Strength of external mike a manufacturing design flaw? at DVinfo.net

Jase Tanner · May 21st, 2007, 09:15 PM

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?

Chris Hurd · May 21st, 2007, 10:48 PM

A frequently asked question -- see http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....40&postcount=7

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

Jase Tanner · May 22nd, 2007, 06:12 AM

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

Vincent Oliver · May 22nd, 2007, 04:58 PM

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!

David W. Jones · May 22nd, 2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

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!

Richard Hunter · May 22nd, 2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

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

Larry Chapman · May 22nd, 2007, 06:44 PM

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

Wynn Bradford · May 22nd, 2007, 10:00 PM

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

Vincent Oliver · May 23rd, 2007, 03:31 AM

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.

Don Palomaki · May 23rd, 2007, 07:29 AM

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.

Piotr Wozniacki · May 23rd, 2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

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.

Russell Pearce · May 23rd, 2007, 08:24 AM

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

May 21st, 2007, 09:15 PM	#1
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Strength of external mike a manufacturing design flaw? 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?

May 21st, 2007, 10:48 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	A frequently asked question -- see http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....40&postcount=7 It's not a flaw, it's a feature. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 22nd, 2007, 06:44 PM	#7
Larry Chapman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 94	I took the mic holder off (and saved all the parts). __________________ -- Larry Chapman

May 22nd, 2007, 10:00 PM	#8
Wynn Bradford New Boot Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 17	No problems here 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

May 23rd, 2007, 07:29 AM	#10
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	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. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

May 22nd, 2007, 06:12 AM	#3
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Thanks. Good to know that but I will say the way they've done it, doesn't inspire confidence.

May 22nd, 2007, 04:58 PM	#4
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	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!

May 23rd, 2007, 03:31 AM	#9
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	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.

May 23rd, 2007, 08:24 AM	#12
Russell Pearce Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham England Posts: 69 Images: 1	mine's screwed in so tight I cant get it off!