Sony ZV-E10 Accessories: What to Buy First, in Order

The first Sony ZV-E10 accessories to buy are a spare NP-FW50 battery, a fast SDXC card and an external microphone, because battery life and the built-in mic are where reviewers found the camera falls short. After those, add a cage, a variable ND filter, a strap and a better lens, in roughly that order, and leave bigger rig gear until you know what you actually shoot.

If you haven't set the camera up yet, start with the first-time setup guide, then come back to this list.

The buying order at a glance

Order	Accessory	Why it comes here
1	Spare NP-FW50 and a charger	Sony claims 80 minutes of continuous recording per battery
2	SDXC card, U3/V30	SDHC cards split long XAVC S movies into 4 GB files
3	External microphone	The built-in mic only sounds good for speech at arm's length
4	Cage with handle	The grip is minimal on a very small body
5	Variable ND filter	There is no built-in ND filter
6	Strap	The body weighs 343 g with battery and card
7	First lens upgrade	The kit lens has weak edge sharpness

1. A spare NP-FW50 battery and a way to charge it

The ZV-E10 runs on the NP-FW50, a 1020mAh battery, and Sony claims it's good for 80 minutes of continuous recording or 440 stills. In TechRadar's testing, 4K recording fell slightly short of Sony's claim. PetaPixel points out that this is the smaller, older style of Sony battery, and that a larger one couldn't fit without a redesign of the body.

Screen settings make it worse outdoors. PetaPixel found the default screen brightness too dim to monitor in sunlight, and turning on the "Sunny Weather" display setting led to faster battery drain.

So your first purchase is a second genuine NP-FW50. Swapping batteries takes seconds, and it means a dead pack never ends a shoot.

Next, decide how you'll charge. The camera powers up through its USB-C port, and TechRadar packed a power bank when shooting out and about instead of buying more batteries. A dual charger, like the SmallRig model below, lets you top up both packs at once while you keep using the camera or download footage.

2. A U3 SD card for 4K

The ZV-E10 has a single SD card slot, behind a spring-loaded door on the bottom that also covers the battery. One slot means one card holds everything, so buy a card you trust.

Pick an SDXC card, not SDHC. Sony's Help Guide notes that when an SDHC card records XAVC S movies over long periods, the footage is divided into 4 GB files. You can stitch those back together in an editor, but it's an extra step you don't need.

The camera records 4K at up to 30fps, oversampled from 6K, and Full HD at up to 100fps, climbing to 120p in S&Q mode. Buy a card marked U3 or V30 so it keeps up with the higher-quality 4K settings. Buy a full-size SD card too: Sony says microSD cards need an adaptor in this camera, and an adaptor is one more contact that can fail.

For which speed rating each video mode needs, see this SD card guide by video mode.

3. A microphone

The ZV-E10's built-in mic is better than most. PetaPixel found the directional, three-capsule mic actually sounds good for speaking when the camera is no more than an arm's length away, while sounds that aren't voices or are farther off aren't great. Camera Jabber still heard a slightly tinny quality, and TechRadar advises wiring in external audio, particularly for interviews.

The camera gives you three ways to improve sound:

• A 3.5mm microphone input, under its own flap on the side.
• A Multi Interface Shoe on top, which works as a digital audio interface.
• A headphone jack, so you can hear what you're recording.

The fully articulating screen also helps here: Digital Camera World notes it won't foul on microphones when flipped to face forward. And check the box for the clip-on wind muffler that is supposed to come with the camera. Digital Camera World's sample arrived without one.

One limit to know: Camera Jabber notes audio is 16-bit, like most mirrorless cameras, but a better mic still sounds noticeably better.

Wireless: DJI Mic Mini

If you talk to the camera from more than arm's length, walk while you film, or interview someone, a wireless lavalier system is the best first mic. DJI's spec page lists runtimes of approximately 11.5 and 10.5 hours, measured with the 1 TX + 1 RX kit, noise cancellation off, and the receiver connected to a camera with the 3.5mm TRS cable. DJI quotes a range of 400 m in an open, unobstructed, interference-free environment, for reference only. It also has a low cut setting that changes the response from 20 Hz to 100 Hz at the bottom end.

On-camera shotgun: RØDE VideoMic GO II

A small shotgun on top of the camera suits handheld vlogging and filming whatever is in front of the lens, with nothing to clip on anyone. The RØDE VideoMic GO II is the shotgun option here. Check Rode's spec page for its connection and power details before you buy, so you know exactly which cable you'll be using with the camera.

Shoe mic: Sony ECM-B10

Sony's Help Guide shows a DIGITAL/ANALOG switch, plus an AUTO/MAN switch and an ATT switch with a 10dB setting. It's the tidiest setup, but like any on-camera mic it works best when you're close to it.

For a deeper comparison, read the ZV-E10 microphone guide.

4. The SmallRig cage

PetaPixel describes the ZV-E10 as about the smallest camera that could hold an APS-C sensor, an E-mount and an adequate grip, with a minimal grip. Digital Camera World felt the grip made the camera secure in the hand, so how much you need help depends on your hands and how long you hold it.

A cage earns its place once you add a mic. The silicone top handle also makes low-angle and walking shots easier to hold steady.

Before you buy any cage, make sure it leaves the bottom battery and card door and the side mic flap easy to open. TechRadar calls that mic flap flimsy, so a cage that protects the side of the body is a bonus.

5. A 55mm variable ND filter

Camera Jabber flags the lack of a built-in ND filter as an omission, since the ZV-1 had one. An ND filter is what lets you shoot video in daylight with a wide aperture.

Here's why it matters. The camera's Background Defocus button opens the aperture all the way for maximum subject isolation. The lowest movie ISO is 100. In bright sun, the only thing left to control exposure is shutter speed, and movie shutter goes all the way to 1/4000 second. Footage at very fast shutter speeds looks choppy. For natural motion, aim for around 1/50 at 25p or 1/60 at 30p, and use the ND to cut the extra light.

A variable ND lets you dial the strength with a twist, which is simpler than carrying several fixed filters. Before you buy, read the filter thread size printed on the front of your lens and match it.

New to filters? ND Filters Explained covers stops and strengths.

6. A strap

PetaPixel weighed the ZV-E10 at 343 grams with battery and card, and about half a kilogram with the 16-50mm kit lens. That's light enough that you don't need a heavy padded strap. A slim, quick-adjust strap lets you wear it across the body when walking and shorten it fast when you start filming. Pick one with quick-release connectors so it comes off cleanly when you mount the camera on a tripod.

7. The first lens upgrade

Lenses are where the ZV-E10 pulls ahead of a phone. As Chris Niccolls put it in Sony's review roundup, "if you're going to get this camera, you want to get other lenses". The camera takes both Sony APS-C E-mount lenses and full-frame FE lenses, and Camera Jabber points to plenty of quality, affordable third-party options from Tamron and Sigma.

The kit lens has strengths: the 16-50mm power zoom works with the zoom lever around the shutter button. But Digital Camera World found its edge sharpness not great, even by kit lens standards.

Stabilization should shape your choice. The ZV-E10 has no in-body stabilization, so it relies on lens stabilization or digital stabilization, and Digital Camera World found the Active mode adds a heavy crop without appearing to help much.

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Pick the Sigma if you want one lens that does most things: talking-head video, product shots, travel and photos. You lose the power zoom lever control, so plan to zoom by hand.

Sony E 11mm F1.8

Pick the 11mm if you mostly film yourself at arm's length. Sony itself recommends a wide-angle, the 10-18mm F4, for self-vlogging at arm's length so you get some of the background in. Starting wide also leaves room to crop if you use the digital stabilization, since the Active mode crops heavily.

For more options, see Best Sony Lenses for Beginners.

What to skip early

Expensive full-frame G Master lenses

Camera Jabber paired the ZV-E10 with the G Master 35mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.2 and called the results superb. They will fit, but they won't fix a flat battery or tinny audio. Buy the basics first, then a sensible APS-C lens, and revisit premium glass when you know what focal lengths you use.

Bigger batteries and battery hacks

No larger battery fits in the grip, according to PetaPixel. A second NP-FW50 plus a USB-C power bank for long sessions covers the problem without odd adapters.

Thinking extra power fixes overheating

PetaPixel got a temperature warning after barely 10 minutes of on-off 4K recording at 74 degrees Fahrenheit, mostly in shade, and the camera shut down soon after. The menu offers a "High" auto power-off temperature setting, but PetaPixel argues it isn't a long-term answer and that running hot regularly can cause component failure. Shoot shorter clips, keep the camera out of direct sun, and don't treat spare batteries as a heat fix.

A gimbal on day one

TechRadar lists significant rolling shutter when panning as one of the camera's main limits, and handheld footage relies on lens or digital stabilization. A gimbal can help, but it's heavy, slow to balance and easy to outgrow. Learn smooth handheld technique and try a stabilized lens first, then decide whether you need one.

microSD cards with adaptors

They work only with an adaptor. A full-size SD card is simpler and has one fewer thing to go wrong.

For more on spending in the right order, read Accessories Beginners Buy Too Early.