The Sony ZV-E10 is an interchangeable-lens vlogging camera that borrows elements from the Sony a6100 and the Sony ZV-1. Like the ZV-1, it has dedicated vlogging features, including a fully-articulated screen and specialized autofocus modes like 'Product Showcase' but with the option to switch out lenses and a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor borrowed from the Sony Alpha 6x00 lineup.
The Sony ZV-E10 is great for travel photography. The body is very portable and lightweight, and the camera feels pretty sturdy. It also has a great battery life for longer days on the go, depending on how frequently you shoot and what settings you use. Its autofocus system is excellent at tracking moving subjects and provides several options for you to fine-tune its performance. Image quality is great, especially if you just want to shoot JPEGs. That said, the camera doesn't have a viewfinder, which is a bit limiting, and the camera can feel a bit cramped if you have larger hands.
The Sony ZV-E10 is great for landscape photography. Its APS-C sensor offers a solid amount of dynamic range to bring out shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast scenes. That said, it naturally has less usable dynamic range than full-frame alternatives. Still, you have a fair amount of leeway to manipulate exposure without introducing too much noise. There's also an automatic HDR mode and a bracketing mode that allow you to expand the camera's dynamic range or take a series of photos at different exposures to manually combine them later. That said, the camera isn't the most comfortable to shoot with, and it lacks weather-sealing to give the camera some protection when shooting in adverse weather conditions.
The Sony ZV-E10 is decent for sports and wildlife. It has a few different continuous shooting speed settings to choose from, so you can adapt the speed to different situations and subjects. It has a fairly quick max burst rate of 11 fps, which is well-suited to capturing moving wildlife or sports. That said, it takes a very long time for its photo buffer to empty once full, which can slow you down and interrupt your shooting at a critical moment if you manage to fill it up. Its autofocus system is excellent overall; however, it sometimes fails to pick up on the intended target. Thankfully, you can fine-tune the AF sensitivity to suit your needs. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a viewfinder for more precise framing.
The Sony ZV-E10 is excellent for vlogging, which is no surprise since this is its intended use. The camera has a fully articulated screen that lets you monitor yourself while filming. If you don't have a monopod or shooting grip, the camera's handgrip has a relatively flat design that makes it easier to hold in a selfie position. It has an excellent autofocus system that tracks faces well, and video quality is good overall, although it struggles a bit with noise in low light. Unfortunately, there's very noticeable rolling shutter effect in 4k, which can distort straight lines in the background when vlogging on the move.
The Sony ZV-E10 is good for studio video. Video quality is good in more controlled lighting conditions, though it struggles a bit in low light. The camera offers several picture profiles and Log recording profiles, meaning you can manipulate the look of your footage to your preference. However, it's limited to 8-bit 4:2:0 color internally, so it can't capture as much color information that's ideal for Log recording. Thankfully, there's no recording time limits, and the camera doesn't overheat throughout its battery runtime. If you need extra battery life, you can also use the camera while it's charging via USB, which is handy.
The Sony ZV-E10 isn't meant for action video. It isn't water-resistant and isn't designed for mounting to a chest or helmet rig. It also has very limited frame rate options for action video recording in 4k, although it can shoot 1080p at up to 120 fps. It doesn't have IBIS, and using an optically stabilized lens only gets you so far when reducing camera shake.
The Sony ZV-E10 has a relatively compact body, making it very portable and easy to store. It's also lightweight, especially when paired with a smaller lens like the Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, meaning it won't cause much fatigue during longer shooting sessions, and you can easily fit it into a small camera bag.
The Sony ZV-E10 feels well-built. It's made of plastic and feels similar in build quality to the Sony a6100, though it's a step down from the magnesium alloy body of the Sony a6400. The battery compartment and inputs (except for the microphone jack) are covered by sturdy-feeling doors. The buttons are clicky and offer good physical feedback, too. Another nice touch is the fixed shoulder strap attachment points, which won't rattle around and cause noise when recording vlogs or videos.
The Sony ZV-E10 has two command dials: a top dial near the back thumb rest and the control wheel on the back, which also acts as a directional pad to navigate the menu. By default, in manual mode, the top dial controls aperture, while the rear control wheel controls shutter speed. It also has a few custom buttons and plenty of customization options, so you can set it to match your shooting preferences.
The Sony ZV-E10 feels fairly comfortable to shoot with. It doesn't have the largest or most comfortable handgrip, especially for larger hands, but the grippy texture feels nice. The handgrip is notably smaller than Alphas like the Sony a6100 and the Sony a6600, but it's more suitable for a front-facing selfie grip, which is in keeping with its vlogging-oriented design. The buttons are fairly well-placed and make it easy to adjust settings, although they feel somewhat cramped for larger hands.
The Sony ZV-E10 has a fully articulated screen with a decent resolution. It isn't the highest resolution, but thankfully it gets bright enough that you can still see what's on the monitor in sunnier conditions. Unfortunately, touch functionality is limited to selecting focus points, subject tracking, or touch shutter.
The Sony ZV-E10 uses the old Sony menu system. It's not the most clearly laid-out, with settings buried in sub-menus that aren't very intuitively organized. You also can't use the touchscreen to navigate it. That said, there's a quick menu that gives you access to commonly used settings, and you can also create your own custom menu to group your most-used settings and features for quicker access.
Battery performance on the Sony ZV-E10 is great. It's rated for 440 shots according to CIPA standards, which you should take with a grain of salt for real-world usage. However, the rating is helpful as a comparison tool, and compared to similar APS-C mirrorless cameras, the ZV-E10 can last a long time, depending on your settings and usage habits. For reference, it has nearly twice the battery life of the compact Sony ZV-1 in both photo and video. The camera also doesn't overheat when recording video continuously for long periods, and you can keep using it while it charges over USB.
The Sony ZV-E10 has four different continuous shooting speeds: 'Lo', 'Mid', 'Hi', and 'Hi+'. The 'Lo' speed setting has a max burst rate of about 4 fps, 'Mid' has a max of 6 fps, 'Hi' has a max of 8 fps, and 'Hi+' has a max of about 11 fps. With the electronic shutter enabled for silent shooting, the camera can shoot at a max speed of 8 fps, which is great for shooting skittish wildlife or taking photos in venues where you need to be discreet.
It has a decent-sized photo buffer, so you can capture a lot of JPEGs or a fair amount of RAW files before the camera's buffer fills up. Unfortunately, it takes a very long time for the buffer to empty once full, which can interrupt your shooting at a critical moment.
Autofocus performance is great on the Sony ZV-E10, although it feels a bit less consistent than Sony cameras from the a6x00 lineup, especially when using the default AF settings. Thankfully, you can fine-tune the AF by adjusting its sensitivity and speed. Overall, the camera does a good job of recognizing different subjects and finding the intended target. Once it locks onto a subject, it's sticky and does a good job of keeping up, although it can lose focus with quicker subjects. It sometimes also fails to detect faces, even in adequate lighting conditions, seemingly more so than other models in the Sony Alpha lineup, like the Sony α6600.
The camera doesn't have in-body image stabilization, but you can use optically stabilized lenses to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds. When paired with the optically stabilized Sony E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, it does a good job of stabilizing the image, which will help if there's limited light and you need to lower your shutter speed.
The Sony ZV-E10 performs well when it comes to exposure latitude, meaning you can make exposure adjustments to your RAW files without introducing too much noise.
The Sony ZV-E10 can take very sharp photos when paired with a high-quality lens.
Colors aren't as accurate on the Sony ZV-E10 than they are on the Sony a6100 and other 6x00 series cameras. It's because Sony adjusted its color science on newer cameras. While they're technically less accurate, they adjusted the colors to try to produce more pleasing skin tones.
The Sony ZV-E10 has great RAW noise handling, meaning you can shoot at higher ISOs in low light settings without introducing too much light or color noise. It also gives you more leeway to make adjustments to your photos.
The Sony ZV-E10 supports Log recording with S-Log 2 and S-Log 3, as well as HLG 1-3. It also has ten different pre-set picture profiles and several creative styles for you to choose from to alter the look and feel of your videos. Some of these picture profiles will allow you to simply record footage and use it straight out of the camera with no color grading, while others are flatter and require various levels of color grading to be usable. You can also customize and fine-tune each profile to suit your preference.
The Sony ZV-E10 can record 4k video at 24p without a crop, which is great for more cinematic-looking footage. It also records 4k 30p, which is a little more natural-looking, although 30p recording imposes a noticeable 1.22x crop.
Internal recording is great in 4k. While it doesn't achieve the highest bit rates, it's more than enough for vlogging and YouTube content. Likewise, while 8-bit 4:2:0 color recording is limiting if you want to record with Log profiles and have more control over the final look of your videos, it's sufficient for beginners who are just getting started with Log recording and color grading.
While Sony states in its online user guide that recording time limits vary depending on the camera's 'Auto Power OFF Temp' setting, we didn't encounter a time limit on recording during our testing.
Autofocus performance is excellent for 4k video, particularly after you fine-tune the AF settings. Unlike the older Alphas, the Sony ZV-E10 includes settings like 'Autofocus Transition Speed' and 'Autofocus Subj. Shift Sensitivity' with a wider range of options to help you fine-tune the AF performance.
By default, the transition speed is set to the fastest option ('7' or 'Fast'), and subject shift sensitivity is set to the lowest value ('1' or 'Locked On'), which seem to be tailored towards vlogging by keeping the AF quick and locked onto your face. However, we found that the camera performs a little worse than comparable Sonys like the Sony a6100 or the Sony a6400 when using these default settings. With these settings set in the middle to more closely match the default 'Autofocus Tracking Sensitivity' and 'Autofocus Drive Speed' settings of the Sony Alpha 6x00 lineup, the ZV-E10's AF performance aligns more closely with those cameras.
Additionally, this camera has some specialized features to help certain kinds of vloggers, including 'Product Showcase' and 'Background Defocus', both of which were introduced on the Sony ZV-1. 'Product Showcase' automatically shifts focus to an object held up in the frame without prioritizing your face, while 'Background Defocus' toggles between a blurred or clear background with the press of a button, so you can quickly get a shallow or wide depth of field.
The Sony ZV-E10 doesn't have IBIS, but you can use optically stabilized lenses to smooth out your footage a bit. It also has an e-stabilization setting that you can enable by setting 'SteadyShot' to 'Active'. With the kit lens, it does a good overall job of reducing camera shake in 4k video. However, it doesn't get rid of jitter completely, and the e-stabilization introduces a wobbling effect, so you'll need to use an external stabilizer if you want a smooth image.
4k video quality is good in more controlled lighting conditions, and it does an okay job in low light. Overall, video looks fairly crisp and detailed. In low light, when tested using our standardized methodology, 4k video footage shows a lot of visible noise, but the camera renders details well. However, low light video looks a lot cleaner if you set the aperture to its widest setting, which is f/4 when using the kit lens. You can see this for yourself here.
Unfortunately, the Sony ZV-E10 has very bad rolling shutter in 4k, similar to the Sony a6100. The slanting of vertical objects in the frame is very noticeable, even with relatively slow camera movements.
The Sony ZV-E10 has a ton of frame rate options in 1080p. It can record FHD video at up to 120 fps, though recording in 1080p / 120 fps incurs a slight crop. Still, this is great if you want to incorporate slow-motion or super slow-motion footage into your videos, whether for cinematic emphasis or to slow down high-speed action.
Internal recording capability is great in 1080p. As with 4k, bit rates are somewhat limited, but on the upside, smaller bit rate capture puts less strain on your PC when editing and allows for quicker upload speeds. There's no recording time limit in 1080p, either, so you can record for as long as you need to without stopping.
Autofocus is excellent in 1080p. The camera does an amazing job of keeping moving subjects in focus. You can fine-tune the AF sensitivity and transition speed, making it easier to adjust to suit your needs. However, while the camera can detect and keep up with moving subjects very well, it isn't as reliable as some other Sony cameras, like the Sony a6100 or even the Sony ZV-1.
Though the Sony ZV-E10 doesn't have IBIS, you can use optically stabilized lenses like the kit lens to get a smoother image. You can set 'SteadyShot' to 'Standard', which just uses the lens stabilization, or 'Active', which also applies e-stabilization, although it adds an additional 1.28x crop. SteadyShot doesn't remove jitter entirely, but does reduce overt camera shake. However, it also introduces some noticeable vibration that can be distracting.
Video quality is decent overall in 1080p. Video looks good in controlled lighting conditions. However, it gets quite noisy when shooting in low light using an f/8 aperture and Auto ISO. To get cleaner footage, you can use the widest aperture, which is f/4 when using the kit lens. You can see an example of that here.
There's a lot less rolling shutter effect when shooting in 1080p than in 4k. However, some slanting in vertical lines and objects is still apparent with faster camera movements.
The Sony ZV-E10 has a single SD card slot rated for UHS-I cards, which means it can't take advantage of faster UHS-II cards. That said, it's fine for its intended audience: those who do casual video or photo work and don't necessarily need a second card on the go as a backup.
The Sony ZV-E10 has a full set of inputs and outputs for video and vlogging. There's a microphone input, headphone jack, and Micro HDMI port. The mic input is also well-placed near the top of the camera, so you can easily mount a mic on the hot shoe on top without cables getting in the way.
The Sony ZV-E10 comes in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. You can buy it in a bundle with the Sony E 16-50mm 3.5-5.6/PZ OSS kit lens or without a lens. You can see our unit's label here.
Let us know if you come across another variant, and we'll update the review.
The Sony ZV-E10 is an excellent vlogging camera for those who prefer to have interchangeable lenses. That, and its significantly better battery life, give it a leg up on the similar Sony ZV-1, which has a compact, fixed-lens design. With its articulating screen and low-profile handgrip, as well as vlogging-specific features like 'Background Defocus' and 'Produce Showcase', this is a beginner vlogger's dream. However, its lack of IBIS and distracting rolling shutter could also be dealbreakers.
For more options, see our recommendations for the best vlogging cameras, the best 4k video cameras, and the best cameras for beginners.
The Sony α6400 and the Sony ZV-E10 are both great mirrorless cameras for beginners. The a6400 is a little better suited for photography since it has a viewfinder, and it's a little more comfortable to shoot with and better-built, with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction. The ZV-E10, on the other hand, is aimed specifically at vloggers and has a few advantages over the a6400 in that area, specifically a better built-in mic, an e-stabilization feature, and a fully articulated screen.
The Sony ZV-E10 is essentially an interchangeable-lens version of the Sony ZV-1. If portability is your biggest priority and you like the convenience of a built-in lens, the ZV-1 is a great choice for vlogging. If you're looking for a little more versatility and are willing to spend extra money on lenses, the ZV-E10 will get you better image and video quality thanks to its larger sensor and longer battery life to boot.
The Sony α6600 is better overall than the Sony ZV-E10. It has built-in image stabilization, a sturdier, weather-sealed body with a viewfinder, and significantly better battery life. However, it isn't as portable and lacks some of the vlogging-specific features found on the ZV-E10, like 'Background Defocus' and 'Product Showcase'.
The Fujifilm X-S10 and the Sony ZV-E10 are both aimed at vloggers, but the Fujifilm is slightly more well-rounded. Get the Fujifilm if you need in-body image stabilization and like to have the option to shoot through a viewfinder. However, if battery life and portability are priorities, the Sony is still a great option.