Sony HDR-GW77: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof small HD camcorder - Page 14

Thanks Mark. If you get a chance, it would be interesting to see how the spot focus, or tracking focus (or whatever it is called) works in similar situations. I have been asked to video a customers' model railroad (HO scale), with moving trains coming towards the cam and away. A tracking focus would be just what the doctor ordered, if it works well under those circumstances.

Mike (Railfan)

Hello Gw77 users, I just purchased a gw77 to try it out and noticed something quite disturbing. In situations with low audio noise the GW77 records what sounds like an old film projector running - it is in all locations (I thought it might be something in my house.) and I've tried with wind reduction on / off and recording levels, normal and low. I'm quite disappointed by this, it is enough to send it back. Anyone else experienced this? This unit doen'st have moving parts in general, so I don't get it.

You can't hear it if there is a fair amound of noises going on.

Go back to post #382 and #386. Bo Barker says it is the autofocus working.

Thanks, this is still pretty disconcerting. One might not want to lock autofocus...

I'm in my house with my kids running around or I'm outside shooting a landscape scene wanting to hear the surroundings.

No, I do not hear them in the posted video. (Both links are the same.) The problem is if there isn't at least a low level of ambient noise.

I listen to videos on my PC with Klipsch 5.1 speakers. My other camcorders HF100, RX100, and Optura 50 didn't have this problem. I will upload the videos to see if you can hear it, it's quite bad.

And yes recording level is low.

I do not hear it in your video. Here is a link to a quick clip I took to see how the camera pans. There is a low noise which is a plane or lawn mower, but you can hear the movie projector sounding noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIn-VqrGQ8M - Outdoor

http://youtu.be/BvxKipl_zAw - Indoor

If you hold the camcorder on your ear, you can hear what sounds almost like a miniDV tape running.

It the first thing I noticed when I watched an indoor shoot. Shoot something in your house and see if you can hear it.

I just spoke to Sony and escalated the call to a "Product Specialist." They had nothing on the file of this problem and no recall at this time, but he said the MHS-PM5 camera has the same lens configuration and same noise problem. He said he could do warranty fix, but he thought they would just return it as this is an inherent problem with the camera. Case number e56181404.

I agree that you need to understand what the camera is doing and cannot always rely on auto. My HF100 tended to overexpose, and in low light push gain too high, however, I don't think I can live with a camcorder that can't utilize autofocus in a quiet setting.

Unfortunately, I am returning it.

These where the clips posted in #374. Boe figured it out in #386.

These clips have the same noise. It is a little fainter because Boe is taking video of his kid and there is more "real" noise. But, in the background you can hear the same thing.

SeaBertTheSeal,

I had the same problem. It frustrated me greatly. If there is sufficient background noise (ie cars, waves, resturant sounds, etc) you will not hear the sound. However, at home the "rolling film" sound is noticeable. I never noticed this problem with the Kodak ZX3 pocket cam, Canon HF20 Vixia, or Canon XF100 I used. Good news, is that it can be eliminated by using manual focus, or reduced by using the "low" audio setting.

This video compares four settings, if you'd like to hear my camera's sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3DIK4Mj-cc

My biggest complaints concerning the HDR-GW77V are the "rolling film" sound, the lack of lower quality progressive settings, and the color saturation. When comparing this camera to others, the color saturation is actually pretty darn good. My HF-20 and ZX3 come nowhere close to the low light / color saturation performance of this camera. The Canon XF-100 does slightly better, but that thing costs 3k.

As stated earlier, the rolling shutter can be eliminated. I often film my child playing in the house. My viewers have never complained about the "rolling film" sound. Although it is annoying to me, it at least sounds like rolling film and not some awful screeching sound. I actually filmed an interview a few days ago. I used my iphone and a lav mic to record the audio separately. Problem avoided!

It would have been nice to have an external mic port. That way, the issue could be eliminated in quiet rooms.

Nonetheless, the camera turns out great quality video, is waterproof, easy to use, and small. It's hard to beat.
Edited by Boe Barker - 12/2/12 at 12:12pm

Markr041,

I've actually heard this sound in your videos. It is partly why I no longer thought my camera was defective.

Here are a couple of your videos with the "rolling film" sound present.
Many points throughout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=swps7TA7pSM#!

At the very beginning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=07hHU-MDErc

I should mention that I am hearing the sound via Macbook Air internal speakers.
Edited by Boe Barker - 12/2/12 at 12:15pm

Thanks for all the comments and helpful information. I just can't live with guessing which scenes will have the "film roll" sounds e.g. Is it noisy enough around here? Even a simple outdoor shot around my house had the sound.

Since there really is no good way to tell what the threshold is until you hear the playback on a computer / TV, I'm going to have to keep searching...

Mabye I got a unit that is more affected than others?

I don't think so. Mine has the same issue. It was disappointing to me as well, but I just got over it.

If that's the case, maybe Sony will hand seaberttheseal and me less noisy cameras.

^ In China again Mark. You must be getting pretty good at speaking and reading Chinese by now? Love the China videos. Please post more footage of the street musicians playing those crazy instruments.

The purr..purr..purr noise could definitely vary in volume from cam to cam.The autofocus mechanism on each individual cam is most likely slightly different in build. Mark and I have experienced this noise in the past with cams. I would exchange a unit that seems to have a more pronounced auto focus noise with another unit to see if it is less severe.

It can be annoying at times but it is easily fixed by locking focus. All cams have their issues and you have to be prepared to adjust for those issues in certain filming scenarios if it bothers you. Like Boe Barker states, "it is a little disappointing but you quickly get over it", especially knowing the focus lock eliminates it entirely.

This particular autofocusing noise problem would not deter me from purchasing a GW-77. It has taken the small portable waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof cam to a whole new level.

OK, on the edge of purchasing the GW77. Unfortunately, no Sony stores around here, nor are there any stores that have the GW77 in stock around here. So.....I have to order on line. Question: Which of the following two businesses would be the favorite to order on line; Amazon or B&H? Which of the two has a better return policy if I get an extra noisy GW77? Which of the two can be trusted more?

Thanks.
Railfan (Mike)

Hope it is OK to ask these questions.

I am a very regular customer at Amazon. I pay the annual fee for free two day shipping. (Amazon Prime) I think I save money by not driving to the store for things like ink cartridges. I buy everything I can from them. Recently I saved money on fuel and oil filters for my motorhome! Their return policy is fine. Basically, you click on the right spots and your printer will print a return label and you go to a UPS location.

For camera gear I prefer B&H, although their free shipping is slow. In my state we have a near 10% sales tax. Since they have a single New York store, they don't find it necessary to charge me sales tax. Amazon is home based in my state. They have to charge me sales tax! In other words, every day is a 10% off sale for me at B&H

B&H service is legendary and stellar!

Part of the B&H retail strategy is a 100%, no questions asked, 30 day return. I bought a camera from them a few weeks before an out of country trip and realized my 30 days would expire before I returned. I emailed for an extension in case I discovered flaws on the trip. They emailed back a 30 day extension. (I kept the camera.)

I bought an expensive video workstation laptop and screwed up the system software at about 45 days. I "on line chatted" where they offered me a refund or replacement. I like computer and asked if they could help me get it repaired. They provided a contact at the computer maker and all is now fixed at no cost to me.

My wife bought a camera from B&H two weeks ago. The next day there was a $50 price drop due to Black Friday competition. She "online chatted" with them. In seconds, she got a $50 credit.

I don't know any insiders at B&H. I think the see the costs of their 30 day return program to be cheaper than having branch stores. They can service the entire country from one place. I know they get abused by a lot of camera junkies that just want to play with a new toy for a few days, but they still do it.

In short, buy ALL your camera gear from B&H. They are that good.

Bill