Sony has just released a new compact mirrorless camera as part of their ZV lineup, primarily aimed at vloggers and content creators: the Sony ZV-E10 II. This camera features a 26MP APS-C image sensor, can capture footage in 4K 4:2:2 10-bit All-Intra at up to 60P, and in FHD at up to 120P, and features a Cinematic Vlog mode to capture footage with a built-in look. So, let’s take a closer look at it!In March 2023, Sony announced the ZV-E1, which is their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera for vlogging with many interesting AI-based features. If you missed it, my colleague Johnnie reviewed the ZV-E1 here.Sony ZV-E10 II and the new 16-50mm zoom lens. Credit: Sony However, as good as it can be, at over $2000, the ZV-E1 can be overkill for many content creators or vloggers who do not make a living from it. Sony just filled a hole in their lineup by releasing the ZV-E10 II, which features a smaller sensor, keeps most of the features from the ZV-E1, and is much more affordable.Sony ZV-E10 II – featuresThe Sony ZV-E10 II sits between the ZV-E10 and ZV-E1 and weighs 295 g/10.4 oz. It is 11.4 x 6.7 x 5.4cm/4.48 x 2.63 x 2.12in and has a Z battery, which is the same battery as the ZV-E1. According to Sony, the camera should have a runtime of around 2 hours and 10 minutes.Similarly to the FX30 and A6700, the ZV-E10 II features a 26MP Exmor R image sensor. The camera is powered by the same BIONZ XR image processing engine introduced in 2020 with the a7S III. The BIONZ XR can also be found inside the FX6/FX3/FX30 and the a7 IV/a7CII/a6700, to list a few. According to Sony, the rolling shutter of the ZV-E10 II should be reduced compared to the ZV-E10 thanks to twice as fast read-out speeds.The Sony ZV-E10 II can capture footage in 4K, oversampled from the 5.6K image sensor, at up to 60 frames per second in 4:2:2 10-bit. If you drop the resolution to FHD 1920 x 1080, you can crank the frame rate to 120P. Please note that in 4K60P mode, you’ll get a slight 1.1x image crop.Multiple recording formats are available, including XAVC S, XAVC HS, and XAVC S-I. You can choose 10/8bit, Long GOP/All-I, and H.264/H.265 file formats. All footage and images are stored on a regular SD UHS-II compatible memory card.At the top of the camera, you’ll find a 3-capsule microphone, similar to the ZV-E1, that allows you to choose the built-in or external mic’s front/rear/omni-directivity in the camera menu. The camera doesn’t have an EVF but features a 3.0″ vari-angle touchscreen LCD. Compared to the ZV-E10, the Sony ZV-E10 II has a new Still/Movie/S&Q switch instead of a toggle button, making it easier and faster to change your recording mode.Sony ZV-E10 II. Credit: SonyAutofocus and image stabilizationThe Sony ZV-E10 II autofocus system has 759 AF points and covers 94% of the image sensor. Like most Sony cameras, it can recognize and track human/animal faces and eyes. The camera also supports Focus Breathing Compensation, a handy addition when racking focus.Unfortunately for filmmakers, the ZV-E10 II doesn’t have IBIS. Digital Image Stabilization, also known as Active Stabilization, is available, but it will crop your image by around 1.5/1.4x, depending on your recording frame rate and resolution.Vlogging settingsThe ZV-E10 II comes with multiple picture profiles, including the well-known S-Cinetone/S-Log3. Furthermore, you can choose from four different “look” settings, including Clean/Chic/Fresh/Mono, and combine them with five “mood” settings to change the color of your image. These moods are similar to the ZV-E1, including Auto, Gold, Ocean, and Forest. You can also import your LUTs inside the camera to preview your image.If you want to avoid dealing with looks and moods for quick turnaround projects, the ZV-E10 II also comes with ten built-in image presets, including black-and-white, Sepia, Film, Neutral, Instant, Portrait, Standard, Vivid, Vivid 2, and Soft Highkey. The ZV-E10 II gives you access to the “Cinematic Vlog setting” that will bake in 2.35:1 cinemascope black bars in your 16:9 footage.As a camera made for content creators and vloggers, the Sony ZV-E10 II can shoot vertical content and will flip the UI for more convenience. The Vertical Format UI supports touchscreen operation. Lastly, a new in-camera Time-lapse mode allows you to choose your recording frame rate and interval time from 1 to 60 seconds.Sony ZV-E10 II Top view: Credit: Sony ConnectivityIn terms of input and output connectors, the ZV-E10 II features one 3.5mm microphone input, one 3.5mm headphone output, and one micro-HDMI output port. Lastly, you’ll find a 5Gbps USB-C port that supports 4K30P/1080P60 streaming.The camera has built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and also supports live streaming via the RTMP/RTMPS/SRT protocols. Lastly, the ZV-E10 II can connect to Sony’s Creators App to transfer footage/pictures to your smartphone, adjust your camera settings remotely, and access live view from your camera.Sony ZV-E10 II with the new 16-50mm zoom lens Price and availabilityThe Sony ZV-E10 II is available for preorder now and should start shipping by the end of this month. The body will cost $998, and the kit with the new 16-50mm zoom lens costs $1,098.For more information, please visit Sony’s website here.What do you think about this compact vlogging camera? Does it make sense for you to purchase a dedicated vlogging camera? Do you miss all of the AI features from the ZV-E1? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!
