Mike, quick question also..Does the Battery Clamp (sled) give you the option to be mounted via a camera hotshoe, instead of on the handle.
This way I could use a standoff hotshoe adapter that would enable me to mount the camera light and the battery holder on the same hotshoe.

that is funny.. in a cool way.. what kind of videography do you focus on?

Wedding and Event Vidoegraphy (recitals, live performancees and such).

Everything here in Tokyo is expensive so I am using the Cavision set up with Redrock 18 inch rods. Ill post a complete pic, mattebox, rods, shoulder mount.. mattebox, rods, shoulder mount plus m2. Wait til tomorrow.

Noel, that would be really appreciated .. decent shoulder mounting without breaking the bank is the only remaining question-mark over my A1 purchases :) Don't want to find that my ideas won't work once I have it all in my hands. Plus I don't have any handycam type cameras to play with to test it out.

Kris, you may want to take a look at the NEW DV Multi Rig from DVTec.

I have 2 threads going in the Support Your Local Camera section.

One is my initial review:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=74945

and the other thread, shows some pics on my website of my setup and configurations using a Sony VX2100 (much larger setup than I would need with an A1, (as the built in XLR's and shockmount, wuld eliminate the need for a Beachtek box and mounting the mic on the handle):
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=78500

I took a look at the A1 last night in my BVA meeting as a rep from Canon showed us the new cams from Canon.
It was already #1 on my radar, and this just about confirmed that this will be my next big purchase.
The DvMulti Rig will work fantastic with this camera. And my setup will get event smaller than what is shown on my website, as I will have the addition of built in XLR's and a shock mount on the camera, thus shrinking my comfiguration a bit. Add a new LED light from either Sony or Varizoom (runs on camera batteries) and I reduce hanging cables, further streamlining my setup.

Right now as it is I can shoot in about 10-15 totally different shooting configurations rock solid and fatigue free for an entire 8-12 hour shoot.
BTW the new optical stabalization on the A1 is totally awsome, as is the very quick auto focus.

Do those of you who've tried it agree that the supplied mic mount is good enough not to need a separate shock-mount when using an on-camera mic? What sort of mics have been tried so far? How much motor and handling noise is transmitted through each?

TIA

(or maybe this should be a new thread...?)

No just as show in photos; clamp mount for the battery sled.. its quite nice though and you can remove the clamp and attach the sled with a screw somewhere..