My name is Peter Lindgren and I am a self-taught filmmaker, Youtuber, influencer and content creator. I am based in Gothenburg, Sweden where I have my studio but my audience is all over the world.

My Youtube channel is my main communication platform and I do everything from camera reviews, to “How to…” videos, to cinematic films and much much more – everything within the video and photography segment.

I have tested a lot of different camera equipment and I have learned what I like and what I don’t like, and I know what I want from a camera.

A Compact Full-Frame Camera

I have been trying out the new ZV-E1 for a bit and my initial impression of the camera is that it’s going to revolutionise how I make my videos.

Considering this is a full-frame camera, the size is incredible. By removing the viewfinder – which is unnecessary for video recording – Sony have managed to make it super small, yet still packed with useful features. Having a camera so small makes it the perfect companion for travelling and I really appreciate the large battery too, which gives me ample shooting time between recharges.

The touch screen makes it so much easier to use instead of having to go into the menu to change settings. I don’t have to spend time fiddling around with the camera to make adjustments – it is quickly done and I am ready to shoot.

If a compact setup is your priority, the built-in microphone is great, and I love the fact that you can change the pickup pattern direction depending on the filming environment – in the studio vlogging, or out and about vlogging.

The tally light was also super useful. I’ve lost count of the number of times I think I’ve been filming but haven’t actually hit the record button! Having the visual cue will certainly save me making this mistake again.

Choice of lenses

My go-to lens for studio filming is the amazing 16-35mm f/2.8 GM which pretty much takes care of all my different shooting situations. However, for out and about vlogging, I would opt for the lighter PZ 16-35mm f/4 G. It’s a great lens, very sharp and balances beautifully with the ZV-E1 in terms of size and weight. 

Content Creation for all Levels

For content creators of all skill levels, I think the ZV-E1 will be a perfect tool. It has so many features designed for ease of use, and it makes shooting great quality videos effortless in a different way than it otherwise would have been.

The camera itself offers a lot of support which will assist you in getting the shot. For example, when filming and walking you still want a smooth shot so you would generally need a gimbal to achieve this, making the kit a lot less compact. But with the ZV-E1’s framing stabiliser and auto framing function, jerky movements are removed automatically.

Final Thoughts

I have been using the ZV-1 for almost 3 years and that’s the camera I used to create my daily vlogs back when I did those. I also use the Alpha 7S III quite a lot, but the 7S III requires more camera skills to achieve the best results. What I love about the ZV-E1 is that it’s giving me the quality of the 7S III, with the full-frame sensor, but at the same time is as easy to use as the ZV-1. For me it feels like the perfect combination of accessibility and features.

Having the ZV line-up as a choice for content creators makes it easier for more people to get into filmmaking – and I love that! Giving the opportunity to someone that has absolutely no idea how to use a camera to jump straight into it and get those perfect looking shots quickly will encourage them to continue using it and creating content.