bYx Optics

Video & Full-frame Camera

I have relied on GoPro Hero 11, DJI Pocket 2 and Sony ZV-1 to record video clips (as of June 2023). GoPro was quick and handy. DJI Pocket 2 stabilises footage with the built-in gimbal. Sony ZV-1 with a larger sensor captures sharper clips. If I were to rank them, the ranking would be in reverse order.

GoPro took the most clips so far as I set the top button as a single button to start/end recording. DJI Pocket 2 is very useful in darker areas, for example inside an airport terminal where GoPro struggles with Hypersmooth stabilisation. These two work nicely for impromptu videos. Also great while walking. But they both suffer from the overexposed situation due to small sensors. The things that I dislike the most about GoPro are the lens distortion (fisheye effect). While for DJI Pocket 2 is the gimbal situation, it just couldn’t read your mind which direction to move!

When it is on a tripod, then Sony ZV-1 is the one I would go for. Or when I do not need to move around a lot (like being outdoors, constantly moving). Recording conversations, cooking, lunch and snow, this camera is just the one to go to.

I have been using Sony α7R III to capture videos but because it is quite heavy and with my shaky hand, the videos are normally a bit jerky. Things changed in April 2023, when I used this camera in addition to Sony FE 20mm F1.8, upping the ISO to 2000 `and managed to capture an outdoor Easter procession.

Afterwards, I’ve been recording talking heads, comparing the Sony ZV-1 and Sony α7R III. I started to really love my full-frame camera now. The object separation is much better and it handles low-light way better.

I may not have solved the jerkiness, but I started to live with it. Instead of recording in a rush, I take my time. Instead of recording all in one go, I only record what I need. Sony α7R III may not be the best but it works! I just need to develop myself and gain more skills.

Eriksvej, Roskilde
6 June 2023

GoPro Hero Black Comparison

Model	7	8	9	10
Photo (JPEG)	12MP	12MP	20MP	23MP
Photo (RAW)	–	–	23MP	–
Video 16:9	2.7K60	4K60	5K30 4K60	5.3K60 4K120
Video 4:3	2.7K60	4K30	4K30	5K30 4K60
TimeWarp 16:9	–	–	4K30	4K60
TimeWarp 4:3	–	–	4K30	4K30
Horizon Levelling	–	–	28º (5K)	27º (5.3K)

Photo resolution. 20MP: 5,184×3,888. 23MP: 5,568×4,176.
GP9 does cropping for JPEG and RAW outputs.
Video resolution considers only linear lens and the maximum available fps.
Horizon Levelling is in HyperSmooth Standard.
microSD card: up to GP9 is Class 10 or UHS-1 and GP10 is v30 or UHS-3.

I have been using GoPro 7 (2019), 8 (2020), 9 (2021) and now 10 (2022). I noticed that the improvement curve has peaked and the only thing it can push now is increasing the megapixel. For photos, 23MP on GP9/GP10 seems enough already. But higher video resolution does not equate to better video quality either. I upgraded to GP10 for its 4K 120fps and also for the 5.3K 60fps.

GP7 and GP8 use Sony IMX277, which is a 7.85 mm diagonal (type 1/2.3) CMOS image sensor that has an effective 12 megapixels. GP9 and GP10 use Sony IMX677, which is a 7.85 mm diagonal (type 1/2.3) CMOS image sensor that has an effective 23.91 megapixels.

The plusses
– GoPro has a small body, is light and fits into my palm and jacket’s side pocket.
– QuikCapture feature is fantastic.
– It is easy to be taken along for diving.
– The GoPro + clip is perfect to be hanging, holding or standing on anything.

Sony FE 85mm F1.8

Really sharp for portraits and an “almost” a close-up for small objects

It has a focus hold button on the barrel, and I customized it for Eye AF. It is a very sleek short-telephoto prime lens that is easy to be carried around. It is lightweight, fast and produces creamy photos when the aperture is wide open.

Even though it was meant for portraits, I have used this lens to take photos of small objects in nature. The results were surprisingly good! I tried this lens for landscape but really have to walk back quite far to put large/tall objects into the frame.

Verdict

I prefer to keep this lens for object close-up and for half-body portraits.

I used this lens for a wedding. It works fantastic for a one-person or two-person half-body portrait. It is also good for small object close-ups; for example, flowers, table-setting and food at the buffet area. During speeches, it works amazing as I can stand a bit far away and do not need to invade the space between the speaker and the audience. Somehow, other situations require 28mm (group photos) and 50mm (guests and other larger objects).

While this lens (can) works on all occasions, it has to be complemented by other lenses when it comes to tight space.

Sample Photos

*Half-body portrait using 85mm. It separates the subject from the creamy background.*
*ISO 100 f/1.8 1/250 sec.*

*Snowdrop. Taken from 1 meter away and cropped.*
*ISO 200 f/3.5 1/125 sec.*

*Copenhagen, winter sunset.*
*ISO 100 f/3.2 1/500 sec.*

*Two full-body portraits were taken using 85mm.*
*Left: ISO 100 f/3.2 1/250 sec.*
*Right: ISO 100 f/3.2 1/320 sec.*

Key Features

Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/22

The angle of view: 29?
Minimum focus distance: 80 cm
Maximum magnification ratio: 1:7.7 (0.13?)
Filter size: 67 mm
Dimensions (? ? L): 78 ? 82 mm
Weight: 371 g

Sept. 2022: I sold this lens off as it duplicates Sony FE 90mm Macro G OSS.

GoPro Hero 9 Black

Waterproof action camera with front LCD and touch rear screen, 5K Ultra HD video, 20MP photos, and great stabilisation. There are endless things you can do with this small camera, it has a true crossover appeal for videography.

Smartphones can capture photos and videos in just about any situation, but GoPro is just one game ahead. GoPro has plenty of upsides. I liked the feature that with a single click you can start recording and I also like the feature that you don’t have to tweak hundreds of settings. GoPro 9 has an improvement that I really like, the horizontal levelling.

The video and photo qualities are good but not excellent. It produces everything within the frame to be in focus for a clean visual. Panning the camera around is smoother. It has a downside in terms of quality when it comes to low light situations.

It has a rugged ability to withstand harsh conditions. Put it on a pole and hold it outside a moving car. Take it down into the water to record under the water. Leave it overnight outside to make a time-lapse of the stars.

The folding-in/folding-out finger mount is really useful. It was introduced with GoPro 8. With the foldable mount, an external case for mounting is no longer required. Hence making the camera minimal in size.

I don’t do sports-action videography but I use GoPro a lot when travelling. Mount it on a clip and let it hang on your bag while you are passing the airport. Record a take-off. Then for running or hiking. There are no moving parts, so there’s nothing to be worried about. I even used GoPro to record my presentation at university!

Note: Upgraded to GoPro Hero 10 Black (August 2022), solely because it can record 5.3K at 60 fps and 4K at 120 fps.

Videography

GoPro is well known for its recording ability. One can choose to record at a bitrate of 100Mb, which means more details for editing.

HYPERSMOOTH
A new HyperSmooth 3.0 digital image stabilization with in-camera horizon levelling lets you produce even smoother, more stable videos without a gimbal.

HORIZON LEVELLING
What really sells for this GoPro is the Horizon Levelling. This was the main reason that I upgraded from GP8 to GP9. Walk around and hold it without a gimbal, the outcome is still levelled. However, the maximum tilting is up to 27?.

VIDEO RESOLUTIONS
It captures up to 5K up to 30 fps and maintains high detail even when zooming in. This is one of the two main reasons why I upgraded. (It still captures 4K at 60 fps, similar to GoPro 8).

TIME WARP FEATURE 3.0
Record time-lapse scenes as you walk or drive. Quite a cool feature. I used this recording when in moving vehicles as the effect looks much cooler. TimeWarp 3.0 condenses time. With features like Speed Ramp, you can select Real Speed or Half-Speed while recording is ongoing along with the audio.

Limitation

The stabilisation does not work well at night (or in low-light situations). The snapshots are coming out jerky.

Photography

~~Use SuperPhoto option to automatically pre-process photos right from the camera to get the best shot. However, I am not a big fan of GoPro’s photos as the output can be too punchy.~~ I use the RAW output function that only has the Wide lens option. I chose the GoPro colour so the JPEG version will be pre-edited by GoPro and if I choose to edit, then I will do so on the RAW files.

My Setup

The reason that I upgraded from GoPro 7 was that I dislike the fish-eye effect when recording in 4K, I very rarely shot in wide. I prefer the linear mode and it is only in 2.7K resolution.

Video
ISO Min: 100
ISO Max: 200
Sharpness: Medium

Ulanzi VIJIM VL 30 5600K CRI95+ (340 lux at 0.5m) 750 mAh.
Swivel clamp/clip holder mount kit.
Surf bite mouth braces mount kit.
Suction cup mount kit.
Tempered glass protector for front and back screens.
Mini storage protection case (it can be used to protect the GoPro without the need to unmount from the tripod)

*I replaced (use interchangeably) the battery door with Ulanzi G9 that has a hole to allow access to the USB port without opening the battery door. It also has a cold-shoe mount adapter for fill light.*

*I removed the original finger mount (left: original, right: replacement) with one that has a ?-inch screw mount adapter (dual mount). So I can use one mini tripod for Sony ZV-1 and GoPro 9.*

Technical Information

Focal length: 3mm (At crop factor of 5.62 = 16.86 mm)
Aperture: f/2.8 (At crop factor of 5.62 = f/15.8)
The angle of view: 5K 16:9, Linear + Horizon Levelling 27º ¹
Minimum focus distance: 30 cm
Dimensions (W × H × D): 71 × 55 × 33.6 mm
Weight: 158 g

Sensor type: 1/2.3″ (6.17 × 4.55 mm)
Sensor resolution: Sony IMX677, effective at 23.6MP but only utilises 20 MP for JPEG stills. It produces 23MP for RAW.
Native ISO: 100 – 6,400
Battery: 1,729 mAh
Released date: September 18, 2020

Field-of-view (FOV) ²
SuperView: 16mm
Wide: 16mm – 34mm
Linear: 19mm – 39mm
Narrow: 27mm

Other Interesting Features

It has plenty of interesting features, but I haven’t used them.

Scheduled recording.
Front-facing screen (which can be disabled).

Panning Test

Sony ZV-1

A highly versatile, pocket-sized compact point-and-shoot camera designed for personal photography, boasting impressive 4K video capabilities. An ideal choice as a secondary camera, nearing perfection in performance.

September 2022 Update: While there is a slight delay in powering on/off and occasional focus issues at 70mm, this camera proves exceptionally practical in compact environments such as trains or planes. Its petite size makes it an excellent companion for outings to restaurants or dinner invitations.

January 2023 Update: I got the α7 IV towards the end of July 2023. I began to explore the 10-bit video bitrate, which I discovered to be much more satisfying when editing in Final Cut Pro. The bokeh effect looks more pleasing too. Then on, I spent less time with ZV-1 and haven’t used it at all since September 2023.

Since March 2, 2021, this camera has been a constant companion, capturing the vibrant blossoms of spring and accompanying me through the summer of 2021. It was with me through Copenhagen Airport, spent a month in Ibiza, and even had a day in Mallorca.

The ZV-1 stands as a unique hybrid, bridging the gap between conventional and mirrorless cameras. It carves its niche, delivering results surpassing smartphones and approaching the quality of pricier mirrorless counterparts. Compact yet feature-rich, it effortlessly blends advanced capabilities from both realms, easily slipping into the pocket of a winter jacket.

Impressive photo quality, especially with its RAW shooting capability, and clean low-light video performance characterise this camera. Its solid and rugged build makes it an ideal daily companion, always ready in my pocket.

Note: When referencing a second camera here, it denotes a backup body that seamlessly alternates with the primary without requiring extensive settings or additional peripherals, all while delivering photo and video results that closely rival those of the primary camera.

Photography

A compact camera tailor-made for holidays, this device discreetly blends into public spaces, ensuring you won’t draw undue attention while capturing moments. Perfect for unobtrusive shots of food or group gatherings in bustling environments, it excels in maintaining a low profile. Moreover, its effectiveness extends to confined spaces, making it an ideal gadget.

Cala Comte, Ibiza, Spain.
Sony ZV-1, 24mm ISO 125 f/2.0 1/1000 sec.

It has a good close up too, at 5 cm. Quite useful to get a closer shot of flowers, foods or products.

A close-up on an active bee.
Sony ZV-1, 24mm ISO 125 f/2.5 1/640 sec.

I’ve taken numerous photos with the Sony ZV-1 and observed that when employing auto white balance, it delivers more visually appealing colours for sunsets compared to the Sony ɑ7R III. While the ɑ7R III’s output can be enhanced through post-processing, the ZV-1’s straight-out-of-the-camera results are notably quick and pleasing.

Sony ZV-1 (minor adjustment in Lightroom)
24mm ISO 125 f/2.0 1/2500 sec.

*Sony A7R iii (minor adjustment in Lightroom)*
*49mm ISO 100 f/7.1 1/400 sec.*

Videography

In contrast to the GoPro, the maximum frame speed of the ZV-1 is limited to 25 fps (PAL standard), while the GoPro Hero 9 boasts 60 fps (4K) or 30 fps (5K). While I seldom slow down my videos, a higher frame rate can be beneficial in reducing motion blur. The ZV-1 compensates for this limitation by delivering sharper and crisper video output than the GoPro, with a significantly more pleasing colour rendition.

This camera records UHD 4K videos at a robust 100 Mb/s bitrate (BUT ONLY 8-bit), utilising full pixel readout without pixel binning (where pixels are grouped together). The 1.7x oversampling enhances clarity, resulting in higher resolution and mitigating issues like moiré and jaggies. Employing Sony’s proprietary XAVC S codec, equivalent to H.265.

While equipped with Active SteadyShot, it doesn’t match the effectiveness of GoPro’s Hypersmooth technology combined with horizontal levelling. The slight jerkiness during handheld recording is present but not overly distracting, making the video still enjoyable. Utilising Active SteadyShot kicks the camera to 1.12 crop factor effectively turning 24mm to 27mm.

Two screenshots from two 4K videos were taken using GoPro Hero 8 (left) and Sony ZV-1 (right) from inside a car while it was moving. Personally, ZV-1 is sharper, has less artefact and also with better colour.

Cons

This camera utilises micro-USB (USB 2.0) for charging, a feature that could have been better if it was USB-C.

In comparison to the GoPro’s convenient QuikCapture feature, which swiftly powers on and initiates recording with a single button press, the Sony ZV-1 has a delay in powering up, especially if it has not been used for some time. Additionally, it takes a noticeable amount of time to power off and retract the lens.

A single battery proves insufficient for sporadic recording, depleting in less than an hour. During a 12-hour trip to Mallorca in August 2021, where I relied solely on this camera and a GoPro 8, exploring the island and capturing continuous photos and videos, the ZV-1 required recharging at least twice.

While attempting to gather facial images for an experiment for my study using this camera, I noticed the output lacked the same level of detail and sharpness as the ɑ7R III. Images appeared blurry and lacked the crispness that the ɑ7R III effortlessly achieves.

Prognosis

While this camera excels in capturing everyday moments and proves ideal for holiday snapshots, it falls short of replacing the ɑ7R III for superior and detailed photos. It serves as my go-to option when a quick snap is needed, offering convenience and efficiency. Despite the ɑ7R III’s superior quality in recording, the ZV-1 takes the lead as my primary recorder, thanks to its lightweight design.

Technical Information

Focal length: 9.4mm to 25.7mm (35mm-equivalent focal length: 24mm to 70mm)
Optical zoom: 2.7x
Maximum aperture: f/1.8 to f/2.8
Minimum aperture: f/11
The angle of view: 84º (24mm) to 34º (70mm)
Minimum focus distance: 5 cm (wide) to 30 cm (telephoto)
Dimensions (W × H × D): 105.5 × 60 × 43.5 mm
Weight: 294 g

Sensor type: 1″ Exmor RS CMOS (13.2 × 8.8 mm)
Sensor resolution: 20.1 megapixels (5,472 × 3,648)
Native ISO: 125 – 12,800
Lens: ZEISS^® Vario-Sonnar T✻
Battery: NP-BX1 (1,240 mAh)
Released date: May 26, 2020

Featuring a versatile flip-out, tilt-around, and side-articulating touch LCD screen, this camera proves invaluable for capturing selfies and exploring creative low-angle compositions. Additionally, its Wi-Fi capability facilitates seamless file transfer, enables geo-tagging, and allows convenient remote camera control.

Setup / Gears

128GB SanDisk Extreme microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I U3 V30 A2 (on adapter).
SmallRig Cage 2938 for Sony ZV-1
Ulanzi VIJIM VL 30 5600K CRI95+ (340 lux at 0.5m) 750 mAh.
Ulanzi VL 100C 2,500-6,500K CRI95+ (2500 lux at 30 cm / 800 lux at 50 cm / 200 lux at 1 m) 2,000 mAh.
JJC camera case pouch. It fits the camera well even when the wind muff was on.
4 units of Batmax NP-BX1 and a portable USB charger.

I bought a Ulanzi ultra-slim mount lens adapter ring (52mm) with the intention of getiing the Ulanzi wide-angle lens, specifically the ULANZI WL-1 Additional 2-in-1 Lens which was designed for the Sony ZV-1, featuring an 18mm wide-angle and 10X macro capability. However, upon further consideration, I concluded that an additional lens was not essential for my needs. Instead, I’ve decided to opt for K&F filters. Despite this, my conscience is urging me to reconsider. The mounting of the adapter may compromise the aesthetic appeal of the camera, particularly when the filters are infrequently utilised.