Sony has announced the launch of the latest version of the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone. The Sony Xperia 1 V has even more great features for shooting video.
New sensor
Sony has developed an all-new Exmor T for mobile image sensor for the Xperia 1 V. It uses an innovative 2-Layer Transistor Pixel design and is about 1.7 times larger than the previous image sensor. This also enables the sensor to capture more light and so significantly reduces image noise. Sony claims that the new sensor delivers image quality that’s twice as good as its predecessor in low light.
Cameras
The Xperia 1 V has three rear-facing cameras. The new Exmor T for mobile sensor is paired with a wide-angle 24 mm lens. In addition, there is an ultra-wide 16mm lens and a telephoto with a 85 mm – 125 mm true optical zoom lens. There is also an improved 12 MP front camera for taking selfies. The Xperia 1 V has high-performance real-time eye autofocus and real-time tracking similar to that found on the Alpha series of cameras.
Video features
With the Xperia 1 V you can record in 4K HDR at up to 120 fps on all three main cameras. You can also select frame rate settings to produce up to 5x slow-motion clips. In addition, the smartphone’s Videography Pro and Cinematography Pro modes give you full control when shooting video. Sony says that Videography Pro is aimed at vloggers and content creators. However, Cinematography Pro is based on technology from Sony’s high-end CineAlta products.
Creative looks
The Xperia 1 V comes with a version of Sony’s S-Cinetone picture profile. This was originally developed for the company’s Cinema Line cameras. S-Cinetone gives beautiful skin tones and a more cinematic look without the need for complex post-production color grading. In addition, the Xperia 1 V features Creative Look, a selection of six preset looks to use when shooting photos or video. Again, this is a feature inherited from some of Sony’s Alpha cameras.
Optical image stabilization
The Xperia 1 V Sony’s Optical SteadyShot with FlawlessEye technology. This couples the image sensor’s increased reading speed with Sony’s original algorithm for optical image stabilization. Sony says that the result is supremely smooth, shake-free video footage.
Audio
In addition to stereo microphones for recording surrounding sound, the Xperia 1 V has an extra voice-priority microphone. This is designed to enable you to record speech clearly while other sounds remain in the background. The microphone also features the Intelligent wind filter, Sony’s industry-leading audio separation technology to filter out wind noise.
Other features
The Xperia 1 V has a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 Mobile Platform, which has a 40% improvement in power efficiency compared to the previous generation. The Xperia 1 V also has a 5,000 mAh battery which Sony says will give around 20 hours of continuous video playback. It supports wireless charging and will quickly charge up to 50% in 30 minutes.
What we think
The Sony Xperia 1 V has an impressive set of video credentials. It incorporates video technologies from both Sony’s Alpha range and Cinema Line cameras. Using the Videography Pro and Cinematography Pro modes, you also have full manual control when shooting video. You can even pair the Xperia 1 V with your Alpha camera to use it as an external monitor or for livestreaming. The Xperia 1 V truly blurs the line between smartphones and video cameras. For some content creators, the Xperia 1 V may be all that you need.
Pricing and availability
The Sony Xperia 1 V smartphone with 256 GB of memory is available for pre-order now and costs $1,399. Sony says it is scheduled to ship at the end of July 2023.
