Sony ZV-1 vs ZV-1 II
The Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in May 2020 and May 2023. Both the ZV-1 and the ZV-1 II are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with an one-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 and the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony ZV-1 and the Sony ZV-1 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony ZV-1 and the Sony ZV-1 II are of equal size. However, the ZV-1 II is slightly lighter (1 percent) than the ZV-1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the ZV-1 nor the ZV-1 II are weather-sealed.
The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony ZV-1 | 105 mm | 60 mm | 44 mm | 294 g | 260 | n | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony ZV-1 II | 106 mm | 60 mm | 47 mm | 292 g | 290 | n | May 2023 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 112 mm | 76 mm | 44 mm | 353 g | 210 | n | Oct 2015 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon G5 X Mark II | 111 mm | 61 mm | 46 mm | 340 g | 230 | n | Jul 2019 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 103 mm | 60 mm | 40 mm | 304 g | 210 | n | Sep 2014 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 106 mm | 61 mm | 42 mm | 319 g | 265 | n | Feb 2016 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon G7 X Mark III | 105 mm | 61 mm | 41 mm | 304 g | 235 | n | Jul 2019 | US$ 749 | amazon.com | |
8. | Sony RX100 II | 102 mm | 58 mm | 38 mm | 281 g | 350 | n | Jun 2013 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
9. | Sony RX100 III | 102 mm | 58 mm | 41 mm | 290 g | 320 | n | May 2014 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | 102 mm | 58 mm | 41 mm | 298 g | 280 | n | Jun 2015 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | 102 mm | 58 mm | 41 mm | 299 g | 220 | n | Oct 2016 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony RX100 VII | 102 mm | 58 mm | 43 mm | 302 g | 260 | n | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 199 | amazon.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The ZV-1 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the ZV-1 II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Both cameras under consideration feature an one-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.
The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 20 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the ZV-1 and the ZV-1 II have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the ZV-1 II is much more recent (by 2 years and 11 months) than the ZV-1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.
The Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-25600. The Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 II offers exactly the same ISO settings.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony ZV-1 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.2 | 12.6 | 669 | 66 | |
2. | Sony ZV-1 II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.3 | 12.9 | 965 | 67 | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 12.3 | 471 | 62 | |
4. | Canon G5 X Mark II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.2 | 12.4 | 583 | 65 | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 23.0 | 12.7 | 556 | 71 | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.8 | 11.9 | 260 | 62 | |
7. | Canon G7 X Mark III | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.2 | 12.4 | 583 | 65 | |
8. | Sony RX100 II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 22.5 | 12.4 | 483 | 67 | |
9. | Sony RX100 III | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 22.4 | 12.3 | 495 | 67 | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.6 | 591 | 70 | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 586 | 70 | |
12. | Sony RX100 VII | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 21.8 | 12.4 | 418 | 63 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The ZV-1 and the ZV-1 II are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony ZV-1 and Sony ZV-1 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony ZV-1 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | n | n | |
2. | Sony ZV-1 II | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | n | n | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 5.9/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Canon G5 X Mark II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 30/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Canon G7 X | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 6.5/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Canon G7 X Mark III | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 30/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Sony RX100 II | optional | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
9. | Sony RX100 III | 1440 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 1228 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 16.0/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 1229 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 24.0/s | Y | Y | |
12. | Sony RX100 VII | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 90.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Sony ZV-1 and the Sony ZV-1 II both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Both the ZV-1 and the ZV-1 II have zoom lenses built in. The ZV-1 has a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 optic and the ZV-1 II offers a 18-50mm f/1.8-4.0 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the ZV-1 II provides a wider angle of view at the short end than the ZV-1, but less tele-photo reach at the long end. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the ZV-1 and the ZV-1 II write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 and Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony ZV-1 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Sony ZV-1 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
3. | Canon G5 X | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
4. | Canon G5 X Mark II | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
5. | Canon G7 X | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
7. | Canon G7 X Mark III | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Sony RX100 II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
9. | Sony RX100 III | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
12. | Sony RX100 VII | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y |
The ZV-1 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the ZV-1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the ZV-1 was succeeded by the Sony ZV-1 II. Further information on the features and operation of the ZV-1 and ZV-1 II can be found, respectively, in the Sony ZV-1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony ZV-1 II Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony ZV-1 and the Sony ZV-1 II? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.
Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1:
- More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in May 2020).
Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 II:
- Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (290 versus 260) out of a single battery charge.
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 11 months of technical progress since the ZV-1 launch.
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the match-up finishes in a tie (3 points each). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony ZV-1 and the Sony ZV-1 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the ZV-1 or the ZV-1 II perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony ZV-1 | 4/5 | + | 4/5 | 85/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
2. | Sony ZV-1 II | 4.5/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | 83/100 | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2023 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 5/5 | + + | .. | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2015 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon G5 X Mark II | 4/5 | + | 4/5 | 82/100 | .. | 4/5 | Jul 2019 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 4/5 | + + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 81/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon G7 X Mark III | .. | + + | 4/5 | 81/100 | 4/5 | .. | Jul 2019 | US$ 749 | amazon.com | |
8. | Sony RX100 II | 5/5 | + + | .. | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2013 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
9. | Sony RX100 III | 5/5 | + + | .. | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2014 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 85/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2015 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 83/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2016 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
12. | Sony RX100 VII | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 199 | amazon.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 2000D vs Sony ZV-1
- Canon 850D vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Canon R6 vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Canon RP vs Sony ZV-1
- Fujifilm GFX 100 II vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Fujifilm X-T2 vs Sony ZV-1
- Fujifilm X-T4 vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Nikon W150 vs Sony ZV-1 II
- Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony ZV-1
- Panasonic GH5 II vs Sony ZV-1
- Sony A7 III vs Sony ZV-1
- Sony A7R IV vs Sony ZV-1 II
Specifications: Sony ZV-1 vs Sony ZV-1 II
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | Fixed lens compact camera |
Camera Lens | 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 | 18-50mm f/1.8-4.0 |
Launch Date | May 2020 | May 2023 |
Launch Price | USD 799 | USD 899 |
Sensor Specs | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor Format | 1" Sensor | 1" Sensor |
Sensor Size | 13.2 x 8.8 mm | 13.2 x 8.8 mm |
Sensor Area | 116.16 mm2 | 116.16 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 15.9 mm | 15.9 mm |
Crop Factor | 2.7x | 2.7x |
Sensor Resolution | 20 Megapixels | 20 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 5472 x 3648 pixels | 5472 x 3648 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 2.41 μm | 2.41 μm |
Pixel Density | 17.18 MP/cm2 | 17.18 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 125 - 12,800 ISO | 125 - 12,800 ISO |
ISO Boost | 80 - 25,600 ISO | 80 - 25,600 ISO |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
Screen Specs | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
Viewfinder Type | no viewfinder | no viewfinder |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 922k dots | 922k dots |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | Swivel screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/2000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous Shooting | 24 shutter flaps/s | 24 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | up to 1/32000s | up to 1/32000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | MS or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-I |
Connectivity Specs | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | External MIC port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | Bluetooth built-in |
Body Specs | Sony ZV-1 | Sony ZV-1 II |
Battery Type | Sony NP-BX1 | Sony NP-BX1 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 260 shots per charge | 290 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
105 x 60 x 44 mm (4.1 x 2.4 x 1.7 in) |
106 x 60 x 47 mm (4.2 x 2.4 x 1.9 in) |
Camera Weight | 294 g (10.4 oz) | 292 g (10.3 oz) |
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