Sony HDR-GW77: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof small HD camcorder - Page 7

Well we went out tonight and now the top 1/3rd of the lense cover is misty on the inside. It is warm and very humid. We are now back in our 73F hotel room with low humildity and after 15 min the mist is still there.

same thing happened to me with my sony xr550. we were in the car and i sit the camcorder near the car aircon . and when it came time to shot the christmas lights. the lens are covered with mist and video result is blurry.

now, everytime i put camcorder. i keep it far from the aircon. or put it in a small bag.
Edited by spyker1212 - 8/23/12 at 4:44am

Hi Bill. A few years ago I was out there and got some wonderful pictures of Mt Rainier at sundown. Great lighting. Am wondering how the GW77 and/or the CX760 would do with a challenge like that.

Also, would you have any idea how the image stabilizer on the GW77 would compare to that on the new CX760?

Mike

] have a couple of concerns. When this happens it makes the camera useless. I have no idea how long it took the condensation to clear last night After 1/2 hour I left it and when I awoke this am, it was clear again. Is the condensation also forming on the actual lens which can not be cleaned? Having condensation on the external lens cover I can understand, but to have it internally, what if any damage is it doing to other components?

OK, I just did a google search about it. I had just never noticed it in any of my other cameras but perhaps they have not been subjected to these extremes.
I'll see what happens when I venture out today.
What would be the results if it was placed in a refigerator (not freezer) after the humidity appeared?

found this while doing google search


On moisture condensation

If your camcorder is brought directly from a cold place to a warm place, moisture may condense inside your camcorder. This may cause a malfunction to your camcorder.
If moisture condensation has occurred
Leave your camcorder for about 1 hour without turning it on.

Note on moisture condensation
Moisture may condense when you bring your camcorder from a cold place into a warm place (or vice versa) or when you use your camcorder in a humid place as follows:

You bring your camcorder from a ski slope into a place warmed up by a heating device.

You bring your camcorder from an air conditioned car or room into a hot place outside.

You use your camcorder after a squall or a rain.

You use your camcorder in a hot and humid place.

How to prevent moisture condensation
When you bring your camcorder from a cold place into a warm place, put your camcorder in a plastic bag and seal it tightly. Remove the bag when the air temperature inside the plastic bag has reached the surrounding temperature (after about 1 hour).

http://esupport.sony.com/docs/dvimag/HDR-GW77_GW77V_guide/en/contents/09/02/02/02.html

Hey Mark...

My GW-77 arrived today and its charging right now. Smaller than I thought! Just a little thicker than an iPhone in a case. I did get an extra battery, a Bower XPDSBG 3.6v 1100mAh. I was wondering if you can recommend a 32GB memory card? I checked Costco online and they don't seem to carry MicroSD cards right now. So I could go to BB, Walmart, or order one from AMazon. Do I need a certain "Class" card?

I powered the camera on, but haven't shot anything yet. Will be looking at the manual for a while to see how to get started and not screw up. Plus I have to see how I'm going to edit on my iMac. You recommend that if I do shoot anything I should set it for 1080p60f right?

Mike

I will be interested to see how you make out with the 1080P files as neither I Movie or FCP X will recogize them for editing. I believe that Mark suggested Adobe for editing in 1080P.

No, Mark likes the software that comes with the camera because it is completely lossless in editing. It runs only on PCs.

In various threads, I have suggested Adobe Premier Elements 10 because it will work with 1080p60 files and runs on both Macs and PCs. It does not work the same way as Sony's "Play Memories" software for absolute preservation of the original content, but it comes close. And, it adds other controls and features.

Related to your point, I found it interesting in the Panasonic V700 thread that there is a choice to shoot in a mode called "iFrame" for Mac addicts. Sony does not seem ready to accommodate Macs. Instead they expect smooth play with Vaio computers and Sony TVs.

So who blinks, Apple or Sony?

Bill

Mike,

I have neither camera, so can't comment. I confess that, even though I have to good 1080p60 camcorders with good stabilization, the GW77 is tempting. My motivation has to do with the bad weather in the Pacific Northwest.

Bill

I hear ya. Here in the northwestern corner of the lower peninsula of Michigan, we have "lake effect" precipitation and clouds a good deal of the time, especially in the late fall, early spring, and all winter. Have had to shoot from beneath an umbrella or some such thing too many times myself. While maybe not as bad as where you live, it can be a problem here, so I do understand the attraction of such a camcorder. The more I research the GW77, the more I like it. The only thing I think I would miss would be the idea of a removeable lens protector (add-on UV lens), ability to add a telephoto lens, and the lack of 5.1 sound; all of which I now have with my current SR11.
Been saving my money and will be making a decision soon between getting the GW77 within the next five to six weeks, or to wait a couple/three months, save a bit more, and get the CX760.

Bill...

Apple doesn't understand the concept of blinking LOL. When you're king of the mountain in the phone and computer world you don't pay much attention to one camera brand. I almost bought a Panasonic refurb for exactly that reason... iFrame. But I'll figure out something because no matter what, its still digital data. But you never know... there's always the possibility that Sony could do a firmware upgrade to these camcorders and make them more mac-friendly.

Mike

OK, I'll bite......what is this cheap and light solution?

Another Mike.

I just returned it to Amazon after two weeks of real-world, vacation, in-a-helicopter, on-a-mountain, under-the-ocean experience. If you're interested you can look up my review on Amazon for exactly what is wrong (and right, which is a lot) with this unit, most of which you will not know just examining it in a store. I am not going to post my findings here because of the rather frosty feedback that I see some members posting in response to anything said that is critical of Sony and their camera (like the comeback that the lens is covered by glass...true but completely irrelevant to the comment, which correctly observed that due to the lack of an automatic or even manual lens cover, the optical pathway through which light enters the camera will get scratched). That's not objectivity, that's apologism.

If you want to know how this camera really works in actual use, check out my review there. Hint: I would at least wait until Sony releases a software update!

Haven't shot zip with the Sony yet LOL... been too busy with other stuff. Started to read manual, checked menu. Amazing how it finds faces when I aimed it across the room at a bunch of pictures on the credenza. Also how it detects macro settings when you put something close to the lens. Mark, I'm going to BB this morning to pick up the 32GB Sandisk that's on sale. I had a $25 BB gift card crowding my wallet LOL and did a pre-order online for local pickup. Just couldn't resist. I thought maybe I'd get lucky and my Sony T-30 PnS charger would work but alas... its a slightly longer battery in that and while it looks similar with the three contacts... it doesn't recognize the camcorder battery. No problem, I'll get an external one.

We're all interested in great HD quality, but there are times when 720p would suffice or even less. Not every video will find its way onto Vimeo/YouTube or my Mitsubishi big screen TV. Sometimes we just have a hilarious family video we want to send to relatives all over the country on their phones. And when I say "Mac-Friendly" I meant that Sony would include Play Memories software that runs without a hitch on a mac. Mac owners are usually iPhone and iPad owners as well. It would be so cool to have menu selection that said "Send Email Clip" and automatically pulled a particular clip off and made it easy to send. But look... I haven't really played around with anything yet so maybe all this capability exists. I think I'm going to try Adobe Premiere Elements 10, and then there's another product called Mac Video Converter that is supposed to be very helpful.

I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with this camera. Got my grandkids sleeping over tonight and spending next week with us as my DIL is a teacher and starts Monday, they start Thursday and one of them is only half-day.

Have to say I'm still amazed at the size of this unit and how nicely its made.

Mike

I'm pretty sure which review is yours. I've only had it for 1 day, but these are my findings relative to your points:
* The design of not being able to shoot a video in still mode is not uncommon to other Sonys. I have the VG20 and it does the same thing. I don't see the big deal here to be honest. One simple press of the 'mode' button brings you to either photo or video. Takes about a second.

* Haven't seen any warnings other than when it was my own mistake. I initially put the micro SD card in upside down and I got a warning. "OE" (operator error). I haven't seen any warnings when I did what I should have.

* I agree the touchscreen is a bit 'touchy' and doesn't always respond. I'm finding that if I hit the area slightly above where I think it should be, it almost always responds. I should note I haven't seen this behavior in the nested menus, but rather with small icons like the + & - for exposure. As far as playback goes, I simply pop out the memory card and throw it in to my PS3 for playback. Pretty easy. It's the same approach I use on my VG20 and any SD card memory cam I've ever used. If you record to the internal menu, then obviously that's a different thing.

* I don't get overly critical with photos taken with a camcorder or videos taken with a still camera. A camera like the 77 is a video camera first that can take photos when necessary. Photo taking is not its primary mission nor was it designed that way. Similarly, I don't expect the same quality videos as I get from a camcorder from most cameras designed primarily for still photos.

* 20 minute battery life? I'm getting more like 45. Not great, but pretty much as advertised and the compromise you make for such a small camera that can only accommodate small batteries. You may be keeping the camera on for extended periods while doing no shooting. I do agree a spare is needed however. They're cheap and available, so no biggie there.

* I haven't had it fail to turn on yet when opening the LCD. I've had a few times where it took about 3 seconds or so, but it always turned on...so far.

Since you seem to do so much underwater video, you might be better off with a larger camcorder and a waterproof housing. Personally I think Sony did a fabulous job with this camera. The biggest change I'd love to see is a viewfinder...but of course that would make the cam bigger. We make choices.

Thanks for the video, Mark. Just to remind me, what does the ND filter do?

Mike

For the first time Mine failed yesterday. Remowed the battery and inserted again and this time it operated as norma.

Thanks Mark. Very good explanation. This is another reason why I am reluctant to part with my Sony FX7, even though it is out of date performance wise. It has ND filters.

I can see the difference, especially in the last flower. I wonder how the difference would look on larger scenes, like a scenery shot.

Mike

It's very apparent on my 60" display, Railfan. I was initially disappointed that some scenes looked a bit too 'hot' for my tastes. However in Portrait mode the edge is taken off and exposure is tamed. As Mark suggested, it seems that dynamic range is actually increased.