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# my favourite everyday camera: the Sony ZV-1
- URL: https://wootangent.net/my-favourite-everyday-camera-the-sony-zv-1/
- Published: 2026-11-02T05:09:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T09:06:42.000Z
- Author: Leigh Dyer

In my [welcome back post](https://wootangent.net/welcome-back/) I mentioned that I'm really into photography these days. My entry back into photography was the Fujifilm X-S10, and last year I upgraded to the X-E5, which I love. I do a bit of *proper* photography – street, creative, wildlife – with the [Melbourne Camera Club](https://melbournecameraclub.org.au/?ref=wootangent.net), but most of what I do is what I'd call everyday photography: capturing moments from daily life, whether that's at home, around town, or around the world.

The X-E5 almost works as an everyday camera, but even with the (excellent) 23mm pancake lens, it's just a bit too big to be pocketable. It's also, frankly, a bit too expensive to risk on daily adventures that could involve running around playgrounds and riding kick scooters. Whether to take it or not was always a *question*, so I decided that I wanted a camera that I could always take with me.

After a bit of a search, I found the Sony ZV-1, and wanted to share why I think it's the best everyday camera for most people.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/4-DSC00294-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/5-DSC00271-1.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/6-DSC00133-1.jpg)

The Sony ZV-1 is great for everyday photography

## the (tiny) elephant in the room

There's an obvious question here - couldn't I just use my phone for everyday photography? Well yes, I could, but I don't want to. There are technical reasons why I think a proper camera is better – bigger sensors, wider apertures, more control – but my main reason is that I find that phone photography feels unsatisfying. 

That applies to the shooting experience, but also the results. Phone cameras work hard to get everything sharply focused and evenly exposed, even in very uneven light, that it's hard to take a bad photo, but the results are so flat and even that I find it hard to take a really good one. Maybe we're about to turn a corner on that – Google added Camera Looks on the Pixel 11, for instance – but we'll have to wait and see how that pans out in practice.

## why the ZV-1?

A lot of ink has been spilled lately on the subject of cameras for everyday carry (or EDC, as the cool kids call it these days), but the ZV-1 doesn't often get a mention. It was launched in 2019 as a vlogging camera, so I understand why it's not at the top of every photographer's wishlist. I don't think "vlogging camera" is a fair description for it, though, because it's really a greatest hits version of Sony's venerable RX100 line of compact cameras.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/7-DSC00121.jpg)

The ZV-1 shares the RX100 Mark VII's excellent sensor, which captures great detail

The RX100 Mark VII is an absolute marvel. You get an excellent 20MP 1"-type stacked sensor, ridiculously fast autofocus, a 24-200mm equivalent f2.8-4.5 superzoom lens, and a pop-out EVF, all in a solid, compact body that easily fits in just about any pocket. It's everything I could ever ask for in a compact camera, but it's also – I kid you not – AUD$1800\. I did consider buying one, but I just couldn't stomach paying a*ctual camera money* for a compact camera, especially since one of my motivations was to have a camera I could worry a bit less about than my X-E5.

The ZV-1 loses the EVF, but it has the exact same sensor and autofocus, and while its 24-70mm equivalent f1.8-2.8 zoom lens – taken from the earlier RX100 Mark III through V models – doesn't have as much reach, its wider aperture is a big help, especially in low light. Being more video-focused, you also lose some hands-on control (the RX100's mode dial is replaced by a mode *button*, for example), but gain a much better grip.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/1-DSC00629.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/3-DSC00320.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/10/2-DSC00340-1.jpg)

The ZV-1's wide aperture helps it handle low-light situations better than you might expect

Most importantly, the ZV-1 retails for AUD$1000 – just over half the cost of the RX100\. I got mine on sale for AUD$900\. That makes me feel much more comfortable about throwing it in my pocket, or handing it to my son to take some shots with.

The ZV-1's stacked sensor captures great detail and dynamic range, but it's biggest surprise is how great it is for fast-action photography and video. It can shoot photos at 20 FPS with the electronic shutter, and it can record slow-motion video down to *1000 FPS*, which is insane for something so compact and affordable.

0:00 

/0:09 

1× 

The 1000 FPS mode is, admittedly, quite limited – the video is low-resolution, and it can only record about a 2.5 second burst at a time, which it then has to save to the SD card (which can take 30 seconds or so) – but it's incredibly fun. It's also easier to use than it might sound, because in high-speed video mode it's constantly buffers video, and you can configure it to *end* recording when you hit the record button, so you can wait for your cool thing to happen, then press the button to capture it. My science-minded son and I have used it for a bunch of MythBusters-inspired experiments, from capturing water bottle rocket launches to calculating the speed of NERF darts. 

## shooting with the ZV-1

You can treat the ZV-1 like a point-and-shoot and get great results from it. Autofocus is simple, accurate, and very fast. The auto mode almost always does a good job of judging the scene, too, adjusting the shutter speed based on both camera movement and what's happening in the scene. That makes it a great camera for handing to kids and other non-camera-people when you need someone else to take a photo for you.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/11/DSC00907.jpg)

I love seeing the world from my son's perspective

More often than not, though, I have it in either aperture- or shutter-priority mode, using the rear circular dial to adjust things. That dial doubles as a dpad of sorts, with direct dpad presses giving you easy access to exposure compensation, drive settings, and ISO (which I just keep on auto).

There's a full manual mode if you want it, but it's a little awkward – since there's just that one control dial, and no touch controls beyond setting the focus point, you have to use that dial for both aperture and shutter speed, switching between them with a button press. The same is true for changing modes, which involves pressing the mode button, then using the dial to select your mode. It all works, but if you're switching modes or using manual mode a lot, you'll miss the mode dial and second control dial that you'll find on some other cameras, like the RX100.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/11/DSCF3421-1-.jpg)

The control layout lends itself really well to one-handed shooting

On the other hand, the ZV-1 is very easy to use one-handed. It feels comfortable and secure, with a grip on the front and thumb rest on the back, and all of the controls are in easy reach of your thumb or forefinger. Just throw a little wrist strap on it – I stole one from a Wii Remote – and you're good to go.

However you choose to shoot, the results are very impressive given the ZV-1's compact size. The lens seems plenty sharp across the zoom range, and the sensor captures has great dynamic range and captures a lot of detail; 20 MP might not sound like a lot, but the images stand up really well to pixel-peeping or a bit of cropping in. Quality does fall apart faster at higher ISOs than you might be used to on larger sensors, but with care you can get some great results even in tricky conditions.

## webcam mode

Another handy feature that I hadn't thought much about before buying the ZV-1 is that it can function as a webcam. It's [easy to set up](https://helpguide.sony.net/dc/1910/v1/en/contents/TP1000201632.html?ref=wootangent.net) and works really well – it's USB video class-compliant, so it's plug-and-play, including on Linux. That's particularly handy for me, because my home laptop, an old [ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14](https://rog.asus.com/us/laptops/rog-zephyrus/2021-rog-zephyrus-g14-series/?ref=wootangent.net) from 2021 running Debian, doesn't have a webcam.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/11/Screenshot-From-2026-11-02-14-57-59.png)

Finally, I can use GNOME Cheese to take selfies once again

The X-E5 also works as a class-compliant webcam, but it can overheat during a long session. So far, that hasn't been a problem on the ZV-1 at all. 

## niggles

I do have a few annoyances worth listing; none of these are deal-breakers for me, but they could be for you:

- The USB connector is micro-USB rather than USB-C
- Aperture-priority mode with auto ISO jumps to slow shutter speeds a bit too readily; at 24mm equivalent it'll drop to a 1/30 shutter before starting to raise the ISO
- Transferring photos to your phone uses Sony's older Imaging Edge Mobile app, which works fine but it's quite basic

All of these are addressed in the ZV-1 Mark II, which would be great if it hadn't also switched to a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens. That honestly makes a lot of sense for a vlogging camera, but for photography, I'd much rather have the extra reach – and extra stop of light on the telephoto end – of the ZV-1.

## alternatives

Besides the ZV-1 Mark II (and RX100 VII), I did consider (and test!) a bunch of other options, but none had the balance of size, sensor, and lens as the ZV-1:

- The Lumix TZ99 has a smaller sensor and slower lens
- The Lumix TZ300 has even more reach than the RX100 – up to 360mm equivalent – but the lens is slower, and so is the autofocus
- Micro Four Thirds options like the Lumix L10, Canon PowerShot V1, and the new OM System PEN are just too big for my needs; they're not that much smaller than the X-E5

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/42/8f/428f222b-5293-47dc-a763-0d524d3db42e/content/images/2026/11/PXL_20261101_224652101-1.jpg)

The X-E5 with a pancake lens is small, but the ZV-1 is still a lot smaller

The most compelling alternative was the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III, but it's more expensive, and so popular with the kids these days that it's almost impossible to buy. It does have some advantages – slightly longer zoom (24-105mm equivalent, at the same f1.8-f2.8 as the ZV-1), better handling, and a USB-C port (more on that later) – but it also has weaker autofocus, and lacks the ZV-1's fast action abilities. For me, it was a wash, so the ZV-1's lower price, and ability to actually be bought at retail without fighting off Gen Z hordes, won out.

You could also look at earlier RX100 models on the second-hand market, such as the Mark V, which has the same lens and basically the same sensor as the ZV-1\. They're not as easy to find down here in Australia as in some other places, though, and the prices are still higher than the ZV-1 so while I considered it for the sake of getting the EVF, I decided I'd rather not take a gamble on something second-hand.