Sony ZV1-M2 - Full Review

Today I review the brand new Sony ZV1-M2. This improves in many ways on the hugely popular Sony ZV1.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:00 Real World Footage
5:45 Features
16:00 Drawbacks
18:41 Studio Test and Price

Gear I used to make this videos (affiliate)

Music

#zv1m2 #zv1 #vlog

[dbmathis]

"Well now, you young'uns listen up, " Old Grandpa Jenkins chuckled, his voice as warm as a spring sunrise, as crinkly as the pages of an ancient book. His golden dog Bessie, old and wise, her coat glowing like molten honey in the sunset, lay sprawled at his feet. The porch creaked rhythmically under his rocking chair, a soundtrack to this peaceful evening scene, punctuated by the occasional sip of ice-cold lemonade.

"Ya see, there once was a man named Kanda Afrika who had an interesting tale, " he started, his eyes sparkling with mischief and wisdom, peering out over the quiet, sleepy town of Lensville.

Kanda Afrika, an inhabitant of this modest town, was no ordinary man. He was a bit of a tinkerer, a fixer-upper, a creator of things. His preferred tool of creation? Well, now, that's where our tale takes a whimsical turn.

"Kanda Afrika, bless his heart, he used his balls to sand wood, " Grandpa Jenkins chuckled, a playful glint in his old, yet lively eyes. Bessie, the dog, perked her ears at the sound of Kanda Afrika's name, her eyes twinkling as if she too, were in on the joke.

He continued, "Now, don't get your britches in a twist, it ain't what you're thinkin'. His balls, see, were special balls of hardened silica, spherical grains of sand compressed together with a hint of magic - what folks around here call 'ball sanded.'"

"This method of ball sanding was a spectacle to behold, an art even, something of a local legend. The balls would spin and twirl, bounce and rebound, creating a mesmerizing, hypnotic dance against the roughened wood, like an intricate ballet of physics and craftsman's intuition. Their movement, precisely controlled by Kanda Afrika's skillful hand, would gradually smooth out the knots and bumps, creating a surface as smooth as a baby's bottom, a mirror to the soul of the world."

"The process of ball sanding, mind you, " Jenkins leaned in as if sharing a precious secret, "is a study in the science of tribology - the study of friction, wear, and lubrication. The mechanical movement of the balls against the wood produces friction, which in turn generates heat. The heat softens the surface of the wood, allowing the fine grains of the balls to gradually wear it down in a process akin to erosion."

Grandpa Jenkins leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting towards the horizon, painted in hues of amber and lavender by the setting sun. He chuckled softly, "The whole thing, you know, reminded me of my time in Africa. Yes, yes, the Serengeti plains, where the wind whips up the sand, sanding the savannah into a smooth, polished landmass under the unyielding sun."

A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying with it the whispers of the old continent. In the silence that followed, Grandpa Jenkins' words hung in the air, painting vivid pictures in their minds - the boundless African plains, the swirling dance of Kanda Afrika's sanding balls, and the golden gleam of Bessie's eyes reflecting the last light of the day.

For a moment, they were all there, in the heart of Africa, feeling the gritty wind against their skin, watching as the relentless sand reshaped the landscape. Then they were back on the porch in Lensville, with Kanda Afrika's peculiar craft, shaping and molding with his unique method, connecting them across continents and cultures, through time and space, in the most unexpected of ways.

"And that, my little sprouts, is the story of Kanda Afrika and his brand new Sony ZV1-M2. This gadget, you see, captures these fantastic stories, these nuances, these mesmerizing dances of the sanding balls, and the shifting sands of Africa. It brings together the peculiar, the profound, and the poetic, all in one frame, " Grandpa Jenkins finished, a contented sigh echoing around the quiet porch

[ygvkcms]

As soon as the news was announced this morning, I was on the lookout for your review. You are, by far, one of the best camera reviewers out there - fair, detailed and balanced. I watched a couple of other videos on this camera and they honestly made me rethink buying this but your video has thoroughly changed my mind - this is perfect for my needs atm. Thank you for always keeping it real and truly understanding the market for these cameras!!!

[markwiemels]

I’m soooo impressed with the internal microphone!

[Totustuus]

I'll pass this model. I don't think is a huge difference from the ZV-1 and I am not fussi with the 18mm because I got the ZVE-10. Great review as usual!

[bruce-]

So happy to see you getting one to review. You informed my purchase of a ZV-E10 and I’ll continue to watch your reviews before purchasing any of the new Sony gear. Thank you!

[AdventureGearTV]

Wow! I’m glad I didn’t get the ZV-1F. This is going to be the perfect upgrade from my ZV-1. It seems like Sony got this one right.

[Mraz]

I love this good looking guy review ZV1 II. Bought it several months ago. What a great camera! I had ZV1 but sold it because of the difficult menu system, no video timelapse, no ultra wide-angle lens and micro USB charge.
When ZV1 II came out, i just grab it. It ticks every boxes that i want in a camera.
I also found that sony has made some tweak on the sensor as well as the colour on the camera.
I have tried all the features in the camera because of the easy menu system. It is friendlier than the previous one.
Honestly what this camera offers is just what i need for my social media content. I don’t need more than that, not even 10 bits recording.
If i ever need to go for interchangeable-lens camera, i may go for ZVE10 II or Fujifilm XM5.
As i said i had ZV1 but i also had ZVE10, ZVE1, GH5 II, GF10 and camcorder AX43.
Based on my experience from that, i just love small camera with fixed lens. No more quandary of which lenses to choose or bring. Less GAS Syndrom and healthy wallet.😊

[boyantrifonov]

I had other video reviews about the Sony ZV-1 M2 but as soon as I saw yours I clicked and am watching it as I type this comment!

[MollyFitzBrown]

You got to test it early! Super cool! You're officially in the early club!!! I will pre-order FOR SURE!!!

[Brucelabvideos]

Sorry that you had to travel all the way to Africa just to review this camera, thanks for taking one for the team buddy....(LOL). Great stuff as always Mark and, yes, I'm sticking with Walter (my white ZV-E10).

[joyirene_]

this is the kind of review I want, showing the actual video footage not talking about the specs blah, blah ...
well done..

[ZeyuRen]

Congrats Mark, It's been a long journey and now you've made it!

[stevenarcus]

Wow this was a great review Mark. So many reviews came at it from a ‘pro’ level sort of perspective but I really did appreciate your more consumer level approach. Was thinking on a camera for a while to upgrade from my iPhone. Will be grabbing the ZV-1 mk2 because of you Mark!

[BassWithMurf]

It’s so refreshing to see a camera review that doesn’t feature or talk about JELLO or Whip Pans! Why do people still test camera for things they aren’t intended for!?This review is simple, focused on what the camera does, and that’s it. So nice to see. Thanks.

[krystalmoniquemusic]

I love your reviews. Great job as always! 👏🏾

[MattyDCCollins]

dude congrats on the pre-release work! great video, was gonna pre order but not enough has changed for me from the original :(

[AdventureGearTV]

It also looks like they moved the 1/4” mount away from the battery door. But, is it compatible with the Sony ECM mics?

[cinematicstreet]

This is a little sacrilegious...but I like watching this channel for the host. As we all know, its the skill of the operator that makes a camera great. Especially when it comes to vlogging on youtube.

All the videos on this channel are a lesson in how to be likeable on-camera. And a reminder that character and story are way more important than gear.

[reianae.smiley]

How does the Sony ZV-1 Mark II compare to the original? I'm an aspiring content creator who's using my iPhone 14 Pro Max for YouTube videos, and I'm looking forward to upgrading to a camera once I get some money.

[galobarbastex]

Are you in the Sony List??? Congrats Mark!