On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 16:26:58 GMT, Doug Mikkelson <INSERTMYLASTNAMEHERE@att.net> wrote:

>'Twas brillig, Sun, 20 Apr 2003 13:25:14 GMT and d_ruether@hotmail.com

>(Neuman - Ruether) Did gyre and gimble in rec.video And as in uffish

>thought wrote:

>>On Sun, 20 Apr 2003 04:01:13 GMT, Doug Mikkelson

>><INSERTMYLASTNAMEHERE@att.net> wrote:

['mongst th' slithy toves...;-]

>< - snip details of camera picking up AF noise ->

>>Yes. If you use a WA (at WA...), though, you can often

>>leave the AF locked without focus loss, even with some

>>camera motion...

>Thanks. That should work most times.

>(although it still seems like an unnecessary annoyance to have to lock

>the AF! Grumble grumble.)

This little noise doesn't bother some of us, and it is

easily covered with location "ambience sound"...

>>>However, for a long term solution, I would like to get a camera

>>>mounted mic. - preferably one that is compatible with the Sony hot

>>>shoe. I am hoping that a separate mic would definitely *NOT* pick up

>>>this faint whir. True?

>>>Any and all recommendations appreciated.

>>The Sony 908c works well, and improves the stereo

>>omni-directional sound some over the camcorder's mic,

>>but it adds considerably to the size of the camera...

>Thanks.

>I would also be very interested to hear from anyone who has tried the

>much smaller

>Sony ECM-S930C

>http://tinyurl.com/9wy2

It appears to have no isolation mount, and it may mount

too close to the lens AF mechanism to do what you want...

>or the odd-looking

>Sony ECM-Z37C

>http://tinyurl.com/9wy4

This is a shotgun-type of mic that likely would remove

the camera noise, but I doubt it is stereo (as the

"lit." claims) unless it is mixing in sound from the

built-in mic (as the HS1 does...).

>Specifically with regard to picking up the AF or any other mechanical

>noises.

The built-in mics have noise-cancelling, I think - add-on

mics must have good shock mounts and either be directional

or be placed far enough from the camera body to avoid

picking up camera noises (audible or from vibration).

>>>I see in another thread, David Ruether has recommended the Sennheiser

>>>MKE-300 "for cheaps". B&H carries this one for $169. Is this

>>>complete overkill for the TRV-18 and beginner family shots - or should

>>>I consider it a decent intro-level investment?

>>It is mono and directional (maybe OK?) and it is also

>>large compared with the camera (both the 908c and

>>MKE-300 are light, though, and both require plugging

>>a cord into the mic input (and remembering to turn

>>them on/off...). Sony makes a hot-shoe connecting

>>mic, but I have not tried it (see Sony mics at

>>www.bhphotovideo.com).

>I guess I am naive in that I expected the 'Sony Intelligent Shoe' to

>be able to power the mic.. automagically , as well as transfer the

>audio directly (without cables). Does the Sony ECM-S930C function

>this way? It is somewhat unclear from the description. The

>specifications state that it has a two-way power supply, but don't

>mention how the audio is transferred.

The shoe will power/connect some mics, but not the

908c (likely best of the add-on stereo mics), or the

two you mentioned (a cord and mini-plug are mentioned

in the "lit."). BTW, these are cheaper at

www.bhphotovideo.com.

>>>Is the el-cheapo Sony ECM-HS1 Gun Zoom Mic ($55) even worth

>>>considering for this particular problem? I don't want to cheap out

>>>and end up completely frustrated.

>>It "zooms" with the lens, which would annoy me with

>>the shifting audio character - and at the "WA" end,

>>it is essentially the built-in camera mic, which is

>>mixed out progressively as the lens is zoomed in

>>favor of the HS1 mono shotgun mic (in other words,

>>there is no gain at the zoom WA - the sound will

>>be similar to what you have...).

>I definitely don't want to spend the extra $100 and end up with sound

>equivalent to what I have...

>Bleah - I just want something small and smart enough so that I don't

>have to expend much thought.

Ah, don't we all...! ;-)