Reviews for the ECM-HST1 and HVL-IRM

I have a Sony DCR-HC96, and I got a couple of items for it for my Disneyland trips (once a year, minimum). The items are an infrared enhancement lamp, and an external microphone. Here are my takes on the two items.

I got the Infrared lamp by Sony (HVL-IRM), and there is one word for it: FANTASTIC.

It's an extremely light unit, very compact. The amount of IR light that it gives off is insane for the unit's size. I am illuminating objects VERY brightly at long distances (up to 30 feet with VERY good NightShot visibility, I'd say). Specs say that the unit will run for up to 60 minutes on two AA batteries, but those are supposed to be the emergency backup anyway. The battery that I got for the HVL-IRM is a Sony M-Series Infolithium battery. The NP-QM71 is findable on Ebay for 20 bucks, and it will power the unit for 680 minutes on one charge.

Another cool thing about the HVL-IRM is that it is not reliant on a hotshoe to operate. I really do appreciate that for the DCR-HC96, because you are going to need that hotshoe free to use any kind of external "intelligent interface" accessories with the camcorder. I mounted the HVL-IRM to the camcorder using a handled "L" bracket, which is very lightweight and quite comfortable. This left the hotshoe bracket on the camcorder itself to accommodate the next item that was on my list, and it was an item that needs to have that intelligent interface open... the microphone.


Which brings me to the other item I got: the Sony ECM-HST1.

I can't really tell you a whole lot about this microphone specs-wise (I am not a rocket scientist), but I can sure tell you a lot more than you have found on Google! Seems that the only actual user reviews you can find on it are from online electronics store sites, and they all seem to have the same two guys giving lame two-sentence reviews.... and they can't really spell very well, which tends to lead me away from trusting their judgement. So, here's the real deal.

The ECM-HST1 is, for what it is, also FANTASTIC.

It's cheap, it fits the camcorder well, it's compact, and it sounds worlds better than the onboard microphone.

The ECM-HST1 also looks really snazzy with its cool, included windscreen (a godsend on windy days, or when you are shooting in a fast-moving situation, such as on a rollercoaster... which I do a lot).

The onboard microphone on the HC96 is reeeeeally poor at picking up sound in loud situations such as live music shows, and wind is a KILLER. The distorted sound that the HC96's onboard microphone produces at live, loud music shows it unlistenable, just as annoying as large amounts of wind noise.

So far, I have taken the cam out and about and tried the microphone. No distortion, no significant wind noise, stereo sound quality is FAR superior to the onboard mic, and when I tested it in my jam room at home (I play drums and guitar), distortion was at a bare minimum.

Also take into account the fact that the ECM-HST1 has a "shock-mount" that is supposed to isolate the mic from the camcorder, and things are sounding really good... literally. I wouldn't say that it completely eliminates camera motor sound, but then again, I didn't notice any, so maybe that's an improvement. As far as shock noice is concerned, there's a sane limit to anything. You can't go knocking your camera into walls or go jogging with it without hearing some noise from the physical jarring of the camera if you use this mic. You'd have to have an adapter and a shotgun mic to achieve that goal (as far as I can tell, anyway).


So, as far as I am concerned (and please don't disagree with me angrily... this is only my opinion!), the ECM-HST1 and the HVL-IRM are perfect accessories to the Sony DCR-HC96 camcorder. Affordable, readily available, and the right combination to get everything done with the connectivity resources made available to you.

Happy Shooting!

Hans

I just got back from seeing a blues rock concert this friday
night. I took my 96 to record it. It was my first time out
with the ECM-HST1 mic. I forgot about it, and recorded the
first 3 songs without it. Then I put it on and used it to
record the rest of the show.

Night and day. This microphone is worth every penny
if you are planning to record something like this with
it. I used 16 bit recording in both situations (with and
without mic). There was a lot more depth in range
with this mic. Bass response was much more enhanced
and just a better quality about the music overall.

For voice recording the internal mic is fine, but if you
want to record a nice sound track, get this microphone.

dxr

@hanswagner:

concerning the HVL-IRM: Can you test if it is brighter with the NP-QM71 than with the AA batteries?

I use it with AA batteries but the HVL-HIRL is brighter.

@Peter06:

Is it true that the HIRL is brighter than the IRM?

I looked at testing videos on YouTube, and it appeared that while the HIRL had a better spreading effect, the IRM has much better long-distance performance. At closer ranges the IRM put out a concentrated beam, creating a "Spotlight" effect, which might be undesirable to some.

I have only tried the AA batteries option with my IRM thus far. The M-series infolithium battery should be getting here in the next 2 days.

The way that I plan on fixing the spotlight effect with the IRM is this: I am going to affix a piece of cracked ice plastic over the front of it, thus spreading the beam. It should work like a charm, as this method has been suggested by a couple of people in a different forum.

I'll write a post if there is any better performance with the M-series battery.

:)

What videos on YouTube do you mean?

Here is my new test of the HVL-IRM vs. HVL-HIRL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aLvUE8K7vM

Better Video-quality:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/864544/sony_hvl_hirl_vs_hvl_irm/

Here is the full review:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=de_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hc96.de%2findex.php%3foption%3dcom_content%26task%3dview%26id%3d80%26ac%3d0%26Itemid%3d42

I hope that the HVL-IRM with accu is brighter than with AA batteries.

In your comparison video, it still appears that the HVL-IRM has better long-distance capability, but the "spotlight" effect is pretty pronounced.

I will need to get the cracked-ice plastic and put it over the front of the unit to test how it works with a spread-out illumination pattern.

I just got the M-Series Infolithium battery, and it's charging. I'll make sure to post to this thread to give a report on its performance with AA batteries vs. Sony M-series battery.

The main thing that I really like about the IRM is that the intelligent hotshoe is left available for mounting a mic....

I have a question regarding the testing video of the HVL-IRM.... are you sure that you have the brightness adjustment knob turned all the way up? I seem to be getting much brighter illumination with mine than was shown in that video....

Thanks, will post soon.

Well, it appears that the light isn't any brighter with the Infolithium battery than it was with the AA batteries. However, with the NP-QM71 battery, the HVL-IRM should be able to run for over 600 minutes. With AA batteries, it's only going to go for around 60 minutes max (that's what the specs sheet said).

The large battery does add a fairly significant amount of weight, but it's worth it to me. It is available for low prices on Ebay (I paid around $35 total). I didn't get the new M-Series battery, as it cost $89 at Circuit City. The only difference between the new M-Series batteries and the new ones is that there is now a nifty little meter on the outside of the casing. You can push a button on the battery, and it'll tell you approximately how much charge it has. However, I didn't really find that to be a feature that could justify my paying another $50 for it.

I'll be able to shoot for very long periods of time with the large P-Series battery running the camcorder and the large M-Series battery running the IR lamp independently.

Things are looking very, very good so far.

Next up, I will post a bit of a review after I apply the cracked-ice plastic in an attempt to minimize the rather harsh "spotlight" effect that the HVL-IRM produces.

Hans

Thanks Hans. Yes, the brightness adjustment knob was turned to maximum. I used full loaded, brand new out of the box AA batteries.

You can light a tree 20m away from the camera. Thats the maximum distance.

I will get some M-Series Accus in the next few weeks and tell you, if this is brighter.

I guessed so because 2xAA batteries have 3V, 1 accu have 7,2V.

That's cool that you are going to post another video about this light, Peter06.

Peter06's vids are EXACTLY what people need to decide which lamps/accessories to buy for their camcorders, and I really do appreciate your questions, answers, and input.

I have to say that his videos are what convinced me that buying a supplemental IR lamp was worth the cost and the upsize of the camcorder. Excellent stuff!!!

If there is anything else that I can add to this thread, just add questions. I think that I am going to do the smart thing now, and subscribe to all of Peter06's threads. He has a VERY extensive history of working with and reviewing the DCR-HC96 and its accessories.

Thanks again for everything!

Hans

Thank you! ;)