Sony HDR-GW77: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof small HD camcorder - Page 2

And here is how the other 1% live:

https://vimeo.com/45892024

For the purpose of learning about the camcorder: the indoor area presents a WB challenge, as the interior is lit by both sunlight through windows and by incandescent and fluorescent light. Seems to get the balance well. Also, sound check at the end as we hear the piano (Beethoven) up close.

I have the blue version, but I have seen the white and black and think the white is better than the black - actually more inconspicuous.

For those who have a Sony Hx9v, you will be happy to know the GW77 uses the same battery.

I will post some more GW77 videos, from San Antonio, soon. Still very pleased by the performance, including audio. In the meantime, a video frame grab of a surprise brief visitor at the Alamo:


Edited by markr041 - 7/21/12 at 10:45pm

I do not understand why Apple does not support 108060p AVCHD (which is now supported by almost all Windows editors). I do not use any Apple products, but what I have seen is that there is a software solution that converts *without any loss* AVCHD video to formats that Apple software can use - Clipwrap. (http://www.divergentmedia.com/clipwrap/).

There may be other solutions, but this is what I have heard works well, the key being no quality loss.
Edited by markr041 - 7/22/12 at 7:59am

You dry with a towel if you want, and yes, you can rinse off if it gets sand (or, better, put the camera in a little tub and let it soak (I'm not kidding)). And, no lens spots.

At the Sony Store in Hong Kong, they had one that had been continually used to take "underwater" videos in their little tank. Sitting on the counter, it was always wet. I used it to take videos while still wet and I did not see any problem (we played the videos on one of their big TVs). You do not have to dry it off to use.

The honking does go on 24-hours. This is an example of how replacing the actual audio by a new-age sound track would eliminate something important (besides a headache).

One of the best lounges I have encountered (Turkish Airlines, Istanbul).

"Is there a way to protect the lens from getting scratched via a lens cap or UV screw in filter or some other method?"

The lens is NOT exposed. The lens is covered by a permanent glass shield that is scratch resistant and also sheds water. So there is no coating to scratch. This is part of the ruggedness design.

Three San Antonio videos.

No rain or sand storms so the GW77 was acting like regular, but pocketable, camcorder.


The first video is of Riverwalk, and plays with reflecting light, color and dof, with a quarreling bird interlude.

https://vimeo.com/46206319


The second conveys the Alamo experience during the day and in the evening.

https://vimeo.com/46224323


The third brings Mariachi music, taken in a very dimly-lit local restaurant. Trumpets but no car horns.

https://vimeo.com/46229529

All videos shot at 108060p.
Edited by markr041 - 7/23/12 at 9:33pm

Tingham: You are right - I posted a video from the Alamo using the JVC HM400 two years ago! Here is the link:

https://vimeo.com/10394295

It is interesting to compare the videos: The HM400 video now looks a bit soft with perhaps less dynamic range and is less fluid (maybe Vimeo's dealing with interlaced) compared to that of the GW77, and it was at the time one of the sharpest camcorders.

Here (again) is the GW77 Alamo video:

https://vimeo.com/46224323

Shield: The RX100 is a good choice to complement the A77. Its videos will mix in well with those from the A77, as they share the same softness and moire but good dynamic range. The GW77 videos would stand out too much and make the A77 videos look soft.

If anyone wants to see the difference between what a real camcorder like the GW77 and a big sensor still camera that does video produces, I shot in the same garden and under the same lighting conditions that I took the GW77 video a video using the Sony NEX-5N, which is a large sensor camera that no one argues is inferior to the RX100 (and some have argued is superior to the A77 in low light).

Here are the links to the two videos:

First, the NEX-5N (with kit lens) video:

https://vimeo.com/29018746

Then the GW77 video (same as the original post, here again for convenience):

https://vimeo.com/45606199

The NEX-5N video looks very nice, but then when you see the GW77 video you see clearly the resolution difference (and some NEX difficulty with red). I would expect the RX100 video will also be nice-looking, with good dynamic range, and its softness would only be apparent when compared with a camcorder.
Edited by markr041 - 7/24/12 at 9:30pm

"the GW77 must be tiny. What's the size comparable to?"

The GW77 is about the same size as the Sony HX30v compact P&S and just 10% larger (in volume) than the Sony "best pocket camera ever made" RX100.
The GW77 is lighter than both - by about 9-10% (including battery).

In contrast, the Pansonic TM900 is about twice the size of the GW77, and *without* any battery (and the battery is large) weighs almost twice as much.

Here is a link to a Sony video showing the camera being used so you can see the size (in the hand):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhs6I5bSZE

"Do you have any other pics from the GW77? With all due respect, that looks pretty bad."

Here are two pictures at f1.8, wide angle (no telemacro):





Yes, you can get shallow dof wthout tele macro mode at f1.8. With a big sensor camera, the dof might be so shallow the picture would look odd.