Sennheiser blimp copy on eBay

[Jean-Philippe Archibald]

Did somebody tried this thing? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA:IT&ih=003

I found it looking for some used Zepelins on eBay. It seem to be an almost exact copy of the Sennheiser unit for a fifth of the cost.

I used the Sennheiser extensively and I know how good it is. If this thing is only half as good, for the price, it can perhaps be worth it.

Any hands-on opinions?

[Mike Peter Reed]

I've often wondered about those India sourced windshields in my searches for second-hand Rycotes. The cover looks a bit ineffective but the mount and basket look reasonable in the photos. Somebody's buying them, for sure.

[Guy Cochran]

Wow that pistol grip is an exact friggin' copy of the Sennheiser MZS20-1.
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite...transid=003609
I'm all for making things cheaper with your own idea, but that is a pretty blatant copy. Ships from India...hmmm...Are they untouchable?
Now K-TEK in the US has recently released a blimp/windshield that is an example of creating something similar, but with their own ingenuity. Cheers to them! http://mklemme.com/zepps_screens.html

[Guy Cochran]

By the way here is a link to how the real Sennheiser set-up sounds http://link.brightcove.com/services/...bctid187743884

[Mike Peter Reed]

I've always had a soft spot for the Commonwealth so I placed an order for their cheapest short zepp. I'm not expecting a Rycote or MZW, but will be interested in what turns up considering it cost me £50 on eBay. As for them being cheap inferior knock-offs .... I reserve judgement until I've tried it out and had a listen on top of a windy hill near where I live.

Turns out they sell direct, too.
http://www.thecinecity.com/

[Mike Peter Reed]

Well it turned up. Part one of my mini-review is here:

http://web.mac.com/miker71/HARP28/Sl...xperiment.html

[Jean-Philippe Archibald]

Sorry to hear about this Mike.

I ordered one myself (not the same model) and received it today. From what I have seen so far, it seems to be well made. I will write a mini review soon.

[Mike Peter Reed]

Overall I would say the one I got is "reasonable" at the price point, as ever you get what you pay for. It's obvious to me though that, straight out of the box, these zepps are not built for the rigours of even modestly low-budget productions.

The zepp itself was fairly good at protecting from plosives and sibulents, but the dougal supplied free is exactly worth the money paid for - it's a joke, it malts, it has a zipper with rattle-y bits, it's very low grade. For all I know it might actually work in moderate wind, but I have a 416 and full Rycote windjammer kit for that, this zepp I bought was for my Oktava MK012 which I use on interiors.

Oh yeah, the elastic bands on the suspension were ineffectual, leading to large amounts of mic wobble and it looked like they'd perish easily.

Anyway, I replaced the elastic with some thicker Rycote spares I have and now use that as the mount for my Oktava - but I've ditched the basket, instead I go with my tried and tested Rycote BBG.

So ... an interesting experiment. I think second hand Rycote kit is still superior, the new Rycote 'S' stuff is worth a look although as ever costs twice as much in the UK as anywhere else. Darn it, aren't Rycote British?!