A pocket camera with a 1-inch sensor and a genuinely wide 18-50mm zoom — the one fixed-lens compact that frames a selfie at arm's length without a fight.
Sony ZV-1 II
Sony
A lovely run-and-gun compact for daylight and travel, held back by weak digital-only stabilization and a battery that barely lasts a shoot.
The ZV-1 II fixes the original's biggest gripe by starting its Zeiss zoom at a true 18mm equivalent — wide enough to film yourself at arm's length without an accessory. It keeps Sony's reliable Eye AF, a flip-out screen, and a 3-capsule directional mic with a mic input. What it doesn't have is any optical or in-body stabilization, only a cropping digital steady mode, and the small NP-BX1 battery runs down fast.
$899
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Last reviewed Jun 23, 2026
What we like
- ✓Wide 18mm end frames arm's-length selfies without an accessory
- ✓1-inch sensor and f/1.8 lens deliver real background blur
- ✓Reliable Sony Eye AF plus Product Showcase
- ✓Built-in ND filter and vari-angle screen
- ✓Mic input and hot shoe for upgraded audio
Trade-offs
- −No optical or in-body stabilization — only a cropping digital mode
- −Short NP-BX1 battery life, roughly 45 minutes of video
- −4K tops out at 30p and 8-bit
- −No headphone jack to monitor audio
Best for
creators who want 1-inch image quality and a wide selfie-friendly zoom in a camera that truly pockets
Avoid if
you film a lot of walking footage or need long continuous battery life from one charge
Score breakdown
- handling8.0/10
- autofocus8.0/10
- audio7.5/10
- video quality7.0/10
- value6.0/10
- stabilization4.5/10
- battery thermals4.0/10
Specs
- Lens
- Zeiss 18-50mm equiv f/1.8-4 + built-in ND
- Audio
- 3-capsule directional mic + 3.5mm mic in (no headphone)
- Screen
- Vari-angle touchscreen
- Sensor
- 1-inch 20.1MP stacked Exmor RS
- Weight
- 292 g
- Battery
- NP-BX1, ~45 min video
- Released
- 2023
- Autofocus
- Hybrid phase + contrast, real-time Eye AF
- Max video
- 4K30 8-bit (no 4K60)
- Stabilization
- Digital Active only (no optical/IBIS)
How we know
High confidenceLast checkedReviewers welcomed the wider lens as the fix the original ZV-1 needed. DPReview notes the 18mm wide end and fast aperture make it one of the easiest compacts for solo framing, while flagging the absence of any optical stabilization as a real limitation for walking shots. TechRadar echoes that the digital stabilization crops in and can't approach a gimbal, and that battery life is short. TrustedReviews positions it as a premium point-and-shoot for vloggers who value pocketability and a large sensor over stabilization, with the missing headphone jack and 30p 4K ceiling as the notable omissions.
Other expert reviews
Video reviews
YouTube — The Best Camera For Vlogging - Sony ZV-1 II Review
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