Canon’s PowerShot V1 vs Sony ZV-E10

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I’ve always been curious how a modern compact camera would stack up against an older APS-C mirrorless system. So when Canon released the PowerShot V1 in 2025, I had to compare it to my Sony ZV-E10, which came out back in 2021. The PowerShot V1 is a compact camera with a 1.4-inch sensor, while the ZV-E10 rocks a larger APS-C sensor. That sensor size difference alone sets up some pretty interesting expectations in terms of performance and image quality.

 Also here you can find the FREE PROJECT FILES for both cameras so you can dive in and explore for yourself. If you're still on the fence after you read this blog, you can take my free "Which Camera Should I Buy?" quiz.

In terms of usability, both cameras are aimed at creators — vloggers, YouTubers, and anyone looking to shoot solid video without a complicated setup. Both have fully articulating screens (flip screens), which is a must for self-shooting. But Canon goes a step further with its interface. I found the PowerShot’s touchscreen playback and navigation much smoother and more intuitive. I could scrub through footage directly on screen, while the ZV-E10 makes me rely entirely on physical buttons. It’s a small thing, but it adds up in daily use 

Both cameras offer the same core ports: mic input, headphone out, micro HDMI, and USB-C. That means you can monitor audio, record externally, livestream, and charge on the go regardless of which camera you're using. Battery life leans slightly in Canon’s favor — the PowerShot V1 uses the LP-E17 battery, and I squeezed a bit more runtime out of it compared to Sony’s NP-FW50. But neither battery is particularly long-lasting, so you’ll need spares either way.

For customization, the Canon PowerShot V1 has a physical mode dial on top with three custom memory presets, which I found really handy. The Sony lets you save custom profiles too, but accessing them requires digging through the menu. The tactile feel of a dial just makes more sense to me, especially when I’m switching modes quickly between scenes.

One surprising area where Canon pulled ahead was stabilization. While neither camera is perfect, the PowerShot’s built-in stabilization was noticeably better for handheld shooting. I wouldn't call it gimbal-level, but it’s smooth enough that walking shots don’t immediately feel amateur. The ZV-E10 struggles more here — and if you enable Active Stabilization, it crops in a lot, which really hurts the field of view if you're using the kit lens.

Speaking of lenses, for this comparison, I stuck to kit lenses on both: the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 on the ZV-E10, and the built-in zoom on the PowerShot V1. That helps keep things fair in terms of cost — around $899 USD for the Canon and $798 USD for the Sony as tested.

Autofocus was a dead heat — both cameras were fast and reliable in face tracking, even in changing light. That’s a huge win for Canon, considering how dominant Sony has been in that department for years. Canon’s newer system feels like it finally caught up, and in casual use I couldn’t pick a clear winner.

Low light is where the Sony ZV-E10 begins to show its age — in a good way. That larger APS-C sensor just gathers more light, especially when shooting indoors or at night. Even though both cameras shoot clean video, the ZV-E10’s image looks more natural and requires less color correction to get skin tones right. The Canon sometimes leaned into cooler hues or added a magenta shift in the shadows, especially in auto white balance. 

Another area that matters to me is color grading flexibility. I shoot in log profiles when I want more control, and Canon gave me a bit more range to play with in the shadows and greens. But when it comes to shooting something quickly and using it straight out of camera, the Sony wins. It delivers accurate colors with less post work needed — which adds up when you're making a lot of content.

At the end of the day, I was really impressed with how close the Canon PowerShot V1 gets to the ZV-E10 in terms of usability and image quality, especially considering its compact size. If stabilization and a touch-friendly interface are top priority, the Canon makes a solid case. But if I had to choose one — for dynamic range, better skin tones, and an overall cleaner image without too much work in post — I still lean toward the Sony ZV-E10. The gap between compact and APS-C is definitely narrowing, but for now, the ZV-E10 keeps its spot as my go-to camera.