Nikon Z f vs Sony ZV-E1 — Which Is Better?

The Nikon Z f and the Sony ZV-E1 are both 2023 mirrorless cameras, but they suit different shooting styles. The Z f is a larger, viewfinder-equipped body on the Nikon Z mount, while the compact ZV-E1 frames on its screen and uses the Sony E mount.

The ZV-E1 is the lighter camera to carry, at 483 g against the Z f's 710 g, a 227 g saving that suits a small shoulder bag or handheld vlogging setup.

The Z f is the stronger choice for stills detail, with 25 MP against the ZV-E1's 12 MP. That gives more room to crop a landscape or print a portrait larger. The Sony answers with 759 autofocus points against 273, denser coverage for tracking a moving subject.

For action, the Z f shoots at up to 25 fps against the Sony's 10 fps, a clear lead for dance recitals or birds in flight. Both use full-frame CMOS sensors with in-body stabilisation. The Z f's electronic viewfinder adds eye-level framing; the ZV-E1 has none.

The ZV-E1 is the better pick for slow motion. Its maximum video frame rate of 120 fps, twice the Z f's 60 fps, suits slowing a dive or a water splash to half speed. The Sony's extra recording formats, including XAVC S-I and H.265, give editors more codec choices.

A shared 4K maximum resolution gives both cameras the same headline output size. The Z f keeps one convenience the Sony lacks, a built-in interval timer, so a sunset can condense into a timelapse clip without an external trigger.

The ZV-E1 is the quicker camera to operate, offering a touchscreen for tapping focus points and settings, while the Z f has no touch input. The Nikon's rear screen is sharper at 2,100,000 dots against 1,036,800, making it easier to judge fine detail when reviewing shots.

Both offer weather sealing, a flip-out screen for waist-level or selfie-angle work, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfer, and an external flash shoe. Neither has a built-in flash or GPS, so location tagging needs a phone or accessory on either camera.

The ZV-E1 holds the stamina advantage, rated for 570 shots against 380 from the Z f under their respective test conditions. The Z f counters with dual card slots, accepting SD and microSD cards, against the Sony's single UHS-II compatible SD slot. A second card keeps a wedding shoot running when one fills.

Both cameras charge over USB, so the same power bank or laptop cable tops up either body on the road.