Smallest m43 Z Camera E1

I must be doing something wrong, tried on both my E1's to record using external boom mic plugged into the 3.5 audio in and no audio when using the boom mic. Looked thru the settings and didn't see anything that I need to do there.
What am I missing and doing wrong?
The manual really sucks.. LOL

cerich wrote:

I must be doing something wrong, tried on both my E1's to record using external boom mic plugged into the 3.5 audio in and no audio when using the boom mic. Looked thru the settings and didn't see anything that I need to do there.
What am I missing and doing wrong?
The manual really sucks.. LOL

I'm guessing, but a lot of cameras can provide power to the microphone via the microphone cable.  It may be the Z/E1 does not provide power, and you would need to use a microphone with a battery.

My G85 for instance does provide power, so I don't need to put a battery in my Azden SMX-10.  I'm at work right now, but if I think of it tonight, I might try a test with the Z/E1.

Michael Meissner wrote:

cerich wrote:

I must be doing something wrong, tried on both my E1's to record using external boom mic plugged into the 3.5 audio in and no audio when using the boom mic. Looked thru the settings and didn't see anything that I need to do there.
What am I missing and doing wrong?
The manual really sucks.. LOL

I'm guessing, but a lot of cameras can provide power to the microphone via the microphone cable. It may be the Z/E1 does not provide power, and you would need to use a microphone with a battery.

My G85 for instance does provide power, so I don't need to put a battery in my Azden SMX-10. I'm at work right now, but if I think of it tonight, I might try a test with the Z/E1.

Thanks would appreciate that, no powered mic handy, I did try two unpowered units however and no joy.

orey10m wrote:

Are other people using the iphone version of the mobile app? Does it provide a live view of what the camera is recording over wifi or over bluetooth?

The Android version of the app doesn't seem to do either, unless I'm missing something.

Thanks

My Android version provides live view. You are doing something wrong. I uploaded a video showing how to use A/B push-screen focus pulls via the app, which requires I see in real time what the camera is seeing.

https://youtu.be/cAsY3NiKqgA

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery.  I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed.  I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery.  The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery.  I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

Michael Meissner wrote:

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery. I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed. I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery. The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery. I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

much thanks, it helps to at least start the mystery

Michael Meissner wrote:

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery. I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed. I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery. The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery. I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

used a powered mic, RODE VideMic Pro and all solved, audio is great.

cerich wrote:

Michael Meissner wrote:

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery. I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed. I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery. The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery. I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

used a powered mic, RODE VideMic Pro and all solved, audio is great.

Hmmm, I wonder why the AZDEN microphone (which I did try with a battery inside) didn't work as well.

Using the Z-E1 for a second video camera was one of my two main reasons I bought the camera.  If I can't get a cheap microphone to work with it, it would reduce my use of the Z-E1.

Maybe the sound level issue is a Linux thing.  When I have some more time, maybe I can export the video to youtube to see if it is better there.

Michael Meissner wrote:

cerich wrote:

Michael Meissner wrote:

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery. I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed. I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery. The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery. I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

used a powered mic, RODE VideMic Pro and all solved, audio is great.

Hmmm, I wonder why the AZDEN microphone (which I did try with a battery inside) didn't work as well.

Using the Z-E1 for a second video camera was one of my two main reasons I bought the camera. If I can't get a cheap microphone to work with it, it would reduce my use of the Z-E1.

Maybe the sound level issue is a Linux thing. When I have some more time, maybe I can export the video to youtube to see if it is better there.

yeah the mic I got was the same price as I paid for the camera itself....

Michael Meissner wrote:

cerich wrote:

Michael Meissner wrote:

Unfortunately, the results aren't promising:

• I first recorded 4K30p, with the microphone without battery. I could not hear anything on my Linux system, even with the sound volume turned completely up.
• I recorded 4K30p, with the microphone with a battery installed. I still could not hear anything.
• I recorded using the built-in microphone, and it recorded, but the sound level was low.
• I reduced the movie size to 1080p30, and recorded it with the microphone with a battery. The sound level was really low (less than the built-in microphone).
• I kept the movie size at 1080p30 and took out the battery. I could not hear anything.

So, it sounds like it needs a powered microphone, and it wants a higher sound level than my Azden microphone records at.

used a powered mic, RODE VideMic Pro and all solved, audio is great.

Hmmm, I wonder why the AZDEN microphone (which I did try with a battery inside) didn't work as well.

Using the Z-E1 for a second video camera was one of my two main reasons I bought the camera. If I can't get a cheap microphone to work with it, it would reduce my use of the Z-E1.

Maybe the sound level issue is a Linux thing. When I have some more time, maybe I can export the video to youtube to see if it is better there.

I get pretty much the same results in Windows...

I have tested with a couple of different microphones:

• A pair of dynamic mics, of the kind that is often used in radio studios. Being dynamics, they don't need to be powered. They have notoriously low level output, though, that needs a lot of amplification. No surprises there, the sound was barely audible.
• A cheap, battery-powered stereo mic , with somewhat hotter output. Sound levels were on par with the built in mics, i.e. a bit lower than I'm used to. Sound quality was very good.
• A pair of studio condenser mics, with external phantom power supply and pre-amps. With these, I could drive the camera's input to saturation. With levels adjusted to something suitable, the camera's sound quality was very, very good.

I also connected the camera to an audio interface and fed it an assortment of test signals at various levels. All in all, the camera seems to want fairly hot input. If I compare it with other recording devices without manual gain adjustment, with the same input levels, the output from the Z cam is lower, it doesn't apply as much gain. On the other hand, if you feed it a good signal, the sound quality is better than I expected, with a surprisingly low noise floor. I find the built-in mics quite good too, for what they are.

While trying out the mics, I took a look at the mic jack with an oscilloscope. It doesn't supply any DC power, so mics that need plug-in power won't work.

I'm coming to the conclusion that the Z camera is too limited for me, and I'm about to send it back to  B&H (I bought mine on December 29th, so I have to act quickly).

Anybody else return theirs?

For me, I had two uses in mind:

• I was going to use it as a b-camera for recording video.  However, my external microphone (AZDEN SMX-10) is so faint on the E1, that it is not usable.  While there are microphones that work (such as the $250 Rode microphone), it isn't worth it to me to buy a microphone that expensive to be used for a backup video camera.
• I incorporate my cameras into various steampunk projects, and I was wanting a smaller body.  However the lack of stablization, the limited menu options, the slow focusing, and not having a touch screen on the camera itself limits what I can do with the camera.

I tore the box in opening it, so I will probably be docked the 15% restocking fee.  But, if somebody still wanted one, I could sell it to you instead.  I'm not sure whether the squaretrade warranty I bought would transfer, but if it does, I can transfer the warranty as well.

orey10m wrote:

My question though is do gimbals help to minimize/eradicate what I will call 'extremely minor/high frequency shakes"? Like that induced by your hands, even when trying to hold a camera body still?

(Also, Is there a better forum to ask for detailed perspectives/buying advice on gimbals?)

Yes, that in my mind is the most important use of a gimbal - the ability to remove shake and micro jitters from static shots. You can really handhold and be free of tripods, move from point to point easily *or* move while shooting. Here is a video with the Z mounted on the Crane M - pay particular attention to the static shots - tripod steady.

https://youtu.be/WBRrK-6P3UE