The short version
- No mode dial. Press the Mode button (top) to switch stills, video and S&Q, then tap the exposure mode on the touchscreen to choose M, A, S or P.
- In M, the top control dial and the rear control wheel split shutter speed and aperture. You can swap their jobs in the menus.
- Fastest way to change anything: tap the shutter speed, aperture or ISO value right on the touchscreen.
- ISO: press down on the rear four-way dial, open the Fn menu, or tap the screen.
- Auto ISO minimum shutter speed lives at MENU, Exposure/Color, Exposure, ISO, ISO AUTO Min. SS.
- Kit lens is the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II. No viewfinder, compose on the flip screen.
Last updated · Exposure Triangle Simulator editorial team
Where everything lives on the ZV-E10 II
Everything sits on the right side of the body, arranged for one-handed shooting while you vlog.
| Control | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mode button | Top plate | Switches between stills, video and slow/quick motion. Exposure mode (M, A, S, P) is then picked on the touchscreen. |
| Control dial | Top, by the shutter button | Adjusts aperture or shutter speed in M. Ridges keep your fingertip from slipping. |
| Control wheel | Back, rotary with 4-way press | The other half of exposure control in M. Down opens ISO; the four directions also cover display, drive and exposure compensation. |
| Fn button | Back | Opens the Function menu: a grid of your most-used settings including ISO. |
| Touchscreen | Back, flip-out | Tap any exposure value on screen to change it directly. The fastest control on the camera. |
| C1 / defocus button | Top plate | One-press background defocus: jumps the aperture to its widest setting for blurry-background video and stills. |
Manual mode on the ZV-E10 II
- Get to M. Press the Mode button on top, confirm stills is selected, then tap the exposure mode indicator on the touchscreen and choose M (Manual Exposure).
- Set shutter speed and aperture: turn the top control dial and the rear control wheel. They split the two settings between them. If you keep grabbing the wrong one, swap their assignments under Setup, Dial/Wheel Setup. The shutter speed guide and aperture guide explain what each one does to your photo.
- Set ISO: press down on the rear four-way dial, or tap the ISO value on the screen. Start at ISO 100 in daylight. Read the ISO guide before cranking it.
- Or skip the dials entirely: tap the shutter speed, aperture or ISO readout on the touchscreen and swipe or tap to the value you want. Many ZV-E10 II owners end up doing most exposure work this way.
- Check exposure and shoot. The live view shows your exposure in real time, so what you see is close to what you get.
Auto ISO on the ZV-E10 II
Set ISO to AUTO (via the four-way dial, Fn menu or touchscreen). The camera then floats the ISO while you drive aperture and shutter speed yourself, which is ideal for run-and-gun shooting where the light keeps changing.
To keep Auto ISO from dropping the shutter too slow, open MENU, go to Exposure/Color, then Exposure, then ISO, and set ISO AUTO Min. SS. Pick 1/250 for general use or 1/500 and up for action. You can also cap the top ISO in the same menu so the camera never pushes into noise you will not accept.
Three setups that just work
Dial these in on the ZV-E10 II with the 16-50mm kit lens.
| Setup | Mode and settings | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait, blurry background | A · 50mm · f/5.6 · ISO 100 | Zoom all the way in, open the aperture as wide as the kit lens allows at 50mm. Or cheat: press the C1 background-defocus button and let the camera do it. |
| Landscape, sharp throughout | A · 16mm · f/8 · ISO 100 | f/8 keeps the foreground and horizon sharp on this sensor. Focus about a third of the way into the scene. |
| Action, freeze motion | S · 1/1000 · Auto ISO | You lock 1/1000, the camera picks aperture and ISO. Set the minimum shutter speed as above so Auto ISO never dips below it, and use continuous drive for bursts. |
ZV-E10 II button combos, one box
| Want to change | Do this |
|---|---|
| Shooting mode | Mode button → stills / video / S&Q |
| Exposure mode | Tap the mode on the touchscreen → M, A, S or P |
| Shutter speed + aperture (M) | Top control dial + rear control wheel (or tap the screen) |
| ISO | Rear dial down, Fn menu, or tap the screen |
| Auto ISO + min shutter speed | MENU → Exposure/Color → Exposure → ISO → ISO AUTO Min. SS |
| Instant blurry background | C1 / background defocus button |
Want these as a printable card? Grab the free camera settings cheat sheet and practice the moves on the simulator first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to manual mode on the Sony ZV-E10 II?
There is no mode dial. Press the Mode button on top, make sure stills is selected, then tap the exposure mode on the touchscreen and choose M.
How do I change aperture and shutter speed on the ZV-E10 II?
In M, the top control dial and the rear control wheel split shutter speed and aperture, or just tap the on-screen values on the touchscreen to adjust them directly.
How do I change ISO on the Sony ZV-E10 II?
Press down on the rear four-way dial, open the Fn menu, or tap the ISO value on the touchscreen.
Does the ZV-E10 II have a viewfinder?
No. You compose on the flip-out touchscreen, which also works as the main control surface for exposure settings.
What does the background defocus button do?
It jumps the aperture to its widest setting in one press, giving you a blurry background for video or stills without touching the exposure settings.