Photo News: Sony's vlogging update and Nikon's test balloon

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Almost exactly three years ago, Sony introduced the ZV-E10, a compact system camera fully designed for producing web videos, and now its successor - the ZV-E10 II - has been released. The naming alone shows that the company is aware of the success of its predecessor, as the first E10 single-handedly established a new category of camera at the time, which is diligently copied by the entire industry.

It is not about the small universal camera to always have with you, but about specialists tailored precisely to the intended use. And it's less and less about taking photos and more about filming. Consequently, the E10 II also lacks a mechanical shutter, which makes flashing more difficult, makes the rolling shutter effects of the electronic shutter unavoidable and is less noticeable when filming. This is also a cost-saving measure, as is the absence of a viewfinder – even if the body is now more expensive at 1100 euros instead of 750 euros for the first model.

Web video camera with motorized zoom for 1200 euros

However, for the target group - yes, we can't avoid the term in this edition of the column – this is pretty irrelevant. They have grown up taking photos and videos with their smartphones and are used to creating images via the display. And today's top cell phones can easily cost 1000 euros, and these are also the devices with the best camera systems. The E10 II is particularly attractive with the kit lens for a total of 1200 euros because it is motorized.

This F3.5-5.6 / PZ 16-50 /OSS II covers the most necessary focal length range for the APS-C sensor and can also work with stable focus. "PZ" stands for "Powerzoom", a linear motor can adjust the focal length. For this purpose, the camera has a lever around the shutter release, similar to earlier compact or outdoor cameras. Autofocus tracking during slow motorized zooming is also possible - the "television look" of this combination is a novelty in this price range. The kit lens is also preferable to other E-mount lenses for the E10 II because it has image stabilization, the camera itself has no IBIS. On other Sony bodies, the OSS of the lens can work together with the IBIS. It costs 329 euros without the camera - so, as is usually the case, it is worth buying the kit.

When it comes to the functions of the camera itself, Sony has – of course – made significant improvements to the features for filming. The highlights: 4K at 60 fps, 4:2:2 sampling with 10-bit color depth, and up to 120 fps in Full HD. In combination with the 26-megapixel sensor, log color profiles can also be used, making meaningful color grading possible. However, raw video is not offered. Other useful features, however, include an analog microphone input and headphone output. And, also not offered everywhere: When filming on edge for TikTok, for example, the display on the fully tiltable screen also changes to the corresponding format.

New battery for two hours of filming

USB-C including streaming or charging via USB-C, Wi-Fi and all the other modern features a camera like this must offer, here are the full technical specifications. Sony has also replaced the battery with the larger NP-FZ100 model, which now allows for two hours of filming. There is no limit to the length of a single clip, but you still have to test how this affects the noise behavior with series devices. And the menus, often hated or loved by Sony, are now also on a par with the larger Alphas, which also makes the E10 II a step-up device. This all seems like the ideal camera for web videos, but there is a catch at concerts or sports stadiums, for example: cameras with interchangeable lenses, no matter what type or how small, are generally prohibited for visitors. Devices with a fixed lens, such as the ZV-1 II, therefore still have their place.

Nevertheless, the ZV-E10 II remains one of the most exciting cameras in the concept; Nikon, for example, has something to think about with the Z 30, which is cheaper but also – but not only – designed for filming and is now available in a vlogging kit for around 700 euros. However, the company currently has a different focus, and that is the cloud. Everything is free, 30 days of data is stored, firmware updates can now be downloaded automatically to the camera on request - but this still warrants a little skepticism.

New Nikon Imaging Cloud is a trial balloon

The new Nikon Imaging Cloud service looks like a trial balloon. And so far, it is only compatible with the brand new Z 6III; Nikon has not yet revealed which other models are supported. It's easy to guess everything above the Z 6 series, as they all have Wi-Fi on board. If the camera is connected to such a wireless network, such as a smartphone hotspot or home Wi-Fi, it can automatically transfer all photos, but not videos, to the Nikon cloud. A nice, free backup, right?

Actually, rather more because what spontaneously comes to mind as a workflow for professionals at events: Smartphone with connected power bank – mobile hotspots draw a lot of power - in the photo backpack, and the camera constantly makes backups to the cloud. Change the memory card in the evening, the pictures are now saved twice, and the next day it's the same game. The notebook can finally stay at home, and there's no more fiddling with card readers on smartphones or tablets. Some people would probably be happy to pay money for this.

Not a word about possible AI training

Of course, this assumes that Nikon offers the service securely and permanently. It is very strange that there is no mention of the widely discussed AI training with third-party images in the terms and conditions and FAQs for the Nikon Imaging Cloud. Perhaps this is intended to create trust, but it is clearly stated: All images will be deleted after 30 days. This brings us back to the workflow outlined above: when you return from an event, you can either transfer the images from the memory cards or from the cloud to your own device and don't have to worry about anything else. Sooner or later, Nikon will make you pay for longer storage periods, if that's what you want, via a subscription model. So far, according to the Canadian website, this is a "complimentary service", i.e. a free offer.

You also have to trust Nikon a great deal because the cloud account can be linked to accounts with Adobe or Google, for example, to store images in the clouds there too. This in turn is also interesting for professionals who want to make their images available to customers in a Google Drive folder, for example. Of course, there have been similar offers for a long time, but directly from the camera manufacturer, who also maintains the software for it, is tempting. Provided that Nikon doesn't make it as abstruse and lame as the "Wireless Mobile Utility" for smartphones, if anyone still remembers that. However, this is unlikely to be the case.

In addition to backup and firmware, the Nikon cloud also offers "recipes". These are not only the looks for finished photos that are now offered everywhere and can also be created by users, but also settings for the camera's shooting function. We haven't tried it out, but we could imagine something like "ISO 6,400 fixed, 1/200s exposure time, focus tracking on subject in the center of the image, aperture priority, the highest continuous shooting speed" for concert photos without flash. It would be very practical to be able to simply push this into the camera of a less experienced colleague in the same team.

Everything about AI images - not just the technology

You may already be reading this edition of our column while on vacation. And for many of you, this is also the time to take a moment to calm down and deal with a topic that is somehow important but has always been put off. Our article "AI image generators: an overview of the opportunities and risks" is less a technical and a more practical and ethical compendium of image-making with generators such as Midjourney, Dall-E and the like, and is also suitable for family discussions. Because no matter how you feel about it as a photographer: The artificial images just won't go away. That's why this perfect story is our recommendation for a long read over the weekend.

(nie)