GoPro for backpacking?

Dylan Couper · January 9th, 2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynne Whelden

How's the audio on the S100? Acceptable? Tinny? Probably no external jack, right?

Acceptible audio, no input jack... like every other camera in this range.

Quote:

Are people trying to do amazing things with it (like shooting feature films)? Is it the best camera, ounce for ounce, on the market now?

1) I douse mine in gasoline, light it on fire and juggle it, while riding popping a wheelie on a unicycle. Amazing thing requirement complete.
2) Ounce for ounce? Beats me, but a surprising number of moderators on this forum own S90/S95/S100 cameras. I have a virtually unlimited still camera budget and I'm pretty sure the others do too. That should tell you a lot.

Lynne Whelden · January 9th, 2012, 06:03 PM

Roger...are you saying the Sony bluetooth CAN be used on other hot shoes besides Sony's? The one I'm talking about is the ECM-HW IR wireless.

Roger Shealy · January 9th, 2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Shealy

The Sony Sony ECM-AW3 Wireless Microphone might meet your needs. I think it is a generic bluetooth mic that doesn't use the Sony proprietary shoe, but please check carefully to make sure before purchasing.

Lynne,

You may have missed the info I put just below the 3rd video identifying the ECM-AW3 wireless bluetooth mic. I don't know much about it, but it appears to be a bluetooth that has a generic 3.5mm input versus the Sony's proprietary hot shoe.

Sony ECM-AW3

Ian Newland · January 9th, 2012, 07:17 PM

Lynne, your Canon Elph (i have one love it) will do everything you want image wise and the on board audio is quite good to. Buy, don't drop it, the extendable lenses are very delicate and not very forgiving to dust and dirt.

My recommendation would be Panasonic Lumix TS3 range. (also have one)

Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix 12.1 MP Rugged/Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo

Ticks all your boxes

Rugged
Waterproof
28mm wide angle
24Mbps video bitrate (awesome vid)
stabilized
Zoom
CCD (no Jello)
Stills
Audio is good but why not take a small Zoom H1 as a voice over recorder as backup, small enough to go in a pocket or pin to a strap.

Lynne Whelden · January 9th, 2012, 09:27 PM

Interesting point about dust and dirt...I hadn't given that much thought.
Ha! I just sold my Zoom H2 on ebay. I used it for a video project but wasn't real happy with it in the end. Too much amp noise in the background for my taste. (Clicking noise.)
I wonder if the POV.HD uses CCDs in their new model? For what such cameras are intended to be used for, I would think the jello-effect would be awful.

Lynne Whelden · January 9th, 2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Shealy

Lynne,

You may have missed the info I put just below the 3rd video identifying the ECM-AW3 wireless bluetooth mic. I don't know much about it, but it appears to be a bluetooth that has a generic 3.5mm input versus the Sony's proprietary hot shoe.

Sony ECM-AW3

Roger...Interesting unit. I didn't know they had this. It's quite different from what I use with the HC-3. The only mini-jack I have is for a headphone and that's on the egg-shaped receiver that's plugged into the hot shoe. As you probably remember, one major drawback of the HC-3 is that it has no other audio input besides the shoe. (They made an adapter once but discontinued it not long after. I never got it.)

Shaun Roemich · January 10th, 2012, 12:07 AM

Lynne: off topic but when you mention "clicking" on the Zoom recorder, were you recording MP3s on the recorder and then using MP3s directly in Final Cut Pro? As in not transcoding to AIFF first?

FCP hates MP3s and I have used the Zoom H4N on occasion and don't have anything bad to say about the audio quality, given the price.

Nigel Barker · January 10th, 2012, 02:23 AM

The Zoom H1 is a fraction of the price & weight of the Zoom H4n. It's very simple to operate (switches not menus) runs all day on one AA battery & has exceptionally good sound quality from the built-in mics.

Tom Hardwick · January 10th, 2012, 03:45 AM

I'm with Shaun - my H2 is gob-smackingly good, and for the money is quite outrageously good. A digital audio recorder with four mics for the same price as a cheap Sennheiser mono mic on its lonesome. The downside? The 1970s display window.

tom.

Roger Shealy · January 10th, 2012, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynne Whelden

Roger...Interesting unit. I didn't know they had this. It's quite different from what I use with the HC-3. The only mini-jack I have is for a headphone and that's on the egg-shaped receiver that's plugged into the hot shoe. As you probably remember, one major drawback of the HC-3 is that it has no other audio input besides the shoe. (They made an adapter once but discontinued it not long after. I never got it.)

Lynne,

I was suggesting the AW3 in case you get another camcorder that can't use your existing Sony bluetooth with the proprietary mount. If you continue to use the HC3, I'd use the bluetooth you already have if you are satisfied with the sound. I was able to get one of the input adapters before Sony discontinued it... : ) It looks like there are third party devices to do the same, should you want one:

Amazon.com: Pearstone Microphone Adapter for Sony Camcorder Hot Shoe: Camera & Photo

The Zoom recorders others are mentioning would be far better for sound if the source is close to the microphone. Another option is to just shoot the video and voice over the high points once you return, using the native sounds you capture real time as a back drop.

Ian Newland · January 10th, 2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynne Whelden

Interesting point about dust and dirt...I hadn't given that much thought.
Ha! I just sold my Zoom H2 on ebay. I used it for a video project but wasn't real happy with it in the end. Too much amp noise in the background for my taste. (Clicking noise.)
I wonder if the POV.HD uses CCDs in their new model? For what such cameras are intended to be used for, I would think the jello-effect would be awful.

The Zoom H2 clicking noise is a bug, the latest FW update fixes that. I suggested the H1.

POV HD is now CMOS. same as every wearable sports cam on the market.

Don Litten · January 11th, 2012, 03:19 AM

This thread has certainly moved on!

I never use camera audio except to sync to. IMO, it's always bad.
I have both the Zoom H4n and the H1.

Love them both and both have their place.
The H1 is what goes when space and weight are important and I don't give any up in the way of audio quality.

I've been following a cranky outdoor sports photographer who swears there's no practical audio difference between the two so I did a few tests....darned if he isn't right.

Lynne Whelden · January 11th, 2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Newland

The Zoom H2 clicking noise is a bug, the latest FW update fixes that. I suggested the H1.

POV HD is now CMOS. same as every wearable sports cam on the market.

Yes, I had seen other discussions over time that mentioned that clicking noise. Too bad I just sold my unit before they fixed it. But the thing was, the sort of audio I was recording was distant, faint...stuff like wind noise, birds...where the levels had to be cranked up anyways. (Because I was backpacking at the time, I couldn't afford the weight of heavy shotgun mics or parabolic dishes.) In the end, I purchased sound from places like sound dogs, from audio specialists who had the time and equipment to record things correctly. Hand-holding a Zoom H2 to record wind just didn't do it for me!

Ian Newland · January 11th, 2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Litten

This thread has certainly moved on!

I never use camera audio except to sync to. IMO, it's always bad.
I have both the Zoom H4n and the H1.

Love them both and both have their place.
The H1 is what goes when space and weight are important and I don't give any up in the way of audio quality.

I've been following a cranky outdoor sports photographer who swears there's no practical audio difference between the two so I did a few tests....darned if he isn't right.

H1 is quite good if used correctly, but the mikes on the H4n are a step above the H1. (i also have both) Just depends on what is acceptable. Touch the case of the H1 and the noise is transmitted to the mikes, the H4n has very good mike isolation from the body.

Nigel Barker · January 12th, 2012, 03:36 AM

Probably more of a consideration for backpacking is that the H4n weighs 280gms plus 4xAA batteries while the H1 weighs 60gms plus 1xAA battery.

January 9th, 2012, 06:03 PM	#47
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: GoPro for backpacking? Roger...are you saying the Sony bluetooth CAN be used on other hot shoes besides Sony's? The one I'm talking about is the ECM-HW IR wireless.

January 9th, 2012, 07:17 PM	#49
Ian Newland Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 319	Re: GoPro for backpacking? Lynne, your Canon Elph (i have one love it) will do everything you want image wise and the on board audio is quite good to. Buy, don't drop it, the extendable lenses are very delicate and not very forgiving to dust and dirt. My recommendation would be Panasonic Lumix TS3 range. (also have one) Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix 12.1 MP Rugged/Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix 12.1 MP Rugged/Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD: Camera & Photo Ticks all your boxes Rugged Waterproof 28mm wide angle 24Mbps video bitrate (awesome vid) stabilized Zoom CCD (no Jello) Stills Audio is good but why not take a small Zoom H1 as a voice over recorder as backup, small enough to go in a pocket or pin to a strap.

January 9th, 2012, 09:27 PM	#50
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: GoPro for backpacking? Interesting point about dust and dirt...I hadn't given that much thought. Ha! I just sold my Zoom H2 on ebay. I used it for a video project but wasn't real happy with it in the end. Too much amp noise in the background for my taste. (Clicking noise.) I wonder if the POV.HD uses CCDs in their new model? For what such cameras are intended to be used for, I would think the jello-effect would be awful.

January 10th, 2012, 12:07 AM	#52
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: GoPro for backpacking? Lynne: off topic but when you mention "clicking" on the Zoom recorder, were you recording MP3s on the recorder and then using MP3s directly in Final Cut Pro? As in not transcoding to AIFF first? FCP hates MP3s and I have used the Zoom H4N on occasion and don't have anything bad to say about the audio quality, given the price. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

January 10th, 2012, 02:23 AM	#53
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: GoPro for backpacking? The Zoom H1 is a fraction of the price & weight of the Zoom H4n. It's very simple to operate (switches not menus) runs all day on one AA battery & has exceptionally good sound quality from the built-in mics.

January 10th, 2012, 03:45 AM	#54
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Re: GoPro for backpacking? I'm with Shaun - my H2 is gob-smackingly good, and for the money is quite outrageously good. A digital audio recorder with four mics for the same price as a cheap Sennheiser mono mic on its lonesome. The downside? The 1970s display window. tom.

January 11th, 2012, 03:19 AM	#57
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: GoPro for backpacking? This thread has certainly moved on! I never use camera audio except to sync to. IMO, it's always bad. I have both the Zoom H4n and the H1. Love them both and both have their place. The H1 is what goes when space and weight are important and I don't give any up in the way of audio quality. I've been following a cranky outdoor sports photographer who swears there's no practical audio difference between the two so I did a few tests....darned if he isn't right.

January 12th, 2012, 03:36 AM	#60
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: GoPro for backpacking? Probably more of a consideration for backpacking is that the H4n weighs 280gms plus 4xAA batteries while the H1 weighs 60gms plus 1xAA battery.