Help me select the best small HD traveling camera for video!

so do we all recommend the AX100 as the best bush option for the next 3years? is it amongst the accepted cameras across the micro agencies? i would hate to buy it and it turns out that some of the big agencies only accept professional cameras.

Any agency that accepts the footage from the Z5U will accept that from the AX100. Better is the X70, as it has an even better speced codec, but costs more obviously, and requires an additional license for 4K (which I think is half the price it used to be). But considering that you sometimes like to capture audio, I would recommend you consider it. The X70 audio interface/handle comes off in a few seconds and then the cam is smaller like AX100 (a little bigger).

I just got the RX100 M5 and it is amazing, I carry it around more as it is so small and powerful. I have already made money from it! the 24-70 range on the lens what what I mainly use anyway. I also love that no one really takes notice of me when using it!

Thank you good people for that input. i have now got three options to look at. X70, AX100, and RX100M5. I like the feeling of shooting without every eye watching. our parks have become a den of thieves who asks for extra bribes when they notice a big camera. they say you are a commercial film maker.

Reports like CraftedShutter made are hard to beat, and if stealth is your primary concern, absolutely the RX100m5 ... the AX100 next .. kinda looks like a consumer handycam even more if you take the lens hood off. It's a hard choice, of course .. best off both worlds is one RX100m5 and one AX100/X70. Another plus for teh RX is that it takes nice stills, and with a $9 app does internal activated RAW timelapses ...

RX100m5: Stealth, stills, slowmo mode,timelapse, short lens
AX100: semi-stealth, (can't take stills in 100mb/s codec mode ... and the stills quality not worth it anyway) decent working tele range, good mics available as an add-on, but otherwise mics prone to wind noise)
X70: Definitely worse for stealth with the microphone handle on, an additional better codec over the others, no stills capability (except obviously 4K frame grabs) added cost for 4K

I think I'd stand by my original statement, that if you took all my cams away but one, I'd keep my RX100m4. So that said I'd recommend the m5 for you. If you make plenty money with it then also get AX100 to get your tele capabilities back.

I wonder what Terry ended up doing!?

very well put mizamook. your analyses is without blemish and you read me right completely. there are times that i need to come out of the van and hide behind the spare wheel rack to capture a shy animal. but with the big cam, am easily noticed. plus the ever increasing bad eyed park rangers, i can easily pass as a common tourist with the RX and they will not bother asking me to strip my gears and record them as commercial filming tools. i will go for it. i only needed to know that the shots are acceptable across the agencies. does it do a smooth zoom and macro capability (for insects etc)?

Steve, the zoom is actually quite smooth/slow during record. The macro is "fair" in that you can focus physically close, but cannot magnify well. Since the camera has no filter ring, (you can attach one but it protrudes a bit) you would have to handhold a macro lens. I have one of those things (close up attachment) for my X70/AX100, and can macro closer with that due to the larger tele range. Again, the tele range of the RX100 is my only hesitation for you .... that close-up of the cheetah shot of yours would not be possible (unless the cat was right there!)

I'd buy the rx10 iii for wildlife...24/600 equivalent plus slowmo...and it's quite small...

I own the RX10 II as well and love it too! I use it when I need more zoom. One of the things I love is the ND filters on these little cameras.

I think the AX100/X70 sport a little over 350mm equivalent zoom .. .so is the 600mm on the RX10 of quality? If so, hell, I'd be tempted myself .. haven't really looked into it.