RSV Rescue › Sony cameras › Sony ZV-E1 .RSV file recovery

Sony ZV-E1 .RSV file recovery

Your ZV-E1 stopped mid-recording and left a .RSV file. Here’s how to get the clip back.

The ZV-E1 records XAVC S, XAVC HS and XAVC S-I, 8- or 10-bit, up to 4K 60p (4K 120p with a firmware update), with LPCM sound. While it records, it writes the clip to a temporary .RSV file in PRIVATE/M4ROOT/CLIP/ and turns it into an .MP4 when you press stop. If the battery dies, the card fills up or the camera overheats first, the .RSV is left behind and won’t open.

Vlogging and live streams on the ZV-E1 often run long, so batteries and heat are the usual causes of a .RSV.

How to recover it

1. Stop using the card and copy everything on it to your computer.
2. Open rsvrescue.com and drop the .RSV from the copy. It’s read in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
3. Watch the free 15-second preview with sound.
4. Pay once for the file and save the repaired .MOV, which opens in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, QuickTime and VLC.

RSV Rescue reads the ZV-E1’s own settings from the .RSV itself, so you don’t need a reference clip, and it handles clips where you changed settings partway through. More detail: how to recover a Sony .RSV file.

ZV-E1 tips to avoid losing a take

• Battery: the ZV-E1 uses the NP-FW50 (a smaller battery than Sony’s full-frame bodies). Start long takes on a full battery, swap between takes rather than during one, or use external power.
• One card, so copy often: the ZV-E1 has a single SD card slot, so there’s no second copy. Copy the card to your computer after every shoot.
• Heat: Set Auto Power OFF Temp. to High for long takes and streams, and keep the camera out of direct sun.
• Tip: The small battery runs down quickly in 4K; for long takes, power it over USB-C.

Why it happened, and how to avoid it next time

See what an .RSV file is and how to avoid .RSV files.

Try the free preview → Drop your .RSV and watch the first 15 seconds of your recovered clip before you pay anything.