I just got a XL1s and I am noticing that it records the zooming. I mean records little hum if you zoom in and out. I got it May 19,2002. I want to know is this a defect. Has anyone else noticed this. I have been trying to get a feel for it and it does it most when it is applied fast. When I zoom in slow I don't hear it on play back. Thanks Dan

Hey do a search for "zoom noise" there is extensive material on this. Its normal and if you consider buying the mini mount and isolator, save yourself some money and don't zoom or have ambient sound in the back ground.

Also see my article, "top 5 accessories for the xl1 / xl1s" as this issue is discussed. www.dvinfo.net/xl1.htm > Articles Menu. And look under Microphone & Audio in the articles section for more detail on the LightWave Systems accessories which fix this problem.

Is it possible that the MM-XL1 alone will take care of the problem?

What is the "MM-XL1"?

Mini-Mount. The microphone suspension cradle. And yes, it will go a long way toward dampening that noise, moreso than the System Isolator (SI). But it's best when you have both of 'em working together.

A couple other factors that may effect zoom noise.

A quiet venue with audio AGC mode on such that AGC is at max gain.

The mic clamp screw too tight which can lead to excessive coupling of mechanical vibration to the mic.
Of course, if it is only at max zoom speed, for some applications it may be a bit less of an issue because video captured during max zoom speed is often edited out.

I purchased the XL-1 Equalizer (fuzzy cover) for my mic. In a really quite room I can still hear a little zoom noise, sometimes. But in the rest of the world I never hear it anymore. I am really impressed with how well it surpresses wind noise, too. I wish I could do that on the wireless lav.