My name is Martin Doležal, and I shot my first student film at the age of 13 with a Sony VHS camera. Since then, it has been the brand for me.

I shoot advertising campaigns, dance and music videos, and video content for social media. For my work, I need a camera that doesn't limit me, does exactly what I want it to, and allows me to fully concentrate on creating beautiful shots. The Sony FX3 became such a product for me a few years ago. It's a small powerhouse camera, that can handle anything. As a B-cam, I use the ZV-E1, which is super small with excellent image quality, and I keep it in my backpack every day.

The new Sony ZV-E10 II excited me from the very first moment. It's absolutely amazing how Sony managed to pack such image quality into such a small and lightweight body. Thanks to the wide range of E-mount lenses, everyone can have a cinematic look in their pocket.

Filming with an APS-C camera again after so many years was initially quite a challenge for me. However, after a few hours, I adapted to the different dual native ISO, smaller ergonomics, and some missing buttons. Eventually, I realised it's simply a Sony. I can adjust everything to my settings, and the ZV-E10 II became my inseparable partner for a few days.

The ZV-E10 II is a small powerhouse of a camera that packs a lot of great features. I especially liked the focusing and the ability to adjust focus speed. The object tracking function activated by tapping on the display works brilliantly. I also appreciate my favourite image profile for shooting commercials, S-Log3, which offers a wide dynamic range and extensive colour grading possibilities.

The camera uses a 5.6K sensor for video and oversamples to 4K. It records 4K at 50p 10bit 4:2:2 S-I. You can achieve slow motion at 100p in full HD resolution. The camera has two levels of stabilisation, and with the Active mode, you can shoot smoothly without a gimbal. One unmentioned feature is the Cinematic Vlog function, which helps create a cinematic effect in every shot. I also like the ability to wirelessly transfer images to your phone using the Creators app.

I used a variety of Sony lenses for the shoot, but my main lens was the E 35mm f/1.8 OSS which balanced perfectly with the small body and gave me the look I was going for. For shots where I needed a different look, I used the E PZ 10-20mm f/4 G which is a fantastic little lens and perfect for vlogging. I also had the E 15mm f/1.4 G and FE 85mm f/1.8 on hand for a couple of shots where I needed to throw the background out of focus completely.

I haven't used an APS-C camera for so long and am used to shooting on full-frame sensors, so in a way it was strange to go back to a small camera. I have to say though, that I was blown away by the features, quality and usability of the ZV-E10 II. If you're a film student or budding video creator, you honestly couldn't go far wrong with this little beast. It handled everything I threw at it, and it'll have a place in my camera bag as a C-cam, backstage camera or for when I'm travelling.