Sony ZV-E10 is an affordable vlogging and streaming camera for YouTubers

(Image credit: Sony)

The Sony ZV-E10 vlogging camera has finally arrived after its delayed launch a few weeks ago - and for YouTubers in need of an affordable video tool, it's probably been worth the wait.

(Want to skip to our in-depth thoughts? Head to our

full Sony ZV-E10 review

).

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The ZV-E10 sits between the

Sony ZV-1

(the best compact vlogging camera you can buy) and the most focused on photography

Sony A6100

. Like the ZV-1, it doesn't have a built-in viewfinder, instead offering a fully articulating screen to frame your shots. But otherwise, it's actually a video-centric variant of the A6100, as it's built around the same 24.2MP APS-C sensor.

The Sony A6100 was released in 2019, so you're not absolutely cut-off - state-of-the-art hardware - which explains the ZV-E10's relatively affordable body-only price of $700 / £680 / AU$1,249). But Sony has provided some handy software features including live streaming skills to help it compete with the

Panasonic GH5 Mark II

.

Those are the

best vlogging cameras

you can buy now

Or see our guide to

best youtube cameras

Read our detailed review

Sony ZV-E10

The ZV-E10 shoots 4K video (upsampled from 6K) at up to 30fps, although unfortunately it doesn't offer a 4K/60p mode for those who like to slow down their footage for cutscenes. Still, you get Sony's latest autofocus features, including Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF. These allow it to follow a person around the frame and automatically keep them in focus.

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Unlike the Sony A6100, you also get a range of ports to enhance the audio quality of your videos, including a mic input and headphone output for monitoring sound. While the built-in three-capsule mic, which we also saw on the Sony ZV-1, is certainly a fallback audio option, you'll probably want to plug an external microphone into that 3.5mm mic input or into the ZV. -The multi-interface shoe of the E10.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Sony ZV-E10, especially for those who like to do live broadcasts on YouTube or Twitch, is its live streaming powers. Because it uses the UVC/UAC (USB Video Class) protocol, you don't need a video capture card for streaming - just plug it in via USB and it will appear as a standard video source like a webcam . This means you can also use it as a high-quality camera for your Zoom or GoogleMeet video chats.

Verdict: old dog with new video tricks

(Image credit: Future)

In our

Sony ZV-E10 review

, we praised the vlogging camera's all-round talents, while pointing out the limitations of its price and reliance on older hardware.

The three main issues we found with the ZV-E10 are its lack of a touch-optimized menu system (meaning using the four-way wheel to change some settings), the lack of a 4K/60p mode, and the large panoramic rolling shutter. Rolling shutter is mainly caused by slow sensor reading, which can give your images a “jello” effect or distort straight lines when you move the camera quickly across a scene.

This is not a problem for those who mainly shoot in the studio or on a tripod. But anyone who wants to shoot fast action scenes with lots of panning would probably be better off looking for an alternative like the

Panasonic GH5 Mark II

or, at the highest end, the

Sony A7S III

.

Otherwise, the Sony ZV-E10 is likely to be a popular new mid-range choice for video shooters, and with good reason. It combines many of the features you're looking for in a vlogging camera: an articulating screen, good audio options, excellent autofocus, and handy software features like its "Product Showcase" mode for YouTubers - at a competitive price.

Perhaps the only other feature we would have liked to see is in-body image stabilization (IBIS), but that's unusual at this price. Anyone who needs a little more stability when shooting handheld photos or videos should check out the

Fujifilm X-S10

.

You can pick up the Sony ZV-E10 from late August for a body-only price of $700/£680/AU1249, or $800/£770/AU1449 for the 16-50mm lens kit.

Those are the

best sony cameras

that you can buy right now

Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson is the Camera Editor for TechRadar at Future. He writes and oversees reviews of the latest cameras on TechRadar and handles all photography tutorials. Mark was previously Digital Editor (Cameras) at Trusted Reviews, Acting Editor at Stuff.tv, as well as Features Editor and Reviews Editor at Stuff magazine.

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