Client of mine has a Panasonic MX 500 camera. On my advice they've bought a Sennheiser MKE300 mic to use with it. Problem is, the shoe is too tight for the mic's foot, the latter being made of plastic. Any advise?

Too tight? I don't recall that problem with my past DV953 (NTSC equivalent of MX500) and the MKE300 (see pic below). Have they tried any other mics on the MX500.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/74415/PKNBOPCBOCLVEJEDYMHX-Picture%20005.jpg

Tor,
Is he having problems getting the mic into the shoe, perhaps because of contact with the viewfinder? If so, have him pull the viewfinder out.

The plate on the mic holder that's supposed to slide in under the two metal thingies on the camera is too thick - or the two thingies are too low. I'll supply a photo later, but ight now I've got to run somewhere.

(Change the word "thing" into little wheels, thanks to Frank.)



Well, but there are two little wheels that you can turn around. Turn the first as much as possible to above, than the next one you than make some place between the plate and that turn thing. It should fit on the shoe now, and you turn the last little wheelback to secure the mike on the camera.

I've seen a mx500 with a sennheiser on it for sure. I have such a special shoe myself -but then to put up on any microphone I like- and that fits as well when I make some room.

Here's the image I promised you:
http://home.hesbynett.no/saltor/_test/sennheiser-panasonic.jpg

Has anyone any advise?

Thor, I found to have the same problem with my MX300. If it doesn't fit, don't force it! Go to this thread on the "Now Hear This" forum: Finally got my shock-mount. There's one Sennheiser mount that works very well. The lip thing is plastic and slides in easily. To tighten it, I just turn the little wheel.

Yes!, I ment the little wheel!, and put in in at the other side, with the vieuwfinder pulled out!. (I mean at the other side as where you put the arrow on the picture.

Yeah I noticed that too.

The mic needs to load from the back side of the shoe on the side of the viewfinder (which needs to be pulled back).

I'll try loading from the back. But I don't have the camera here. Can you actually pull the viewfinder back? I know you can tilt it up, but hadn't noticed you could pull it back.

Yup, many new Pany models have flush shoe to give the cam a cooler look, but requires the viewfinder to be pulled all the way back before attaching anything on the shoe (from the back).

Yes, the arrow on the pict pointing from the front of the cam is wrong.

The only way to slide the mic is first to pull out the viewfinder as others are saying. It's also written in the manual - your clients could may be read that part having troubles.

Thanks all around.
I went by the client's place this morning and looked at the camera. Yes, the viewfinder slides back and allows the mic to be installed from the back of the shoe. That solves the problem.

I don't understand why you should need to slide the viewfinder back - unless you're Pinocchio. It can't be made just to accomodate the mic shoe? I mean, it would be easier to turn the shoe 180 degrees. And when you for whatever reason create a function like that (I'm addressing Panasonic now) you should design it so that it becomes apparent, and not cause your customers embarrassment having to run around asking questions about such basic matters - EVEN if it is mentioned in the manual (and I don't know if it is).

If I could have back the hours I've wasted because of poorly designed gadgets - I could have written a book about it. But at least I've been given one more reason to love my Sony TRV 950.

But at least I've been given one more reason to love my Sony TRV 950If you like, we could turn this thread into a MX500 verses TRV950 thread; and I can think of 5 things which makes the MX500 a better cam. But if you give me a bit more time, I could think of a few more things. Then again, if someone would give me a TRV950, I would be happy. :-))

No, thank you. There are more than enough threads of that kind.
Actually the MX 500 seems to produce good video, which is the most important thing. I'll recommend it heartily to all the Pinocchios I know.

Guess what. The viewfinder slides back on my TRV 950 too! Whatever for? I've had it for 16 months and never noticed it before. But then I don't have to slide it to make something else work.

My DVL9500 and MX300 viewfinders do that too. Go figure. :-))

Pinocchios? They say that the nose never stops growing. A large nose is actually a blessing in Spring time. When you stop and smell the flowers, you get a double dose. :-))


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Life is good.

A large nose in spring time is a blessing unless you suffer from hay fever (as I do) ;-D

When you stop and smell the flowers, you get a double dose.
Is this from personal experience, Frank?

Some people feel a bit uncomfortable that, when they have a six hour accumulator attached to their dv cam, they will have the accumulator in their left (or in my case right) nostril when they use the viewfinder. It's because of them - it ain't me, it ain't me- complaining that Panasonic (and Sony) have changed the design for, I believe, both the accumulator and the viewfinder. Looked real pro on a wedding, a accumulator in your nostril, but okay.

Tor, I merely suggested to stop and smell the flowers---a universal theme in literature (and life). Too often we don't, and life passes us by too quickly, with missed opportunities of enjoyment in the little things all around. Too many times I have seen people caught-up or side-tracked with complicated things when all they had to do was point and press. Cam manufacturers have made it easy for us. Long live auto! :-))

Regarding the nose, a large nose just gives you double the dose of the sweetness flowers have to offer. Yes, I say this from personal experience. :-))

Have you guys and gals seen some of the new Sennheiser hot-shoe shock-mounts? They're perfect for small cams.

Yes Frank, I thought you meant to say what you just said you meant. I just thought I'd get your nose out in the open.
Only snowdrops and crocus here yet, and they don't smell much. Beautiful, though. I get your point exactly.

I've not seen the Sennheiser shockmount. Does it lower the transfer of handling and motor noise? Those, I think, are more of a problem with camera mics than the occasional "shock" as such.

Does it lower the transfer of handling and motor noise?I assume so, since it's a shock-mount---I haven't used it yet with my Apex 191 because I don't have a XLR-to-1/8" cable/adaptor yet. Bryan Beasleigh actually sent me one of his spares today, bless his kind soul, and I should have it sometime next week.