G85 overheating? record time? light sensitivity? stabilization?

Michael Meissner wrote:

hindesite wrote:

And you could consider the G7 as your main camera - since you are tripod mounting it, you don't need stabilisation anyway, and the camera is very cheap. In fact, the Z-cam E1 would be absolutely ideal for you application. and it is even cheaper. There's probably people round here with one that don't know what to do with it, maybe they'll sell you theirs?

Funny I returned my Z camera E1 specifically because it was useless to me as a video camera (one of the two reasons I bought it). I tried to use my Z with my current microphone (Azden SMX-10) that works perfectly on my G85, and the sound level was so low I could barely hear it on my Linux system with the speakers turned up full. Evidently, a $250 Rode microphone works fine, but I felt that as limited as the Z camera E1 is, that having to get a more expensive microphone made it too expensive.

My experience is the exact opposite to others who seemed quite enthusiastic about this camera (and to my mind, at the time, not justifiably so).

I had very low expectations for this camera and I've been very pleasantly surprised at how this camera turned out. Of course, I still cannot understand how these sold at $700, and can appreciate the frustration and disappointment so many buyers at that price must have experienced. And that is leaving aside the whole dodgy start to the camera (the Kickstarter sheningans, the removal of discussion forums, the non-functioning firmware, the promise but non-appearance of accessories), its total lack of support and its almost certainly non-existent future.

But I have trouble imagining a more perfect scenario than the OP's for the use of this camera. Set it up, use external power, use a cheap MF lens for a wide and deep shot, and you've covered off your B-roll. Set and forget, you can then concentrate on using the main camera. Doesn't even need to be accessible during the event, since it can be (and may be better if) managed remotely. You've got footage you can cut to when you stuff up your main shots,  (which with AF, you will!) and who cares about a couple of frame drops anyway - you can easily avoid using that footage.

It keeps things simple, which the OP wants but does not realise yet.

The limited documentation for the Z camera E1 does not indicate whether it has the 30 minute recording limit.

The camera can record continuously until the media fills up. I do not know if the last file is saved correctly though.