Re: greg
 

Hans,

I don't think there's a camcorder out there with a built-in mic that's worth anything. If you're shooting family vacations or Christmas morning then picking up a little zoom noise isn't the end of the world.

For professional audio you should never use a built-in mic. Get a decent shotgun mic and you're all set.

If that is the case why don't they ommitt the internal mic all together. They already did this for the crappy external shot gone which you got with the PD150/170

The internal mic comes in handy when trying to sync the external audio when a clapboard is not available.

And those of us who shoot on vacation like having it. :-)

Hans,
The built in mic is no better nor worse than any other cam-built in mic. If you're serious about good sound, and serious about getting a good pickup of audio, you should NEVER use the built in mic. This is why the XLR inputs of the Z1 are so important. You simply can't get good sound with any camera mounted mic. Sometimes in run n' gun the Shotgun mounted is good, but that's an exception, not a rule.
So, yes, the cam mic will pick up some zoom and button noise, just like any other mounted mic.

I never heard this complaint about the pd170 !!!! Why doesn't Sony ommitt the internal mic. This would reduce the price of the z1 since everybody anyway buy an external mic!!! With the money thay save they could bring the audio electronics of the z1 to a higher level.

Because more people would complain about the lack of a built-in mic than those that complain about it picking up some camera noise.

I can hear the complaints now...."I spent $5 grand on this #$*#ing camera and it doesn't have a mic!?" LOL

I spent 5 grand on this camera and now I gotta go spend $49.99 at Guitar Center for a damn mic!!!!!!!!!

Spend more than that, it'll be worth it.

My shotgun is now on its second camera, and will probably make it to the next one in a few years.

Good audio gear will last a loooong time, don't go cheap on it in the beginning.

What shotgun mic are you using Bryan? Or better put, what mic is riding shotgun on your FX-1?