Sony’s New ZV-E10 II: An Entry-Level Mirrorless Hybrid to Sway Vloggers from $1,000 Phones

Sony has announced its new ZV-E10 II mirrorless hybrid, a follow-up to the ZV-E10 released in 2021. Targeted primarily at vloggers and social media content creators, the ZV-E10 II brings iterative improvements from Sony’s higher-end cameras to a more affordable model.

The ZV-E10 II features a 26MP APS-C Exmor R CMOS sensor, the same one found in the FX30 and a6700. Along with the camera, Sony has also announced the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II lens.

Key Features:

• 26MP APS-C Exmor R CMOS Sensor
• UHD 4K60p and Full HD 120p Video
• 3.0″ Touchscreen LCD, Vertical Support
• 759-Point Fast Hybrid Phase Detection
• Up to 11-fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000
• Real-Time Eye AF and Tracking
• Background Defocus, Product Showcase
• Focus Breathing Compensation
• Directional 3-Capsule Mic and Windscreen
• Headphone and Microphone Ports

Sensor and Processing: The ZV-E10 II uses a 3:2 APS-C 26-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R 4K sensor, delivering 26MP for stills and 20.1MP when shooting video in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The sensor is paired with an upgraded BIONZ XR processor for 8x faster performance and a 5.6K oversampling area. The camera records UHD video at up to 60p from an oversampled 6K image with no pixel binning or line skipping and UHD at 100/120p with a 1.6x crop.

Video Recording: The ZV-E10 II can shoot UHD at up to 60p and HD at up to 120p, using full pixel readout with 5.6K oversampling. It supports S-Cinetone and S-Log 3 color, which enhances grading control and fully utilizes the 14-stop dynamic range. The camera includes Creative Looks mode to apply preset color effects during shooting and doesn’t have a 29min 59sec recording limit.

Design and Build: The ZV-E10 II features a large right-hand grip and an intuitive physical control layout for portable applications and one-handed use. It has a vari-angle screen that powers off when closed against the body. It includes dedicated buttons for movie recording, background defocus, product showcase, and S&Q. The camera also has an improved 3” 1.04 m-dot vari-angle touchscreen LCD supporting vertical info display, a USB-C port for battery charging, a single UHS-II SD memory card slot, and wireless transfer and control via 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Battery and Size: The ZV-E10 II now takes the larger NP-FZ100 battery, offering approximately 610 shots per charge, a 30% increase over its predecessor. The camera measures 4.5 x 2.7 x 2.1” and weighs 13.3 oz / 368.5g with the battery and memory card.

Audio: For vlogging, audio is crucial, and the ZV-E10 II includes an internal directional 3-capsule mic with a windscreen. It has 3.5mm mic and headphone ports and a digital audio interface MI Shoe for working with shoe-mounted mics.

Live Streaming: The ZV-E10 II supports USB standards for webcams (UVC/UAC) and allows connection to a power supply via USB cable during live streaming. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity for wireless control.

Price and Availability: The ZV-E10 II will be available in black and white at the end of August for $998, which is $300 more than its predecessor. A kit with the ZV-E10 II camera and the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II lens will be available for $1,098. The lens can also be purchased separately for $298.

Thoughts: There is a lot to like considering this is a sub-$1,000 USD camera. You actually get many features of the FX30 for $800 USD less, making it a solid option for vloggers and content creators looking for an affordable yet capable camera.