Whirring / Chirping noises during video recording on Lumix TZ7

*Roo* · 28-09-2009, 8:06 PM

Has anyone else noticed this from their TZ7? I have checked the memory card (I have a Transend Class 6, 16MB) with another 1GB card and that makes no difference. Is it the Auto focus motor? Is there a way to stop the noise? I would like to keep the Intelligent Auto for keeping everything in focus while filming. Here is one of my videos to show the noise:
By the way, I am Roo's Girlfriend in case you were wondering...
YouTube - How I Look After My Nails. Nail Care, Top Tips & Advice.
Many thanks.

Nimby · 28-09-2009, 8:29 PM

Can you give us a clue when these noises can be heard on the video?

*Roo* · 28-09-2009, 8:37 PM

It's right at the very start and continues all the way through. Maybe my hearing is too sensitive? It is definitely there.

Nimby · 28-09-2009, 8:49 PM

Well I can hear a low level repetitive sound but it requires her voice level to be very high indeed on quality headphones to really notice it. How are you monitoring the sound on this video? Could it be something else in the background?

*Roo* · 28-09-2009, 8:57 PM

I have heard the sound on other videos here:
YouTube - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 - 1st Test

and also here:
YouTube - pumpir's Channel

Nimby · 28-09-2009, 9:34 PM

The zoom lens motor can be heard clearly on the cat video. It is the noise being carried through the camera body to the built-in microphones. Remarkable sound quality of the ambient noises in the room.

The dog video has a weird, repetitive sound I can't recognise.

*Roo* · 28-09-2009, 9:44 PM

Sorry to be a real pain in the arse! I have just done another video here:

YouTube - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 Test Video Movie

The whirring / squeaking can be heard from the start of the video. It does also sound like chirping! The room is noise free otherwise.
(The sound is clearer with headphones, I've got Sennheiser HD 470)

elektrobix · 13-11-2009, 8:56 PM

I'm getting a weird sound on mine too, not all the time but every now and then, you can hear it from 2:04

YouTube - Pippa and Eiko 3sep09

Nimby · 13-11-2009, 9:34 PM

Central heating pump on the way out?

shotokan101 · 13-11-2009, 9:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimby

Central heating pump on the way out?

...could just be "thinking too hard"

Jim

pips · 13-11-2009, 11:29 PM

I haven't heard that noise in my videos

Nielo TM · 14-11-2009, 12:18 AM

I hear it on my TZ7 too, but it doesn't annoy me that much. Apparently it has to do with the firmware as it didn't exit before.

I initially through it was the motors adjusting the exposure and focus.

elektrobix · 14-11-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nielo TM

I hear it on my TZ7 too, but it doesn't annoy me that much. Apparently it has to do with the firmware as it didn't exit before.

I initially through it was the motors adjusting the exposure and focus.

Ah, is this the new firmware (the one that stops you from using third party batteries?) because i never upgraded to that one. I wondered if if it was the focus hunting too.

I've got a separate Camcorder for videos so i'm not overly worried, it's just a bit annoying that it's there.

Nielo TM · 14-11-2009, 4:35 PM

I believe it was the previous firmware

dave_bass5 · 16-11-2009, 1:04 PM

I used to hear that noise on my TZ7, with FW 1.0 and 1.1
Only if the room was very quiet.

I think it was the AF so i used to turn constant AF off and this helped a bit.

You can hear it in this clip of mine. and this was with FW 1.1 IIR.

Sam building his new toy cupboard. on Vimeo

sirlukas · 23-01-2010, 3:26 PM

I have got a very similar problem, but much worse to my liking ...
Take a look and listen please ....

YouTube - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 - noise during zooming (Robin, Erithacus rubecula)

Is that camera faulty and should I return it, what do you think?

dave_bass5 · 23-01-2010, 3:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirlukas

I have got a very similar problem, but much worse to my liking ...
Take a look and listen please ....

Is that camera faulty and should I return it, what do you think?

That sounds normal to me. I would say if you haven't upgraded to FW1.1 then do that as this FW was supposed to cure some of this but i think if its a new camera it will already have a latest FW in it.
Otherwise i think you just have to live with it.

I would say that because there are no loud sounds in the footage the camera ups the audio gain to try and capture the background noise. This of course means it will pick up the camera as well.

sirlukas · 23-01-2010, 3:48 PM

I have got it with the latest FW 1.2. The point is that my sister's Panasonic FZ38 does not make any sounds during zooming or auto-focusing and the zoom itself is much faster.

dave_bass5 · 23-01-2010, 3:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirlukas

I have got it with the latest FW 1.2. The point is that my sister's Panasonic FZ38 does not make any sounds during zooming or auto-focusing and the zoom itself is much faster.

I had loads of good footage that had no noise in it but as soon as i used it in a quiet room or outdoors i could hear it.
You could try not zooming and also turn off the constant AF. This will help but of course is not ideal.
This was one of the reasons i got rid of mine and went back to my HF10.

Jammyb · 23-01-2010, 5:02 PM

It's not the image stabilisation is it?

On my 500D if I have the IS switched on it makes a constant clicking noise.

peebly · 24-01-2010, 12:33 PM

Hello

The reason for the noise is simple, your putting your finger over the little holes on the top of the camera.

Try it and you will see, rather hear.

Johnmcl7 · 24-01-2010, 2:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammyb

It's not the image stabilisation is it?

On my 500D if I have the IS switched on it makes a constant clicking noise.

IS was my immediate thought when reading the thread, less sure when watching the videos.

John

sirlukas · 24-01-2010, 6:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peebly

Hello

The reason for the noise is simple, your putting your finger over the little holes on the top of the camera.

Try it and you will see, rather hear.

That was my initial reaction, no difference, I still think it is the sensitivity of the microphone that has some kind of boost when the surroundings are quiet.

dave_bass5 · 26-01-2010, 9:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peebly

Hello

The reason for the noise is simple, your putting your finger over the little holes on the top of the camera.

Try it and you will see, rather hear.

Sorry but that's just not true. Have you tried it shooting under the circumstances already mentioned in my post and in the posted video?

No zooming and constant AF off will go a long way to stopping these noises.

peebly · 26-01-2010, 8:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Sorry but that's just not true. Have you tried it shooting under the circumstances already mentioned in my post and in the posted video?

No zooming and constant AF off will go a long way to stopping these noises.

Sorry but that is true for my camera, If I put my finger over the little holes on the camera the microphone picks up ever little sound the camera makes.

dave_bass5 · 26-01-2010, 8:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peebly

Sorry but that is true for my camera, If I put my finger over the little holes on the camera the microphone picks up ever little sound the camera makes.

Nope, your missing the point.
No denying what you say is true but are you saying the poster had his fingers over the mic when he filmed the above footage?. And are you also suggesting i did the same in numerous shots?

You suggested by not doing this the noise would go away. That's only true if you have your finger over the mic in the first place.

So no, its not as simple to fix as you make out.

bugser · 27-01-2010, 2:48 PM

checked out some of my videos and with the volume turned high i can also hear the same chirping noise
i did a few tests videos with cAF off and on and i can definately say its to do with that ......cAF, like dave bass said,
with cAF on you can actually hear the noise from the camera while shooting, every time you pan the noise is triggered, the noise isn't evident if your not moving the camera and if you have cAF off.

my firmware is 1.2

hondavee4 · 26-03-2010, 4:18 PM

just stumbled accross this thread, mine is making the chirping noises as mentioned here but mine seem a lot louder,

right from the start, sometimes it does it and others it dont....was thinking of ringing panasonic

YouTube - another small movie, this time using my new panasonic tz7

dave_bass5 · 26-03-2010, 5:28 PM

The chirping noise is the constant AF working. Try turning it off.
Nothing you can do about the zoom noise other than dont use the zoom.
The reason its loud is there is no loud noise to tame the AGC so the camera will up the gain to try and capture the very faint background noise.