When it comes to vlogging cameras, there are plenty of features that can help make this popular form of content creation easier. Here are a few of those features that both aspiring vloggers and seasoned pros alike should consider when looking to purchase a camera for vlogging.
What makes a good vlogging camera? See this list of camera features that can help make video content creation a breeze.
Selfie Flip-Up Screen
When you're recording footage of yourself talking to the camera for your vlog, you want to be able to see the framing as you’re doing it. A good vlogging camera will have a screen that rotates so you can see the full frame while you film and can properly compose your video. The new ZV-1 is Sony’s first compact camera with a side-opening Vari-angle LCD screen, making it easier to compose your shots in selfie mode while connecting external audio accessories.
Real-Time Eye Autofocus & Real-Time Tracking Autofocus For Video
This feature enables vloggers or their subjects to remain in focus while they’re moving around and talking to the camera. Having the eye auto focus for video feature on your camera allows you to focus on creating your vlogs without worry of the footage being out of focus and unusable afterward. Both features are found in the new ZV-1 to help you seamlessly switch focus between multiple subjects while controlling the AF speed and tracking sensitivity.
Solid Audio Capabilities
Poor audio quality is a surefire way to get people to stop watching your vlog. It’s important to get a camera with a solid microphone so audio recording is a breeze. The new Sony ZV-1 is well-equipped to produce crystal clear sound with reliable and versatile audio options. Its onboard mic is designed for forward-directional audio capture, allowing for clear capture of the subject’s voice while minimizing background noise, especially when operating in selfie mode. It also features an industry standard mic jack and MI Shoe, so you can easily connect a wide range of external microphones. It even comes with a custom windscreen accessory that fits on the MI shoe to minimize wind interference while you’re recording.
Good Zoom Range
This is a feature that’s specifically important for travel vloggers. When you’re travel vlogging, you typically want to switch between long range shots of the places you’re visiting, and those short selfie shots when you’re talking to the camera. A good zoom range will help keep both in focus. The new Sony ZV-1 features a 24-70mm(1) f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* large-aperture lens which is the perfect range for vloggers and can create beautiful background bokeh, allowing the subject to stand out from the background.
Image Stabilization
Camera shake is a serious problem vloggers face, and it’s something that can completely distract and deter your audience. With in-body image stabilization you can reduce camera shake and produce seamless and fluid footage. The new Sony ZV-1 includes advances in image stabilization, ensuring steady video even when shooting hand-held while walking.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
As a vlogger, being able to record for long periods of time is a necessity. In order to do that, you need a camera with a solid and long-lasting battery life. The Sony ZV-1 uses the NP-BX1 battery, which is the same battery found in a lot of the RX100-series cameras.
Built-In WiFi
With WiFi built in to the camera, you can quickly transfer and upload whatever you need to social media. A feature like this is a gamechanger for vloggers on the go who want to get their content out fast.
Bonus Camera Features For Vloggers
The first features we listed above help make video content creation easier, but they're also features that make for a good camera no matter its use. But what about additional features that vloggers specifically will appreciate and utilize? The new Sony ZV-1 was designed for vloggers, and has those features you probably didn’t even realize were possible.
Face Priority Auto Exposure
Vloggers are often walking around while they’re recording, and moving from place to place creates different lighting situations. The Face Priority Auto Exposure found in the new Sony ZV-1 ensures your face stays properly exposed, even when you’re transitioning from one lighting scenario to the next.
Background Bokeh
Background bokeh can really step up the look of your video and give it that professional feeling. If you want to have a blurry background in your video, you can just push the C1 Custom button on the Sony ZV-1 to automatically defocus it. A simple and seamless way to change the look of your footage.
Product Showcase Option
Many vloggers are often showing products in their videos, and getting the focus right when doing this has been a challenge in the past. With the Sony ZV-1’s Product Showcase Option, the camera’s autofocus can quickly shift from you to the product you want to show, and back to you again. This is huge for vloggers who are holding things up to their camera for their viewers to see and want a seamless transition.
