Zoom mounting options
- Thread starter J Davis
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A foam pad between the leather sheath and the Edirol. The ball mounts to the leather sheath, not the Edirol unit. It's not a full blown shock mount but it isn't all that bad actually. I get very little camera operation noise either on the tripod or hand held. The XLR-Pro comes with the camera when you go hand held BTW...any off camera boom mic plugs right into the XLR-Pro. It ain't perfect but it ain't bad either. The stereo mics on the Edirol do a decent job close up (i.e., a run and gun corporate interview from across a desk).
J Davis
Veteran
mhood you have me intrigued. Can you take a close up pic for us all to see?
You may have a real gem of an idea because this could be applied to the H4. It would be as simple as placing a foam pad between the H4 and its containing hard plastic shell case. Then I could dispense with the long-ass shotgun / shock mount etc
J Davis
Veteran
Its a great idea mhood, a great idea. I didn't have any foam lying around so I grabbed some bubble wrap to run a test with the H4.
Here are my observations with the H4
- The H4 has a headphone out so monitoring with headphones can't happen with this setup. The movement of the headphone wire goes straight to the zoom body and bypasses the padding.
- The padding has reduced handling noise by about 50% but its still there. however I found that if I took care then I could operate menus on the GH1 without hearing anything. But as far as adjusting the zoom on the kit lens - no good - I could hear the H4 still picked up the noise, focus ring was ok.
I also spoke to someone at Zacuto (not a sales rep, they were busy), she said there is no shock mount or padding in their Zounds Hotshoe. This makes me seriously wonder what they meant by good audio in their video I linked to in post 1.
So I think for top quality audio in a solo run&gun situation, a shotgun in a shock mount on top of the cam with an XLR cable leading to a preamp on my belt and then to the zoom also on my belt is the only solution that I can see. Unless you can afford a wireless, then you are gonna have to deal with an XLR cable in your way.
mhood's solution is good if you are very careful with your handling of the camera, don't need to use headphones to monitor, and don't need to zoom during a shot.
Here are my observations with the H4
- The H4 has a headphone out so monitoring with headphones can't happen with this setup. The movement of the headphone wire goes straight to the zoom body and bypasses the padding.
- The padding has reduced handling noise by about 50% but its still there. however I found that if I took care then I could operate menus on the GH1 without hearing anything. But as far as adjusting the zoom on the kit lens - no good - I could hear the H4 still picked up the noise, focus ring was ok.
I also spoke to someone at Zacuto (not a sales rep, they were busy), she said there is no shock mount or padding in their Zounds Hotshoe. This makes me seriously wonder what they meant by good audio in their video I linked to in post 1.
So I think for top quality audio in a solo run&gun situation, a shotgun in a shock mount on top of the cam with an XLR cable leading to a preamp on my belt and then to the zoom also on my belt is the only solution that I can see. Unless you can afford a wireless, then you are gonna have to deal with an XLR cable in your way.
mhood's solution is good if you are very careful with your handling of the camera, don't need to use headphones to monitor, and don't need to zoom during a shot.
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A leather sheath for the Zoom that has the mount would be nice but you would still have the problem of XLR cables in your way with a hot shoe mount. I'm surprised the Edirol HR9 doesn't get more respect...it really sounds clean and combined with the XLR-Pro makes a pretty flexible portable system.
J Davis
Veteran
Zoom h4 shock absorbers
Zoom h4 shock absorbers
Found some foam and it works better than the bubble wrap I used in my quick test last night.
I haven't had a close look at the H4n but from product shots it looks like there is no plastic shell case so I don't know if the shock/padding is possible with that model.
Anyway here is some pics, please excuse crappy quality as I'm using a $100 point'n shoot party camera
EDIT - by the way I did a 6 minute sync test with 1080p AVCHD and the zoom H4, it did sync perfectly in FCP, 1hr sync test coming soon
2nd EDIT - these jpegs attached show the height the zoom is at with the parts I used from post 11
Zoom h4 shock absorbers
Found some foam and it works better than the bubble wrap I used in my quick test last night.
I haven't had a close look at the H4n but from product shots it looks like there is no plastic shell case so I don't know if the shock/padding is possible with that model.
Anyway here is some pics, please excuse crappy quality as I'm using a $100 point'n shoot party camera
EDIT - by the way I did a 6 minute sync test with 1080p AVCHD and the zoom H4, it did sync perfectly in FCP, 1hr sync test coming soon
2nd EDIT - these jpegs attached show the height the zoom is at with the parts I used from post 11
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You know I had the same experience and came to the same conclusion. I had a mount like the one you have their laying around and went and purchased something else because I couldn't get mine to fit. BUT - it really did fit. I just had to not be afraid to push it. It's just very VERY snug and I did get it in. So don't be afraid to push it in there.How are you all mounting the zoom? Or is everyone planing on a carry bag/sling?
Based on Zacuto's video (LINK) I came up with this
$10 Audio Technica Flash Shoe Mount B&H LINK
$15 Giottos Mini Ballhead B&H LINK
Saw another way (B&H LINK) but Zoom may be too low and interfere with the controls.
B&H closed today so will try it tomorrow.
EDIT:
Its monday and I just took my GH1 to B&H, the Audio Technica Shoe Mount does not fit in the GH1 shoe socket
so I came up with another solution for same price. See post 11
I'll do you one better than your $100 point and shoot quality, here's a pic with my camera phone.
what about something like this - uses the mic stand adapter that comes with the H4n, mounted in shock mount, flipped back so the zoom rests behind and slightly above the camera.
(just shipped my camera to Barry G for testsing so don't have it)
J Davis
Veteran
I had thought about a studio shock mount solution as you have pictured but I don't own a studio shock mount and I also didn't want to use something that cumbersome on top of a DSLR
Is that the H4n you have pictured? And if it is, can you tell me if the 1/4 thread hole for mounting is in the zoom body? or in a hard plastic shell case holder attached to the zoom body like in my H4 pics above?
Is that the H4n you have pictured? And if it is, can you tell me if the 1/4 thread hole for mounting is in the zoom body? or in a hard plastic shell case holder attached to the zoom body like in my H4 pics above?
It's the H4n and it's in the body.
J Davis
Veteran
That a bummer .. means you can't use mhoods padding trick
PhilD
Well-known member
I'll do you one better than your $100 point and shoot quality, here's a pic with my camera phone.
what about something like this - uses the mic stand adapter that comes with the H4n, mounted in shock mount, flipped back so the zoom rests behind and slightly above the camera.
(just shipped my camera to Barry G for testsing so don't have it)
This calls for a Vimeo video with your audio setup
PhilD
Well-known member
Is it just me or you can't use the viewfinder or hold the cam up to your eye? I will try a recorder that has the tripod/hotshoe mount elsewhere than the bottom...
J Davis
Veteran
You are referring to my current on 'camera setup' (pictured in psot 28)?
If so I've had no problems with LCD or electronic viewfinder, can reach all controls easily.
If you come up with other recorders and mounting options please post them here as I am interested.
As you have probably read, lack of shock mount is a problem. I tried putting the recorder (my zoom) on the side but I didn't like the unbalanced weight with a cam this small. On top keeps it balanced.
BTW ... I don't recommend mics attached to cameras for any serious work at all.
This is purely for times when it has to be solo.
PhilD
Well-known member
Yeah. I've purchased a Zoom H2 on eBay because it didn't seem convenient to me to have half the Zoom H4/H4N towards my head. Sure it keeps the camera balanced but I want to try something else.
In lbs:
H2 is 0.24lbs
H4 is 0.41lbs
H4N is 0.61lbs.
So the H4N is over twice as much weight as the H2
The H2's tripod/hotshoe mount thingie is not placed at the same place as the H4/H4n. Not sure how to explain that in proper English but look at pics on Google Images.
Please not that I'm not taking into consideration sound quality as the basis of my choice, I'm probably going to record only high bitrate MP3 anyway.
Ben_B
Veteran
I just realized my brother has a Zoom H2, doing some tests on it the built in mic isn't great at any kind of range but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on using it with a little shotgun mic on the camera or rods (it has 3.5mm in.) Recording quality actually seems pretty respectable and I think an H2 with a real external shotgun mic (no phantom power though) would be better than the H4 with its built in mics at the same price...any thoughts?
When I get back to school when the summer is over I'll just check out a Marantz pmd660 or something like it and have another person boom mic it, but for now what do people think of the Zoom H2, as I already have one on hand and would love to shoot a short...has anyone used it and has any notes for me?
When I get back to school when the summer is over I'll just check out a Marantz pmd660 or something like it and have another person boom mic it, but for now what do people think of the Zoom H2, as I already have one on hand and would love to shoot a short...has anyone used it and has any notes for me?