Building a Vlogging Kit with Sony ZV-Series Cameras

Long a leading figure in the mirrorless camera world, Sony has wasted no time infiltrating the vlogging market with the ZV series of compact mirrorless cameras. These user-friendly cameras are loaded with the features hybrid creators love, while retaining form factors small enough to fit into nearly any bag, and modular enough to be customized into a handheld rig. Offering fixed or interchangeable lenses, as well as three different sensor sizes, there is a ZV camera for every level of vlogger. Read on to learn about these versatile cameras and the accessories that will take your vlog to new dimensions.    

What Makes ZV Cameras so Appealing to Vloggers?

Evolving from Sony's popular RX100-series, ZV cameras add a variety of vlogger-centric features while retaining form factors akin to pocket cameras.

• Flip-out LCD touchscreens make self-recording a breeze by allowing you to monitor and adjust recordings easily in real time.

• Built-in stabilization steadies footage, suppressing the distracting jitters that can accompany handheld shooting.

• Live-recording settings allow you to stream directly to social media or conference calls.

• Built-in directional microphones provide clean audio, while Multi Interface Shoes provide the option of adding more advanced sound-recording devices.

• Face-Priority AE ensures consistent exposure for faces when working in changing lighting environments.

For an in-depth look of each ZV camera, check out our full rundown of Sony's vlogging lineup.

As any experienced vlogger will tell you, video quality doesn't start and end with your camera. Good luck attracting an audience if your footage is shaky or your audio is trash. Fortunately, ZV cameras were made to be used with a wide range of vlogging accessories to elevate your content.

Choosing a Lens for Vlogging

If you are building around a camera that uses interchangeable lenses, such as the full-frame ZV-E1 or APS-C format ZV-E10, you'll need to find a lens to match your style. Zoom or prime? There are pros and cons to either choice. A wide-angle zoom adds flexibility to your framing, which is especially helpful when recording handheld. However, zooms tend to be bulkier and slower than similarly priced primes. If you can settle on a fixed focal length, a mid-tier prime will be smaller, easier to handle, and better suited to interiors or other low-light environments. Sony's G series of lenses was created with hybrid content creators in mind. Balancing form and function, these lenses deliver impressive optical performance while remaining easy to use handheld.

For an in-depth discussion of Sony's vlogging lenses, check out this article.

Elevating Your Vlog's Audio

After image quality comes sound quality. While Sony's ZV cameras arrive prepared to record audio out of the box, you can accomplish even more with a dedicated microphone. ZV-E1 and ZV-E10 users should consider the ECM-B10  shotgun microphone. Connecting, cable-free, to Sony's Multi Interface (MI) Shoe, it permits three types of pickup patterns depending on the environment in which you are recording. Self-recorders will benefit from the super-directional pattern, which gathers sound from a focused area in front of the microphone. If your vlogs involve a second person, the unidirectional pattern widens your working area while suppressing sound from off-axis areas. Finally, for maximum range, the omnidirectional pattern captures sound from all areas.

Designed with itinerant creators in mind, the ECM-B10 can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs next to nothing, so it is easy to carry and use. It is dust and moisture resistant so you can take it anywhere your camera can go without worry. Power is supplied via the MI shoe so you don't have to worry about audio cutting out before video during recording. Finally, a windshield is included for keeping audio clean outdoors.

If you are using a ZV-1, you can upgrade your audio with the ECM-G1 shotgun microphone. This equally compact mic uses a directional supercardioid pickup pattern that maximizes frontal sound capture while minimizing background noise. A windscreen is also included for location recording.

Check out this video to see Sony's shotgun mics in use.

Stabilizing your Vlogging Setup

Nobody wants jittery footage, and there are many ways to make sure that your videos remain shake-free. The simplest technique to secure your camera is to use a tripod. Sony's GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip serves as a handgrip and tabletop tripod. In addition to providing support, it can control Bluetooth-equipped cameras wirelessly. Dust and moisture resistant, it can be used virtually anywhere.

Content creators looking to solidify their stabilization should consider a gimbal to produce silky smooth video footage. The small size and low weight of ZV cameras makes them exceptionally suited for pairing with a gimbal. Nevertheless, always crosscheck the weight of your setup with the payload tolerance of the gimbal you plan to use.

Adding a Light to Your Vlogging Rig

There are many ways to add light to your video setup. If you are working solo, the simplest solution is to mount a small LED directly on your camera's shoe. A wide range of shoe-mount LEDs are available, depending upon the quantity and quality of light you need. A bi-color LED will make it easier for you to match color temperature with environmental light. On the other end of the creative spectrum, LEDs with RGB output can be used to produce dramatic lighting effects.

À la Carte Vlogging Accessories

Alongside the big-ticket items, there are essential accessories that every vlogger needs, such as memory cards and extra batteries. Nobody wants to run out of storage space or battery power in the middle of recording. Always carry extra cards and charged batteries. Choose the fastest memory card your camera is compatible with for best video-recording performance. ZV cameras do not come with battery chargers and require you to charge your battery in-camera. You can purchase a dedicated external battery charger separately—an expenditure as frustrating as it is rewarding. If you are using a camera with interchangeable lenses, consider protecting your lenses with a clear or UV filter. You will thank yourself when you accidentally knock over your camera while recording. Similarly, a protective cover for your rear LCD screen is an essential purchase.

For more information and details about these products, click through to their product pages using the hyperlinks above. Have you used Sony's ZV cameras for vlogging? Which is your favorite? Tell us about your setup in the Comments section, below!