Just picked up a Z7 ... early days yet .

Derek Heeps · April 29th, 2025, 10:18 PM

That was the first camcorder , and before I had replaced the tape mechanism . With the new mechanism fitted it now works 100% .

I bought a second camcorder very cheaply , advertised for spare parts as it came with some accessories missing from the first one , and got the whole thing for what I'd have paid elsewhere for the front accessory shoe and the rubber eyepiece . I initially thought the second camcorder was worth fixing and bought another tape mechanism , but that one turned out to have more wrong with it - hence it was so cheap ! I now have a spare mechanism which may come in handy at some point , given I have five working HDV camcorders now , and also have three Firestore FS4-HD external recorders , one of which I used at the wedding in addition to shooting on tape ! . ( Plus my JVC GY-HD251 and two PDW-F350 XDCAM cameras )

Then I bought a third Z7 , paid a little more for it , which is 100% working .

I also bought two Sony ECM-MS2 microphones , same as I already have on my HVR V1e , and suspension type shock mounts to mount them on the camera ( the standard mic mounts are awful ) , so that I have on board stereo mics .

Filmed the wedding 2 weeks ago , all went very well and got the bulk of the edit done last weekend ; hopefully will complete it this weekend .

April 29th, 2025, 10:18 PM	#16
Derek Heeps Major Player Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Glasgow , Scotland Posts: 283	Re: Just picked up a Z7 ... early days yet . That was the first camcorder , and before I had replaced the tape mechanism . With the new mechanism fitted it now works 100% . I bought a second camcorder very cheaply , advertised for spare parts as it came with some accessories missing from the first one , and got the whole thing for what I'd have paid elsewhere for the front accessory shoe and the rubber eyepiece . I initially thought the second camcorder was worth fixing and bought another tape mechanism , but that one turned out to have more wrong with it - hence it was so cheap ! I now have a spare mechanism which may come in handy at some point , given I have five working HDV camcorders now , and also have three Firestore FS4-HD external recorders , one of which I used at the wedding in addition to shooting on tape ! . ( Plus my JVC GY-HD251 and two PDW-F350 XDCAM cameras ) Then I bought a third Z7 , paid a little more for it , which is 100% working . I also bought two Sony ECM-MS2 microphones , same as I already have on my HVR V1e , and suspension type shock mounts to mount them on the camera ( the standard mic mounts are awful ) , so that I have on board stereo mics . Filmed the wedding 2 weeks ago , all went very well and got the bulk of the edit done last weekend ; hopefully will complete it this weekend .