Sony – Alpha ZVE10 II: APS-C Content Creators’ Camera Kit – Black

This camera has sparked my desire to learn more about photography. This is a crazy, feature packed updated version that gives you the flexibility of changing out lenses. I have always traveled with at least one dedicated camera to compliment my latest version iPhone. The way this camera can go from being in a case to helping you capture memories or content so quickly is one of its best features.
The camera comes kitted with a better than expected 16-50 zoom lens. A carry strap, NP-FZ100 battery and documentation rounds out what this camera ships with. I did get the Sony content creators accessory kit which includes the bluetooth shooting grip and shotgun mic for more flexibility when using the camera.
I have similar camera to compare to for perspective. Sony launched a few years back the ZV-1 camera and for what I needed this camera was perfect. An all around feature packed camera for our outdoor adventures. I didn’t expect the need to swap lenses but as anyone who takes up the hobby of photography, there is always something new!
A few welcomed upgrades are the larger touch screen that provides the user with an easy and fast experience when needing to change settings. Also, something I found I prefer more than I thought was the power toggle button vs, just opening the LCD screen. You can have the camera ready to shoot photos quicker than going through the opening procedure like on the ZV-1.
One thing I have become accustomed to with these specific models is the C1 or background defocus button in close proximity to the shutter button. I find that using this built in feature is quicker and usually accomplishes the desired photo effect vs. having to manually adjust camera and lens settings.
I am really looking forward to replacing my older Canon DSLR with this camera during outdoor adventures. The size alone and weight savings allows me to bring more options (lens) than with my traditional DSLR. This model does have active image stabilization and paired with a lens with that functionality, you get a rock solid video when moving while filming.
I can also highlight the quality and customization build into this camera with the microphone, expect incredible out of the box audio better than most alternatives. Plus, the hot shoe does allow options for higher quality audio devices.
One interesting feature I didn’t think I would use but found to help me capture quality, in focus images is the smart technology baked into this camera, the Real-time Eye AF allows you to choose between several main preferences like bird, animal, and human. Exploring these does challenge how the camera finds and maintains images in perfect focus.
I was battle testing the camera in sport mode at a kids sporting event and this mode allows you to hold down the shutter and the camera will continue capturing images. It will continue taking photos for some really neat action shots.
I don’t need some of the additional features to support live streaming and wifi transfers but thankful this camera is capable.
I am already starting to look at reviews for the next lens upgrade and have my target set on something with more zoom.
It feels good in your hand and is well balanced with the kit lens. Can’t wait to continuing to perfect my photography skills with this awesome camera.

I will be honest, I get intimidated by ‘full function’ cameras, there’s a lot going on and a lot to learn – normally. With the Sony Alpha ZVE10II camera, Sony have created an ‘entry level’ camera that can help transition you from simply using an iPhone, to using a ‘real’ camera for video content creation.
Out of the box, the kit comes with ‘almost’ everything you need to get going. The camera body has a weight to it, a chunky grip, and a nice solid build quality. The lens is included, and the battery as well. However, there is NOT a charging cable or a charging dock for the battery included, so you need to find your own USB C to USB C cable to get the camera charged. Not a huge deal breaker as you probably have a vast array of those laying around, but a small annoyance when unboxing and wanting to get into using the camera right away.
The kit also does NOT come with a memory card, so you will have to have one of those on hand, or go out and get one. Fortunately, I had a couple of spares with my drones, so I was able to get up and running right away.
Once you have the camera charged, you are greeted with a nice touchscreen control, that swivels into almost any position you could want it. So if you are shooting vertical content, you can face it towards you, whether you are speaking into the camera, or recording something in front of you, the screen can always be visible to you, or alternatively, you can fold the screen away. This is the main control panel for the camera too. You can connect your camera to your phone, and use the Sony Creator App to control some functions, and you can even import photos and video from the camera directly to your phone if you so desire (I still currently edit my videos in InShot, and iPhone app). I’m sure this will change when I get more acquainted with the new camera.
The 4K video shoots at 60fps, which is absolutely fine for the content I’m creating, in fact you don’t even need to go that route if posting to Instagram etc, as 4K video at 60fps can get choppy – Instagram doesn’t like 4K for some reason. But for YouTube content, 4K at 60fps is great, but if you want to capture some nice slow motion shots/footage, you can record 1080p at 120fps.
As mentioned, I this is my first foray in transitioning from an iPhone to a ‘real’ camera, and as such, Sony makes that a somewhat easy transition, as it has a lot of fully baked functionality in the camera that the camera just does for you – several auto functions taking the complications out of your recording process. But the camera is advanced enough to allow you to make many different settings and parameters to enable you to dial in your footage to your own style as well, be it over saturated, or mooted etc, depending on your preferences. I am sure I have only scratched the surface on what this camera can actually do for me, but as a transition from a phone to a camera, I couldn’t think of a better starting point to jump off from.
With interchangeable lenses, you have that ‘full function’ capability from the camera, in a nice compact package. Is it a Professional Camera? Some people may say yes, that it’s all you need to be a professional vlogger, but if you are wanting to take those epic sports photos, then this is probably not where you want to start.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with this choice, its a fantastic step up and a great way to advance my video capabilities, and when paired with the Sony Creator Kit II (tripod, wireless remote and shotgun mic) to really has taken my content to the next level!

Sony continues to move forward with their new ZV-E10 II. It’s good for vloggers and content creators. It uses Sony’s E-Mount lens mount which opens up a plethora of lenses you can use with this camera. The camera body is lightweight which helps a lot when vlogging. In addition, it has an articulating touchscreen. This a necessity for vloggers. It’s UI will auto adjust to changes from horizontal orientation to vertical so I can quickly get a video for Instagram and other social media platforms that require vertical videos.
Physical Design
The ZV-E1 II is compact and lightweight. The body being small helps to keep the weight down which is very helpful when I’m holding the camera out when recording a vlog. My arm doesn’t tire as fast as it does with my other cameras. It also uses the NP-FZ100 which is a small battery that also helps with weight reduction. The kit lens is also compact and lightweight. There is a switch on top that helps to quickly switch between video mode and photo mode. The shutter button is positioned well and near it is a video record button. I feel both are positioned well and I found them easy to find both by feel. The grip also fits my hand well. I have medium sized hands, so if you have large hands, you may feel the grip is a little small.
Video
This is an APS-C sensor camera. Sony is able to step up the video capabilities and video quality with their Exmor R sensor choice. I’m able to record video at 4K60p 4:2:2 10-bit. With the battery being small, I’m able to record video at 4K60p for up to 37 minutes. I did run into a problem when out at the beach recording 4K60p video. It was about 90F while I was there. The camera recorded for 13 minutes when I saw a temperature warning. The camera shutdown to allow the camera to cool. I live in the southeast, so that is going to be a problem for me when the outside temperature is above that which means I will have a problem with record times during the summer. For people who only need to record short duration videos, this may not be an issue for them. If I was recording at 4K30 or 1080 I’m sure I would get longer run times before the camera needs to turn off to cool down. If you live in a hot area, keep that in mind. The video quality is exceptional for a camera of this level. The video quality is due to the APS-C Exmor R sensor coupled with the BIONZ XR processor. I’m really impressed and happy with the video I get out of it. Vloggers and content creators will be happy with it. The built-in mic works surprisingly well. It’s a 3 capsule mic which captures clean audio. The mic can also capture you voice consistently as you move the camera around. When recording video, it kept my voice level the same as I moved the camera from facing me to facing away from me while I was talking. This is helpful to me because I face the camera while talking and will sometimes turn the camera around to show something ahead of me while continuing to record. When I do that, I’m typically talking even as I turn the camera around to face away from me. The mic was about to keep my voice level the same as it was when the camera was facing me. The camera’s UI changes automatically when changing the cameras orientation from horizontal to vertical. The vertical videos I shot were recorded as vertical videos instead of them being recorded as horizontal videos that I have to change to vertical in post. The resulting video files were 2160×3840 files as opposed to 3840×2160. This saved me from having to use my NLE to change it which is what I have to do with my other cameras. This saves a lot of time by removing a step that I have to go though when I use my other cameras. Also the UI auto changes so it’s orientation on the screen is correct which makes it very easy to see the information while recording video.
Photo
Sony raised the bar by packing a 26MP APS-C sensor in the ZV-E10 II. The photos I’ve shot with it are very sharp and the colors are vibrant. Sony’s color science is something I like. I’m happy with the high quality and sharp photos I get out of this sensor. I went out to take photos of birds hoping that the bird detection for autofocus would help. It did. Autofocus detected the birds whether they were flying or on a perch. Burst mode is available on the ZV-E10 II which I use when taking photos of birds flying. Autofocus of cameras often fail to hit often on flying birds, but the ZV-E10 II was able to handle it. The camera was fast. Most cameras that are comparable to this one don’t work well in bird photography, but the ZV-E10 II does. If someone is looking for a camera for getting into wildlife photography, then the ZV-E10 II would be a viable option without braking the bank. It’s also good for taking photos of products due to focusing distance. Another helpful feature is the background de-focus. This allowed me to focus on a subject such as a bird or an object and help draw the focus to the subject be blurring the background. By default, this features is activated when pressing the C1 button. I found it quick and easy to turn that feature on and off. It helps me when wanting to be a little more creative without having to use manual mode which would be slower. Now I just press the C1 button to quickly turn that on and the camera will change the aperture instantly. This will be helpful to people who aren’t that familiar with aperture and shutter speed settings which would otherwise have to be manually set to get the same results. If you are showcasing products, this will be help with that by directing focus to just the product and defocusing/blurring the background bringing attention of the viewer to the product.
Lens
The ZV-E10 II comes with a power zoom 16-50mm F/3.5-5.6 lens. The lens has a zoom motor in it. I can change the focal length by either using the telephoto adjustment that is in front of the shutter button or by the telephoto adjustment on the lens itself. Both activate the motor enabling me to zoom in and out throughout the 16mm to 50mm range. Zooming isn’t slow and I can quickly make the adjustments that I need to. Unfortunately, the zoom motor makes a sound. The sound can be picked up by the built in 3 capsule microphone. If I’m recording video that I need to be continuous while I’m zooming in/out, I’ll have to remove the sound of the motor in post. The lens is threaded, so you can use filters with it. It’s short, but when powered on, it does extend out about 1.5″, but I don’t feel that is a problem for me. It has a focus ring and a zoom adjustment on it. You can adjust the focal length via the on lens adjustment or through the camera’s which is in front of the shutter button. It would have been good for Sony to have used a lower focal length for the kit lens. 16mm on an a camera that uses an APS-C sensor is a little long of a focal length when vlogging, but it is a clear sharp lens and considering the price point, I can’t complain too much about the minimum focal length. In the next iteration of this camera I would hope that Sony would consider a 10mm or 8mm minimum focal length for the kit lens.
Final Thoughts
This is definitely directed at those who are vloggers, content creators, and those who are wanting to get into video or photography at a decent price point. You get a lot with this camera. Sony has improved on the mark 1 with this new iteration of the ZV-E10. It’s a good camera for those who need to take photos and record videos for social media. If you are getting into videography or photography, you’ll appreciate the features that this camera has. It has far more than mentioned above. The only things I would like to see addressed in a future version would be the kit lens motor sound, better heat dissipation, and a lower minimum focal length for the kit lens. I feel that people looking at a camera of this price point will be happy with it as I am. I’m happy to see that Sony has improved on the ZV-E10 line with this new ZV-E10 model.

I’m not a major camera nerd, so take this all with the understanding I’m no expert, this is all my own opinion, but this is such a good entry level Mirrorless camera. It’s obviously not the best camera Sony sells, but at this price point, with the included lens and fluffy little ‘wind sock’ for the built in mic, this is an amazing place to start if your looking to get serious with your content creation game, or step away from using your phone to take your vacation photos and videos. The included 16mm to 50mm lens is a good starting point for closer and mid range photography, and as the whole kid is focused on content creators first, where the user is going to have the camera setup fairly close to them, streamers, vloggers, and the like.
In line with the content creator focus of the bundle and this camera, USB-C charging and connection port gives you good fast charging and the camera can be directly connected to your PC to act as a webcam without needing additional capture cards to grab the camera feed for your stream or other workflow. For those who shoot footage and then edit later there are a plethora of automatic modes for different color space and vibe as well as a raw mode for you to do your own color grading with.
You will want a fast high capacity SD card for this camera to take full advantage of the recording capabilities, I learned this pretty quick finding the SD cards I have on hand right now are just not fast enough to record the best this camera can output.
Overall, I think this is overkill if you haven’t started yet, streamers, and vloggers can get their start with basic webcams and a good cellphone, but for those who already have been doing it and are taking the next step, I think this is a great point to move to, and is a platform to expand on, with its accessory connection on top for microphones, or camera flashes, a tripod nut on the bottom to mount to well, tripods, or gimbals, or a camera arm. Interchangeable lenses so if the included one no longer suits your needs in the future you can get new ones and expand your capabilities without needing to buy a whole new camera.
I’ve been primarily using it for streaming, and it’s such a huge step up from my webcam. The more I use it the more inadequate the rest of my setup starts to feel, the extra clarity makes the rips in the back of my chair far too noticeable lol, and while the low light performance is great, my old camera had a light ring built in, so… I might have to invest in a couple key lights to minimize the awful shadows from the overhead lights in my room.