I took Sony’s best pocket camera on vacation and regretted it

From Sony to Xiaomi, smartphone manufacturers are more and more dabbling in one-inch digicam sensor {hardware}. However as somebody that doesn’t purchase flagship smartphones, I had resigned to simply accept that it will be years earlier than the expertise would trickle right down to my pocket. That’s till I noticed I might skip the wait and purchase a extra succesful point-and-shoot digicam as an alternative. The Sony ZV-1, as an illustration, makes use of the identical one-inch sensor because the cutting-edge $1,799 Xperia Professional-I and prices lower than half as a lot.

When you have a look at Sony’s advertising for the ZV-1, it’s clearly geared toward aspiring content material creators and videographers. Nevertheless it’s equally succesful in non-video modes too. Sony packs the identical one-inch sensor within the photography-focused RX100. In different phrases, though it lacks some auxiliary options like an digital viewfinder, pop-up flash, and mode dial, the ZV-1 nonetheless has the identical succesful imaging {hardware}.

In actual fact, the ZV-1’s 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens arguably provides higher low-light efficiency than the zoom-biased 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens on the RX100 VII. The brighter aperture additionally implies that the ZV-1 can produce stronger bokeh behind your topic.

In the end, although, the tipping level for me was Sony’s asking worth. At $749, the ZV-1 is a whopping $450 cheaper than the newest RX100 and over a grand lower than the Xperia Professional-I. That issue was sufficient to persuade me and earlier than lengthy, I had unboxed Sony’s finest transportable digicam. However little did I do know that it will find yourself being considered one of my most underwhelming tech purchases of 2022.

I spent the primary few weeks with the Sony ZV-1 brushing up on the fundamentals of handbook pictures. I realized learn how to shortly steadiness ISO, shutter pace, and aperture utilizing the digicam’s buttons and dials. It didn’t flip me into a talented photographer however nailing these fundamentals allowed me to seize higher pictures than the digicam’s automated modes.

Quick ahead to a few months in the past and I discovered myself planning an impromptu journey to Vietnam with my associate. This was my first actual alternative to make use of the Sony ZV-1, so naturally, I excitedly carried it alongside. Simply days earlier than leaving, although, I additionally traded in my LG Wing for a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. The previous had a famously mediocre digicam system, so I used to be curious to see how nicely a 2022 sub-flagship smartphone would carry out in opposition to Sony’s finest.

Throughout the first day of touchdown in Hanoi and testing the native sights, we have been inundated with sightseeing suggestions. Nearly each traveler we met sang praises of the Hà Giang province in northern Vietnam, so we determined to lease a motorbike and discover the world. However right here’s the place I bumped into my first roadblock with the ZV-1 — we solely had sufficient area in our backpack to suit three days’ price of garments and each day necessities. I wasn’t notably eager on strapping an costly digicam to the again of a mud bike both. So in the long run, I had no selection however to go away the digicam behind in our suitcase on the resort.

However I shortly found that even when I had carried the digicam someway, utilizing it will’ve been dangerous enterprise. On the very first day, we rode by means of a foggy mountain cross and finally bumped into full-blown rain. The ZV-1 isn’t weather-sealed, so I wouldn’t have been capable of {photograph} something with out risking the digicam. I had no such worries about my IP68-rated smartphone, in the meantime, and used its cameras at each viewpoint. I even had it mounted on the bike’s handlebar for navigation all the time.

By the tip of that first day, the ZV-1 was little greater than an afterthought in my thoughts. I had seen a number of the most breathtaking views of my life and the S21 FE captured all of it, typically performing higher than I anticipated. And with restricted daytime, I additionally appreciated with the ability to press the shutter button and shortly get again on the street — zero twiddling with buttons or dials essential.

I discovered myself reaching for the ultrawide lens very often, which is one thing I wouldn’t have been capable of do with the digicam. The ZV-1’s 24mm minimal focal size is an honest place to begin, but it surely lacks the grandeur that the FE’s 13mm wider discipline of view delivers for landscapes.

Now, I do know what you’re in all probability pondering. Smartphones have obliterated the point-and-shoot digicam market exactly due to their comfort and flexibility. However the necessary bit right here is that I by no means felt just like the ZV-1 would’ve produced a dramatically higher picture. This meant I continued counting on my smartphone for many of the journey, even as soon as I had entry to the digicam once more. Simply see the snaps from the Galaxy S21 FE beneath.

Smartphone vs point-and-shoot: Does the devoted digicam win?

After I was lastly unencumbered by weight and climate restrictions, I took the ZV-1 to a theme park and pit it in opposition to the S21 FE. I absolutely anticipated the digicam to return out forward in a side-by-side comparability, but it surely was typically laborious to select a winner.

Wanting on the above samples, it’s clear that Samsung’s post-processing has the tendency to go a bit overboard with saturation and sharpening, notably in sections with dense foliage. Nonetheless, the ZV-1’s dynamic vary straight out of the digicam can’t compete with the multi-frame HDR processing of contemporary smartphones. You’ll be able to treatment a few of these issues in case you shoot in RAW with both machine, however the very last thing I need to do whereas on trip is to lug round my laptop computer and edit photographs.

Zoom was the one uncommon space the place I at all times most well-liked having the ZV-1 available. However I anticipated that because the S21 FE solely has a middling 3x telephoto sensor. I’d anticipate the periscope {hardware} you’d discover on a Pixel 7 Professional or Galaxy S22 Extremely to fare significantly better. However, I nonetheless discovered the smartphone zoom got here in helpful typically, like after I wished to learn the textual content on a museum exhibit from distant.

I’ll additionally admit that selfies taken with the ZV-1 virtually at all times appeared higher than my smartphone’s tiny digicam, and correct framing was potential due to the absolutely articulating display. Likewise, movies look noticeably higher with extra element, depth of discipline, and nil over-sharpening. The ZV-1’s vlogging heritage implies that it even has Digital Picture Stabilization (EIS), a function many cheaper Sony cameras have lacked for years.

However on the finish of the day, none of those wins assist justify the ZV-1’s $750 asking worth. For context, I picked up my Galaxy S21 FE for simply $500 on sale. It’s not the perfect digicam telephone in the marketplace, however I’m greater than glad with it. Wanting again, I’d’ve gladly sprung the additional $200 or so for a Pixel 7 if I had recognized how a lot I’d use its cameras.

My greatest disappointment with the ZV-1 is that though it’s one of many smallest cameras in the marketplace, it’s not very handy. It doesn’t even at all times slot in your pocket. You’ll be able to in all probability make it occur with an overcoat or cargo shorts, however I discovered it borderline inconceivable whereas sporting denims — even with out the grip accent I exploit. That’s an instantaneous compromise because you’re compelled to hold round a bag always. And by that time, why not get a barely bigger APS-C digicam as an alternative? The legendary Sony A6000, for instance, is just not solely rather more succesful but in addition considerably cheaper.

See additionally: The perfect cameras for pictures learners

The ZV-1 makes a couple of usability compromises too. There’s little or no grip in comparison with bigger cameras, for instance, which implies it sits slightly precariously in your hand. I’ve since added a third-party grip, but it surely considerably inflates the digicam’s dimension and weight. Once you additionally think about the dearth of water resistance, Sony’s clunky smartphone companion app, and the dated micro-USB charging port, you get the sensation that the additional trouble merely isn’t price it.

That’s to not say the Sony ZV-1 is a foul digicam. I’m positive that somebody with extra ability and persistence might extract extra worth from it than I did. However in a world the place computational pictures exists, you may get hold of almost the identical outcomes from a telephone with out breaking the financial institution. And in case you handle to nail shot composition, you’ll obtain an important cope with even a modest smartphone digicam.

Wanting again now, I in all probability ought to’ve purchased an motion digicam or drone as an alternative of the Sony ZV-1. Both of these would’ve added an entire new dimension to how I look again at my journey. Or maybe it’s higher to easily not purchase any devoted pictures gear and journey lighter. Both means, I now have a newfound appreciation for the cameras on fashionable smartphones.