wind screen
Headphone and mic jacks
Vari-angle touchscreen
USB webcam compatible (UVC/UAC)
Livestreaming via USB
4K 24p/30p video with full pixel readout and 6K oversampling
Full HD video at up to 120p with full AF/AE
S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3, S-Gamut3/S-Log3
Available as body only for $699.99 ($899.99 CAD)
Available in kit with 16-50mm lens for $799.99 ($999.99)

Design and Usability

Ahead of the camera's announcement, we were not given a great look at the ZV-E10 body itself. However, we have seen enough to know that it's very similar in style to the A6100, although a bit more compact. Despite the larger sensor and the lens mount, the ZV-E10 is not much larger than the ZV1. Sony's new vlogging camera is 115.2mm (4.53") wide, 66.9mm (2.52") tall and 59.4mm (1.76") deep. For comparison, the ZV1 is 105.5mm x 60mm x 43.5mm, and the A6100 is 120mm x 66.9mm x 59.4mm. The ZV-E10 weighs 343 grams (body only), whereas the A6100 weighs 396g and the ZV1 and its built-in lens weigh 294g.

A big difference between the Sony ZV-E10 and the Sony A6100 is the display. While both have touchscreens, the ZV-E10's display is vari-angle, meaning you can swivel it out to the side to see the entire display while photographing or recording yourself. This vlogger-friendly feature is a significant difference in terms of usability. You can also turn the camera on simply by opening the LCD, which is a neat feature. The ZV-E10 includes a recording lamp (visible on the front), a red frame around the LCD during recording, a zoom lever around the shutter release and an easy-to-hold front grip. The zoom lever can control attached Power Zoom "PZ" lenses and go through ClearView digital zoom (available from 1x to 2x).

The ZV-E10 includes many great still imaging functions, as well, but it is clearly aimed at video content creators, so its control layout is designed accordingly. The ZV-E10 has a large dedicated record button, including Background Defocus and Product Showcase buttons. These buttons set up the camera to give you a shallow depth of field in the case of the former button, and in with the latter, adjust settings for optimal performance when filming products/objects. For example, if you're recording yourself showing off an item, you want the camera to focus on you when you're speaking, but the item when you are holding it up to the camera. In the case of either button, you can, of course, set up the camera manually, using aperture priority or adjusting focus area and mode settings. Still, the buttons make it easier for those who may not want to adjust many settings.

Video and Imaging Features and Performance

The ZV-E10 has the same 24.2-megapixel APS-C Exmor image sensor as the Sony A6100 and A6600 cameras. To that end, it promises impressive image and video quality. The APS-C sensor has about three times the area of the 1"-type sensor in the ZV1 and ten times the area of a typical smartphone image sensor. A larger sensor means, all else equal, better image quality across a wider range of ISO settings and shallower depth of field at the same apertures. The ZV-E10's native ISO range is 100-32,000, which can be extended to 50-51,200.

You also get access to the 64 E-mount lenses that Sony makes, plus third-party lenses, thanks to the ZV-E10's lens mount, something the ZV-1 doesn't offer. The larger image sensor and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses promise improved video creation and more cinematic results.

To help with cinematic results, the ZV-E10 promises lower noise, better color, improved color gradation and higher dynamic range than the ZV1. Plus, the new camera includes Sony's popular Natural Skin Tone and Soft Skin Effect from the ZV1. The latter effect can be set to off, LO, MID and HI strengths.

The ZV-E10 also records in S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3, S-Gamut3/S-Log3 (something the A6100 does not offer), promising better flexibility during post-processing for those who desire more control. The camera aims to provide great results straight-out-of-camera for those who want to keep things simple without sacrificing the flexibility for users who want to edit their videos.

Speaking of video, the ZV-E10 records 4K UHD video at 24p and 30p framerates and can record HLG video. 4K video is recorded with the full width of the APS-C sensor and includes 6K oversampling. At Full HD, the camera can record at up to 120p and includes Slow & Quick video functionality, meaning you can record as slow as 1fps or as fast as 120fps for slow- and fast-motion video. S&Q is available directly via a mode button on the camera, which cycles through still/movie/S&Q modes.

High-resolution video doesn't amount to much if it isn't in focus. The ZV-E10 includes the same high-tech autofocus system as the A6100 and A6600. The Fast Hybrid AF system combines phase-detect and contrast-detect autofocus to cover about 84% of the total image area (when shooting stills in 3:2 aspect ratio, it's a higher percentage in a 16:9 ratio for video). The ZV-E10 includes Real-Time Eye AF and Real-time Tracking AF, too, which can be controlled via the touchscreen. AF transition and AF subject shift speeds can be adjusted by the user, as well.

In terms of exposure, there's a Face Priority AE mode. When using this function, the camera monitors the subject's face for changes in brightness and adjusts the exposure accordingly. The camera will do both AF and AE if you're tracking a subject in varying light conditions.

To keep everything steady, the ZV-E10 includes electronic image stabilization. Much like the A6100, there is not body-based/sensor-shift image stabilization in the ZV-E10. The Active Mode electronic IS promises stable handheld video. The camera's gyro sensors also record and store motion data in your file metadata, which can be used by software like Catalyst Browse/Prepare for stabilization during post-production.

Audio is the other half of the video coin. The ZV-E10 has a built-in directional 3-capsule mic, promising strong sound gathering performance and noise reduction. The camera comes with a supplied windscreen, as well.

If you don't want to use built-in mic, you have many options. You can attach a mic to the camera via its Multi-Interface (MI) shoe on top. You can use Sony's latest wireless mic solutions, including the ECM-W2BT wireless microphone and ECM-LV1 lavalier. The ZV-E10 is Sony's first APS-C camera to support its digital audio interface via the Multi Interface (MI) shoe. You can also plug in a mic -- and headphones -- into the built-in 3.5mm jacks.

As mentioned, while the ZV-E10 is aimed at video content creators, it remains a capable still photography camera and offers the same imaging features and promises the same performance as the A6100 and A6600. For still photography, the camera also offers Real-Time AF for non-human animal subjects and allows the user to select between left and right eyes for human subjects. The camera can shoot at up to 11 frames per second with full AF/AE for up to 115 images in a series.

Ports, Power and Connectivity

The ZV-E10 has mic and headphone jacks, plus USB-C and HDMI. Via USB, you can live stream and use the ZV-E10 as a webcam. The camera supports UVC/UAC standards, meaning it can transmit high-quality video and audio to a PC (Windows or macOS) or smartphone (Android 11 only, as of now) without the need for special software or a video capture card. (The ZV1 is also up to UVC/UAC standards, thanks to a post-release firmware update.)

The ZV-E10's battery life is a bit better than the A6100 (80 minutes versus 75 minutes of video) and significantly better than the ZV1 (45 minutes). However, all these cameras offer less battery life than the A6600 (150 minutes) due to that camera's larger battery. Of course, the larger battery means a larger camera body, so there's a tradeoff there.

We've touched on compatibility with various audio recording devices. The ZV-E10 also works with Sony's Bluetooth grip, which offers control over various camera functions.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony ZV-E10 will be available as a body-only option or in a kit with Sony's standard 16-50mm APS-C kit lens. Both options come in black and white. The body only will cost $699.99 USD ($899.99 CAD), and the kit will be $100 more, coming in at $799.99 ($999.99 CAD). Sony expects the ZV-E10 to be available at the end of August. The white version of the kit, by the way, comes with a silver lens rather than a typical black lens.