Sony ZV-E10 vs ZV-E10 II: What Changed and Which to Buy

The Sony ZV-E10 II keeps the same tiny body as the original but adds a newer 26MP sensor, 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2, much better battery life and Sony's newer menus. Buy the II if you color grade, shoot vertical or record long sessions, and buy the original ZV-E10 if you want the cheapest way into Sony's lens system and mostly shoot 4K 30p in decent light.

A quick note on where this comes from. I shoot on a Sony FX3 and still own a Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III. I haven't shot either ZV-E10, so everything about them here is research from Sony's documentation and published reviews, credited as I go.

ZV-E10 vs ZV-E10 II: the specs side by side

Externally, the two cameras are so similar that Photography Blog said you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart side by side. The changes are inside.

Feature	Sony ZV-E10	Sony ZV-E10 II
Launched	July 2021	July 2024, three years later
Sensor	24.2MP APS-C	26MP back-illuminated APS-C, same as the A6700
Top 4K mode	4K 30p, 8-bit 4:2:0	4K 60p, 10-bit 4:2:2
Log and looks	S-Log2, S-Log3, HLG	S-Log in 10-bit, S-Cinetone via Cinematic Vlog mode, custom LUT import
In-body stabilization	None	None
Autofocus	Real-time Eye AF and Tracking, humans or dogs and cats in stills	759 points, 94% coverage, no AI processing unit
Menus	Older system, no touch menus	A7-series menu, vertical UI
Kit lens	E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS	E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II
Launch price, body	About $700	About $999
Launch price, kit	$799.99	$1,099.99

What changed on the ZV-E10 II

A newer sensor and processor

The original ZV-E10 uses a 24.2MP sensor from the same family Sony used across the A6xxx series. Digital Camera World called that sensor aging even when the camera was new, and linked it to slower readout and noisier images at higher ISOs.

The ZV-E10 II uses the 26MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor from the A6700, paired with Sony's Bionz XR processor. Photography Blog notes the same sensor is in the Sony FX30. TechRadar says you won't notice much more fine detail from the extra two megapixels. The real gains show up in video and battery life.

Video: 4K 60p, 10-bit and less crop

This is the biggest upgrade. The original records 4K at up to 30p in 8-bit 4:2:0. The II records 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2, with bitrates up to 200Mbps.

In plain terms, 10-bit footage gives you more room to change colors in the edit before skies and skin start to band. 4:2:2 keeps more color detail than the 4:2:0 the original records.

The II also makes grading optional. Digital Camera World says its Cinematic Vlog mode can apply Sony's S-Cinetone look automatically, you can load your own LUTs into the camera, or you can record S-Log in 10-bit. The original does have S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG, but it records them in 8-bit.

Crop is the other fix. Digital Camera World said the original struggled with hefty crop factors on 4K footage, while the II offers 4K with (mostly) no crop. If you film yourself at arm's length, less crop means a wider view from the same lens.

Reviewers of the original repeatedly flagged rolling shutter when panning. Sources here don't measure the II's rolling shutter, so I won't claim a number, though Digital Camera World ties the original's readout speed to its older sensor.

One more original-camera complaint: PetaPixel felt it had to rush shots to beat overheating.

Battery life

The original uses Sony's smaller, older NP-FW50 battery. Digital Camera World called its battery life measly and said the II's battery life is hugely improved. If you run long talking-head takes or livestreams, this alone may decide it.

Menus and vertical shooting

The II uses the newer menu design from Sony's A7-series cameras. Digital Camera World says the settings are easier to navigate, common settings sit on the main screen, and the menus are customizable. Photography Blog adds that it is still pretty complicated, as Sony menus tend to be.

The II is also the first Sony camera with a vertical interface that rotates when you turn the camera. I run weekly content for an athlete and a business, and much of that ends up as vertical clips. If you shoot for Reels, Shorts or TikTok, a screen that reads correctly in portrait saves real friction on every shoot.

Autofocus

TechRadar rates autofocus as superb on both cameras, with the II using a 759-point system covering 94% of the frame. Neither has the AI processing unit found in the A6700, so the II recognizes human faces and eyes plus animal eyes, and not the wider subject list of pricier bodies.

Digital Camera World had no trouble with face and eye detection on the II, but found animal recognition weak, especially on zoo animals. For the original, PetaPixel found tracking slow on a running dog in stills, while Digital Camera World found face and eye AF fast and tracking sticky in video. For vlogging and filming people, either camera is well served.

The new kit lens

The II kit comes with the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II. Sony says it is built for current cameras, with tracking AF that works during zooming at up to 120fps. That matters because Digital Camera World found the older 16-50mm weak at the edges, even by kit lens standards.

What stayed the same

• No in-body stabilization on either camera. You rely on a stabilized lens, which Photography Blog says adds a couple of stops for stills and smooths light movement in video.
• The zoom lever around the shutter button, which works only with Sony Power Zoom lenses.
• Access to the same E-mount lenses, APS-C and full frame.
• Product showcase focus, which jumps to an object held up to the lens and back to your face.
• A compact body. The original weighs 343 grams with battery and card, and Digital Camera World warns the II gets front-heavy with larger lenses.

The II adds one stabilization helper: its gyro sensor records camera-shake data that Sony's Catalyst Browse and Catalyst Prepare can use to smooth handheld footage after the fact.

The ZV-E10 II has not replaced the original on shelves. Photography Blog says the original stays in Sony's range for the foreseeable future.

Low light: how much better is the ZV-E10 II?

A little. TechRadar says the II's sensor will perform slightly better in low light because it is back-illuminated.

The original's weakness is clear in lab testing. Digital Camera World found its images noisier at higher ISOs than the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, obscuring fine detail. PetaPixel noted dynamic range drops further as you raise ISO. Digital Camera World also points out that if you don't actually shoot at high ISOs, the sensitivity gap makes little practical difference.

My advice: the lens matters more than the body here. Both kits ship with an f/3.5-5.6 zoom, which lets in little light at the long end. A brighter prime lets you keep ISO lower on either camera. Camera Jabber paired the original with the G Master 35mm f/1.4 and called the results superb.

For step-by-step settings, read Sony ZV-E10 Low Light Settings for Better Photo/Video.

The background defocus button on both cameras

Background defocus is a one-press shortcut for blurring the background without learning aperture numbers. On the original, PetaPixel describes it assigned to a button on top of the camera. Pressing it enters the mode, then each press toggles between "defocus," which opens the aperture fully for maximum subject separation, and "clear," which stops down for a sharper background.

The ZV-E10 II has the same background defocus mode, which uses the widest aperture the lens allows. The catch is the lens: with the kit zoom, Digital Camera World didn't see a massive difference because of its modest maximum aperture.

So the button is a good habit-builder, not magic. If you want a properly soft background, pair it with a faster lens and get closer to your subject. The full method is in How to Blur Background on Sony ZV-E10 (Bokeh & DoF).

Are they any good for photography?

Both take good photos, but neither is built around stills. The original has no viewfinder, and Digital Camera World found its controls less suited to stills than other Sony APS-C bodies. Instead of a mode dial, a button cycles between stills, video and S&Q, and you pick aperture priority or manual from the menu. It still offers an 11fps burst, and Sony's help guide lists RAW capture in Sony ARW 2.3 format.

For the II, Digital Camera World says it suits videographers who snap occasional pictures, but recommends looking harder at the a6700 if photos matter more to you. Camera Jabber said much the same about the original and the 6000 series.

If you do buy one, start with Best Sony ZV-E10 Photo Settings for Beginners.

Price and which one to buy

At launch, TechRadar listed the original with kit lens at $799.99 and the II kit at $1,099.99. It put the II at around 30% more and called the original the cheapest Sony E-mount camera you could buy in 2024. Prices move, so check current listings before you decide.

Buy the original ZV-E10 if

• Your budget is tight and you'd rather put the savings toward a better lens.
• You film short clips, mostly in good light, and post them without heavy color grading.
• You're stepping up from a phone and want to learn on an interchangeable-lens camera.

Digital Camera World, after recent commercial shoots with the original, said it still does a great job. Just budget for spare batteries.

Buy the ZV-E10 II if

• You want 10-bit footage to color grade, or S-Cinetone straight out of camera.
• You shoot vertical video for social platforms regularly.
• You record long takes or livestreams, where battery life and streaming matter.
• You want 4K 60p for smoother motion or slowing clips down.

For streamers, Digital Camera World says the II offers better resolution streaming with more ways to connect, after calling the original's streaming performance poor. Digital Camera World also notes that Canon's EOS R50 V is a strong rival to both cameras, so it's worth comparing if you aren't committed to Sony lenses.

If you're still choosing between Sony bodies, Best Sony Cameras for Beginners: ZV-E10 to a7 IV Compared covers the wider lineup. Once your camera arrives, the Sony ZV-E10 First-Time Setup Guide and Best Sony ZV-E10 Video Settings for Beginners will get you shooting quickly.