Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

As far as I know the 900 doesn't have that very clever Bluetooth mic (isn't it a radio mic rather than Bluetooth to give it greater range?). That does sound an excellent feature. I have a tiny Samson radio mic and receiver, both powered by a single AAA cell which would be almost as small.

I don't know the Elph 300 at all. Most cameras chime my bells, but I only write about those I've used, tested and know.

tom.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

Lynne,

The Panasonic doesn't have a plug-and-play bluetooth mic like the HC3. What the TM900 does have is much better manual controlled sound and sound levels so if you use a higher quality mic you can capture it in better fidelity. In general the on-board mic on the TM-900 is slightly worse than the HC3. If the Elph is a true contender, I wonder why not continue using the HC3? Although it lacks sharpness compared to the TM900, it's probably better than the Elph. Here are three vids to help you understand whether the difference between the HC3, TM900, and GoPro Hero2 warrants you plopping down $800 or so:

HC3:

TM900 (stills using Canon 7D):


GoPro Hero 2 (in very bright conditions. Falls apart rapidly in less-than-bright light)



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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

Thanks for the effort behind posting the clips. I'll check them out shortly (as I'm presenting uploading a youtube video and my system's getting a bit clogged).
I think this discussion strikes a chord because it goes far beyond backpacking. What we're talking about here is a search for the best pocketable (ie, packable) video camera. By saying "pocket" it has to be small and light. That rules out 98% of the cameras out on the market.
Until recent, a pocketcam meant muddy and grainy...hardly broadcast quality. But clearly the game has changed with the stripped down versions of HD-SLRs like the Elph and the S100 and others. But the
Flip and GoPro and Drift and the Croc compete for our attention too.

I just remembered something that might be a deal breaker for some of the contenders--the charger/power source. As intrigued as I was about the Elph 300, if a "wall-wart" charger is necessary to recharge the battery, then the weight factor has suddenly doubled. Anybody know what the Elph or the S100 requires? (My trip is 2 months overseas so recharging is going to be a necessity.) This is where a AAA-battery option like the Flip Ultra suddenly becomes a real plus.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

It was fun watching the 3 different videos...
The Sony showed me its familiar "soft" look. (After all, it's a 5 year old model.)
The Panasonic was so sharp as to throw me off, not looking quite "real" (considering I'm supposed to be wearing glasses but usually don't).
The GoPro was sharp to my eyes (but colors not as true). Wish I knew how bad it looks under less than ideal light.

Nevertheless, thanks for posting! I'm almost positive the Sony bluetooth is a proprietary device. It's pretty tricky to get it to slide onto the hot shoe properly. I guess they designed it that way so the shoe wouldn't get dirty.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

Lynne,

I have the proprietary Sony bluetooth also. I believe the one I attached to my last post is non proprietary as some of the posters were using it on other cameras. If so, make sure you get a camera with a 1/8" audio jack!

Also, This posted video of the TM900 was my first real use of it. I have since turned down the digital sharpening setting two notches, which makes the image a little more pleasing and I can sharpen as needed in post.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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



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.

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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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

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)

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.

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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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.)

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.

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.

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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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:



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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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.

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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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!

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

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.

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.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

The weight is a major factor Nigel,. Another is their construction. The H1 has a guard around the mics while the H4N does not. The H4N mics are notoriously easy to break.

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

That's a significant weight savings!

Re: GoPro for backpacking?
 

I notice where dealers have marked down the price on the Canon Powershot S100. Is it too soon for Canon to be thinking of replacing it with a newer model? Or is this just a spring sale to move product?
This thread has been most interesting!