February Birthdays 
As an example of what the AquaSonics sound like in revival.
This is also an example of what you can get with a Sony alpha NEX-3, Sony's new mirror-less interchangeable lens camera, which is about the size of a standard digital camera if you don't count the interchangeable lens itself. There are higher range, more expensive 5 and 7 models. It is a HD camera. It records to a SD device. It does pretty well in dark places, and the internal mic is stereo. There is an external mic, but I only have an internal mic so far. The external mic uses the same boot as the flash, but though you can't use the flash in video, exchanging is time consuming so you wouldn't be able to swap them out instantly. (The 7 has separate setups for flash and mic.)
The camera does have automatic audio damping which is not too terrible, but not adjustable and not workhorse strength. It can handle fairly loud bands, but even a surf band with a good bass amp turned up can overload it. That is, the bass overloads the damping and distorts horribly. Oddly enough I have not had this problem with a Sony digital (W-series), though the overall sound was not as good.
All modifiers to the image recording apply in video, and you can adjust the zoom with lenses that allow it as you shoot. The interchangeable lenses have to be the E type. There are a couple of telephotos (a 55-210, an 18-200 universal), a pancake, a macro, and some higher range zooms at this point, plus a few others. I have the close in 18-55 zoom lens. An 18-200 zoom is pending. Third party lenses and adapters for other lens ranges are starting to appear.
This camera will overheat if you use it continuously in a hot (c. 100 F) sunny environment. At least with video.
