Sony ZV-E10 The BEST Settings for Photography

Summary

Arron Prescott explains how to configure the Sony ZV-E10 for photography, covering image quality, exposure, focus, and other commonly used settings. His main advice is to start with high-quality file settings, then choose shooting and focus options based on the subject and situation.

1. Select photography mode

Press the Mode button on top of the camera to cycle between movie, photography, and slow-and-quick modes. Use photography mode for still images; some settings and Function menu options change depending on the selected mode.

2. Choose file format and image quality

Find File Format under Menu → Quality/Image Size 1.

The presenter uses RAW + JPEG, which saves both versions of each photo:

• RAW files contain more image information and are useful for editing, but they are larger and may not open in every editing program.
• JPEG files are smaller and widely compatible, making them convenient for sharing and quick edits.

If you edit photos in software such as Lightroom, RAW files offer more information to work with. If you want to save space or make quick edits, JPEG may be sufficient.

The presenter’s suggested JPEG settings are:

• JPEG Quality: Extra Fine
• JPEG Image Size: L (24M)
• Aspect Ratio: 3:2

Lower settings can save storage, but he recommends using the camera’s full image quality when possible.

3. Choose a shooting mode for the subject

Press the center button on the back of the camera to open the shooting modes menu.

• Aperture Priority (A): Recommended for portraits and situations where you want to control background blur.
  • A lower f-number, such as f/1.4 or the lowest available on the lens, creates a brighter image and a more out-of-focus background.
  • A higher f-number brings more of the scene into focus, which can be useful for landscapes or compositions where greater depth of focus is desired.
  • Change the aperture with the Function wheel or the larger wheel on top of the camera.
  • The Background Defocus button offers a quick way to switch between blurred and more-in-focus backgrounds.
• Shutter Priority (S): Lets you control how quickly the camera takes a photo.
  • Use a faster shutter speed to reduce motion blur when photographing moving subjects, such as sports or wildlife. Faster speeds also let less light reach the sensor, so the image may be darker.
  • Slower shutter speeds let in more light and can help in low-light conditions when the subject is still.
  • Camera shake from hand movement becomes more noticeable at slower shutter speeds.

4. Use the Fn menu for frequently changed settings

Press the Fn button on the back of the camera for quick access to commonly used options.

• Drive Mode: Choose single-shot, timer, or burst shooting. Burst mode takes multiple photos while the shutter button is held down, helping capture a particular moment with moving subjects.
• Focus Mode:
  • AF-C (continuous): For moving subjects.
  • AF-S (single): For stationary subjects.
  • AF-A (automatic): Lets the camera decide whether to use continuous or single autofocus, though the presenter notes it may not always choose correctly.
• Focus Area:
  • Wide: The camera can focus across the image area; a green frame indicates the area in focus.
  • Zone: Lets you select a part of the frame, useful when the subject or point of interest is in a particular area, such as a corner.
• Exposure Compensation: Adjusts the camera’s automatic exposure. The presenter often uses −0.3 to help prevent overexposure, while noting that 0 is suitable in many situations. Adjust it if images appear too bright or too dark.
• ISO: A low ISO generally gives a cleaner but darker image. Raising ISO brightens the image but adds noise or grain. The presenter usually finds Auto ISO effective, though manual increases can sometimes help in low light.
• Soft Skin Effect: The presenter recommends turning this off because it can remove too much detail from portraits.
• White Balance: Adjusts color to account for the color of the light source. Auto White Balance works well for the presenter most of the time; presets can help when whites appear noticeably discolored, such as looking too orange in bright sunlight.
• Creative Styles: Apply a look to JPEG images, such as Portrait or Landscape. They do not affect RAW files. The presenter suggests not spending too much time on them if you plan to edit later, but notes they can be useful if you do little post-processing.
• Picture Profiles: The presenter recommends avoiding these for photography. Although profiles such as S-Log3 can affect dynamic range, he says shooting RAW provides more flexibility in highlights and shadows and reserves Picture Profiles for video.

The shooting modes menu is also accessible from the Fn menu, including Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority.

Speakers and sources featured

• Arron Prescott — presenter and narrator.
• No other speakers are featured. The presenter refers viewers to other videos on his channel, including videos about file formats and autofocus, but no additional speakers are heard in the subtitles.