New Z1 Owner-Filters and Mic Holder Questions
 

I've been reading this forum in preparation to make the big investment in the Z1. Just got it this weekend! No shooting yet, just getting comfortable with functions.

Questions:
Polarizing filter-I like using polarizers for some shooting situations. With the Z1, should I use a circular polarizer or will a linear one do?

Mic holder-I've been using a shock mount for my shotgun mike on my old camera to eliminate camera noise. The mic holder on Z1 is offset. Should I still use a shock mount?

This has been a great forum to learn about the new Z1. According to the place where I bought mine (Armatos in Glendale , NY) the Z1's have been flying off the shelves. I expect there will be more and more knowledge exchange as this camera goes into wide usage.

Welcome aboard DVInfo.net Cate!

I can't answer your first question (but I'll bet that if you do a search
here on "circular linear polarizer" you will get threads that discuss
the difference and which one to get).

On the second one: that mainly depends on what you are going
to use the camera for. If you are making fictional movies you really
should get a seperate mic and boom operator + sound mixer (can
be the same person) for maximum sound quality. If you really need
it onboard then I would first found out how good or bad it is for
YOURSELF before going out and buying mounts or other equipment,
what might not work for others might for you (and vice versa).

It totally depends on your shooting situations...

I just rig my mic holder to perform other functions like keeping cables out of the way of my hands. You don't want to use it for your mic because you get handling noise. Use a shock mount.

Mic Holder
 

I am shooting a sports documentary by myself so no sound person will be used. I will be using a shotgun mike and a wireless lav at the same time. I mounted the shotgun with shock mount on the shoe over the onboard mic and now find it blocks the LCD monitor from opening. Hmm. Tricky set-up.

What about this? If you just drop the screw in from the top, won't it screw into the adaptor? You could strip off the rubber and spray paint it, if you don't want it to stick out.

http://www.adorama.com/FABS.html

This is mostly for Cate:

I actually have combined my MZS-CAM Sennheiser shock mount with the Z1 microphone holder. I removed the screw, put a few layers of velcro tape on the topside of the shock mount's bar, and a small dab of velcro inside the topside of the Z1 microphone holder. Then I secure the shock mount into the holder, running the XLR cord under it before I screw the holder into place.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=194397&is=REG

This

(1) leaves the shoe free for my camera light
(2) keeps the shock mount away from the LCD
(3) allows me to easily remove the shock mount when I want (the Sennheiser metal adaptor plate is a little thick and needs to be forced into the shoe).

And I actually have a little room on the shock mount's velcro layering to stick my Lectrosonics wireless receiver to it.

If this doesn't make any sense, I can try and post a photograph.

Using Z1 and Shock Mount
 

Cole-I would like to see a photo of your set-up. It sounds like the solution I am looking for.
Many thanks.

Me too! Me! Me! Me!

shock mount mike setup photo
 

I've got a couple of photos, it doesn't look like I can attach a jpeg here, so for those who are interested, I'll e-mail you directly.

Cole could you email me a picture of your setup please. I have an FX1, a Formatt FM500 Mattbox, C6 PAG light and need those connected at all times.

I have a Sennheiser K6 shotgun mic which also needs to be attached, as the onboard mic is partly blocked by the mattbox. (plus the K6 will give better sound anyway. It needs to get around the mattbox.

My email is
stephen.shovlar ( at ) btconnect.com

Thaks
Steve

Absolutely Steve, I'm sending it now. If anyone knows a way of posting a jpeg to this group, let me know!

Here's the pic of it.

http://www.steveshovlar.com/zu1mic.jpg