Terry Warfield made this video to explain why he sold the Sony ZV-E1 for the new Panasonic Lumix S1 Mark II.
Why he loved the ZV-1
- Ultra-compact full-frame video camera (same 12 MP sensor as FX3/FX6/A7S III)
- Excellent low-light performance (dual base ISO), fast read-out (minimal rolling shutter)
- Uncropped 4K 60 fps and 4K 120 fps (10 % crop), built-in ND filter, stellar autofocus, in-body stabilization
- Great “vlog” features (flip-out mic, picture profiles) and 12 MP stills for social media
ZV-1 drawbacks
- Overheats in long-form or warm-weather shooting (small body, no active cooling)
- Tiny micro-HDMI port limits external-monitor hookups; no built-in waveforms/vector scopes/anamorphic support
- Rear LCD is low-quality
- Only 12 MP photos—limits cropping or high-res still work
Why the Lumix S1 Mark II
- Full-frame hybrid powerhouse: 24 MP (doubles resolution), up to 6K 60 fps “opengate,” 4K 120 fps with minimal crop
- Partially-stacked sensor yields nearly the same fast read-out (rolling shutter) as the ZV-1
- Superb low-light/dynamic-range at ISO 6 400 and above—competes with the ZV-1’s dual-base ISO
- Full-size HDMI, built-in cooling fan, USB streaming, real-time LUTs (built-in scopes, markers, anamorphic modes)
- Solid stills (70 fps burst) plus video assist tools—no need for external monitor 99 % of the time
Trade-off
- S1 II is ~$3 200 vs. ZV-1 at ~$2 200—different price brackets
- S1 II body is larger and heavier, but still reasonably compact for a full-frame cine-hybrid
- Sony’s lens ecosystem remains stronger (photo and cinema glass), but Panasonic covers almost every need in-camera
Bottom line: Ty’s ZV-1 remains a stellar compact video camera, but the Panasonic S1 Mark II better addresses his needs for extended recording, advanced monitoring, higher-res stills, and pro-level codecs—making it his new go-to rig.
Preorders:
Lumix S1II at Bhphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, WexUK.
Lumix S1IIE at Bhphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, WexUK.
24-60mm f/2.8 at Bhphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, WexUK.