I've had my hands on 2 different A1's. The first was a rental picked up by somebody for me. The external mike was so loose it looked just about ready to fall off. The second, a brand new camera, also had a loose mike. Anyone else encountered this?

A frequently asked question -- see http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=574340&postcount=7

It's not a flaw, it's a feature.

Thanks. Good to know that but I will say the way they've done it, doesn't inspire confidence.

I have had my A1 for less than a week and the accessory mike holder has snapped off. This held on by two small screws, a weak point on the camera!

I have had my A1 for less than a week and the accessory mike holder has snapped off. This held on by two small screws, a weak point on the camera!

Yes I agree, it is a weak point of the camera.... If you are using it as a hammer to drive nails!

I have had my A1 for less than a week and the accessory mike holder has snapped off.

All by itself? :)

Seriously, the mount may not be that strong, but if it is snapped off there must be quite a severe shock felt by the rest of the camera too. Try to think of it as a precision instrument, not a mallet.

Richard

I took the mic holder off (and saved all the parts).

Man I'v been shooting my A1 for 4 months now in every situation you can think of with a Azden SMG-1x on it with no problems at all. It has taken a couple of pretty good whacks no that I think about it and still tight.

Wynn B

No, I didn't use the camera as a hammer, the camera was shipped with the item broken off. I only posted this because I thought the connection looks weak and could imagine the holder snapping off with a moderate knock.

I will get a replacement holder in due course.

The external holder may have been designed to fail before an applied stress takes out some other part of the camcorder, a bit like a properly sized fuse will blow before the circuits it protects melt. After all, a shotgun mic in the holder can provide a large lever and a too-strong holder could result in damage to the mic and/or camcorder.

The external holder may have been designed to fail before an applied stress takes out some other part of the camcorder, a bit like a properly sized fuse will blow before the circuits it protects melt. After all, a shotgun mic in the holder can provide a large lever and a too-strong holder could result in damage to the mic and/or camcorder.

Exactly - that's why I find the Sony's solution (a rubber hinge) quite smart.

mine's screwed in so tight I cant get it off!