Since I wasn't planning to attend southern Germany's, "Das Funfzigerfest," this year, I decided instead to make a day of it on the day that it actually counts; and today was that day. It all began after I feed the chickens this morning when my neighbor asked me to take her to her mother's. "Sure, let's go," I said, and off we went for a drive to "The Wack."

After I dumped her off at her mother's, but not before I got the 50 bucks and the $50 gift certificate for The Keg (steakhouse & bar), I gas'd up the car (for Petro Points), since gas was cheaper in Chilliwack, (Sardis, actually), and then dropped my wife off at the Zellers while I motored down to Value Village. Take note that I took my other half along. :-))

Wow, the Value Village had tons of stuff! I saw Super 8's for under 10 bucks, slide projectors, cameras---no pipes---and then I spotted what I wanted to buy. It was a large, silver pen with a heart-shaped silver holder. The pen felt like one of those "poison pens" used in the art of Baguazhang. Yup. I bought it. 20 bucks, thank you---a nice side-kick for my friend, Buck. Model #119. Oh, and I also bought a dictionary, since my current paperback special has long been in pieces. (The dictionary was 2 bucks.)

Back to Zeller's, can't forget about the wife, you know, and drove back towards home, though we stopped for a breather beside the Star Bucks in Coquitlam Centre. I was keeping one eye open for Dylan, but I didn't spot him, so off we went again, my wife and I, straight to Lorne Lapham; and this is where the story really begins. :-))

I looked at all types of shock-mounts, and decided to go with the Sennheiser MZS6. It's a perfect hot-shoe shock mount for my Apex 191 cardioid mic! 54 bucks, that's all it was, and it's got a screw-hole on the bottom to fix it to a boom or a tripod. Perfect, perfect, perfect! Now I just have to get a sock, and an XLR-to-mini plug adaptor, Have a good day. :-))

Good story, if nothing else. You should do stand up!

I would be ashamed if no one laughed.

It's a good shock-mount, much better than the Beyerdynamic EA86---perfect for my Pana MX3.

HAHAHAH . . Frank, it sounded like a Chandler novel . . LOL! . . . You kept my attention all through . . I could see the film and its storyboard too! . . I could imagine the Vegas FX for a real filmy type look .. . Nice one Frank! Stand Up? Nah, film script writing . .you get to sit down too!

Thanks for sharing Frank . . .

Grazie

Frank
Your way off topic yet this is accepted. Ididn't even venture that far yet got lambasted. What gives?

One rule for all

Well, the birthday story was about leading up to the big shock-mount buy, and everything was true. And I am happy I finally found a good one. I was pulling hairs after I bought the Apex 191. :-))

This is the one here:

http://www.vidinc.net/mzs6.html

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : Frank
Your way off topic yet this is accepted. Ididn't even venture that far yet got lambasted. What gives?

One rule for all -->>>

(shrug)
Technicaly, he gets to the topic eventualy. :)


Frank
Funny, I was in Coquitlam Center that day. I went to Kerrisdale Cameras and London Drugs to see if they had the new Minolta A2. (they didn't)

I parked by the Star Bucks, near Save-On-Foods. I had to use the pay-phone to get directions to Lorne Lapham. Lorne's was the only game in town as far has having a good selection of shock-mounts. Looking at shock-mounts on websites just doesn't cut it. I almost ordered a Beyerdynamic EA86, but after seeing and trying one at Commercial Electronics, I realized that it wouldn't fit into my hot-shoe.

That photo/video shop beside the Safeway---you know where the safeway is, right?---is owned by my wife's cousin---another XL1 man---great wedding photographer. He learned his trade from his father (lives on Como Lake Rd), and his father learned the trade from my wife's older brother. The brother is still well-known as Iran's best photographer.

. . .and? I can't get to sleep wanting to hear the rest of this story . . .

The rest of the story? I'll have to come up with something tomorrow, then. :-))

Frank, so how do you like it? Have you got a chance to try it out yet?

Yes, I like this shock-mount. It mounts the Apex 191 very well. However, I haven't used the mic yet because I still have to get an XLR to 1/8 cable, and a sock or cover. I also have to find some type of clamp for my tripod, for my other cams which don't have a hot-shoe. Lorne's sells these types of clamps as well.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski :

That photo/video shop beside the Safeway---you know where the safeway is, right?---is owned by my wife's cousin---another XL1 man---great wedding photographer. He learned his trade from his father (lives on Como Lake Rd), and his father learned the trade from my wife's older brother. The brother is still well-known as Iran's best photographer. -->>>

I know exactly where you mean. Is it Memory Photo? If I remember the name correctly. I live about three minutes North of there.

It's in the mall, and I think it's called Moment Photo. Kavon is the owner. He's a fantastic wedding photographer.

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : I parked by the Star Bucks, near Save-On-Foods. I had to use the pay-phone to get directions to Lorne Lapham. Lorne's was the only game in town as far has having a good selection of shock-mounts. Looking at shock-mounts on websites just doesn't cut it. I almost ordered a Beyerdynamic EA86, but after seeing and trying one at Commercial Electronics, I realized that it wouldn't fit into my hot-show.. -->>>

After recently driving up to Whistler and completely bypassing Coquitlam, it's clear that I've been leading a deprived life! Next time up, I'll have to take the short detour to get in on the riveting action! At least I could get a SBux.... :-)

Cheers

That road to Whistler is one dangerous route.

Next time you're heading that way, hang a right at Shannon Falls. It's breath taking. Watch out for the bears and cougars, though. Keep some pepper spray handy.

The drivers on the road might be more dangerous than the cougars and bears? Drivers are certainly more dangerous if you wander on the road with your eye in the viewfinder or with sound isolating headphones on it. (There it's on topic again... now I just have to mention a shock mount...)

The road to Whistler gets washed out a lot, "snowed" out a lot, rocks fall of the mountains, and sometimes landslides is what does the trick. But reckless driving---speeding---causing injury and death is the biggest problem.

Regarding Shannon Falls..., you'd better have a hyper-cardioid mic, otherwise all you'll hear is the thunder from the falls. I believe they're the 2nd highest falls in North America, but I could be mistaken.

I haven't been able to test my new mic and mount yet, because I still have to get a cable and a tripod mount for the shock mount. :-))

--------------------------------------
Life is good.

Ah yes, Moment Photo. Thats the one. In the same little mall as my bank actually.


Shannon falls = Two thumbs up. Possibly the nicest water feature I've seen in BC. I've also heard it was the 2nd tallest falls in Canada (North America too I guess)

I've noticed the sign on my way to Whistler, but haven't stopped yet--wrong time of year. I'll do that on my next trip -- I've been wanting to get up there during other than ski season, in any case. I could try out my new XL-1 mini-mount with my AT-897 (Notice that's on-topic, too!).

It amazes me how fast the locals drive on that piece of road -- no room for error. I'm trying to stay close to the speed limit, much to the irritation of the bombers. That road will be a real mess during the Olympics -- it will be difficult to avoid many serious accidents.

They're planning on building a new highway to Whistler, for the Olympics. How's your new shock-mount? :-))

Yeah, I managed to avoid the construction delays during the last trip -- it will be hard to avoid all the windy stuff south of Squamish, though---no place else to put a road.

Since we're also talking shock mounts, I'm quite pleased with the new version of the mini-mount. The old one would not work with my 5" LCD monitor on the XL-1. The new one rotates out of the way to any angle. The sound deadening is great. My 897 is happy....

Someone posted a link somewhere of those new Senn shock-mounts. They look good.

The new road will be taking a different route, not along the Pacific but through or around the mountains---more from the east going northwest.