Sony AIS or IAS?

[Mickelmass]

Hi all

I have a very nasty feeling that being new to using camcorders, I have just made one hellishly expensive mistake, thanks to Sony! I have a very old but fully working Sony DCR-PC100E. I am just starting out using camcorders, so I thought I would get an old, cheap camcorder to mess about with until I get the hang of using it and then buy a better, up scale model.

As far as I was aware and according to the manual that I purchased seperatly, it has an IAS (Intelligent Accessory Show) on it. So, recently (last week and still awaiting delivery) I purchased a Sony ECM-HGZ1 Zoom Shotgun Mic. I did read that it was for the Sony AIC (Active Interface Shoe) and as I said, being new to camcorders, I thought it was another (probably American as they have to change everything), name for the IAC. I have now just found out that they are two totally different beasts and as such, I have a very nasty feeling that the very expensive microphone that I have just purchased, is not going to fit whatever I do!

Why do Sony, in their infinate wisdom, have to keep changing these damned things and making it even more complicated and expensive for you who know the business and newbs like me, who don't! I have no idea whatsoever if this mic will work with the old camcorder I have but if it doesn't then I shall be selling the bloody lot. Filters, lenses, tripods, bags, cables etc.

Like Sony are not that cheap anyway without confussing me to have made a very expensive cock-up like this! Thank you for any assistance that can be offered. Cheers!

[senu]

Sorry about this .
IAS is the older interface
Im not sure how much your mic cost but the only advantage of the interface is that it allows the Mic draw power from the camcorder. As such you could really have used any Microphone with it , many of which are self powered and dont rely on the camcorder.
It also allows you use Sony Lights ( which would drain the battery) and Maybe a 5.1 mic ( which doesnt do much for me)
If you like the camcorder it would amount to throwing away the baby with bathwater to get rid of the lot
I have Sony camcorders with the AIS but as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, no Sony Ancillary kit.
If the mic doesnt work, just return it if you can, or sell it off on ebay , and cut your losses..The interfaces are not interconvertible

[Mickelmass]

Hi again Senu

It only cost about UK£42.00 with free P&P, so it's no biggy? However, now I am well confussed as I did put the mic on to the older IAS and it fitted, locked down and worked. Should it not have done that then? The sound is definately and noticibly different and better with the mic attached as opposed to it not, so I have no idea what has happened there?

I was of the opinion that it wouldn't even fit the shoe as it is such an old camcorder with IAS and AIS being so totally different and incompatible? Maybe it's me just wishful thinking it works but when you tap the zoom mic, you can most definately hear it through headphones and when somebody speaks from the other end of a room, it sounds more mellow as opposed to being a tad on the tinny side from the built in stereo mic's.

Oh dear, more confussion? LOL! I was going to make a film of my time living with a kidney transplant and subsequently back on dialysis in the hospitl, as I have persmissions from all of my renal team, so maybe I should start now while the going is good?

But the, maybe it's time to get a new camcorder after all? Hahaha!

Many thanks for helping me out. Much appreciated.

Mike.

[senu]

Just go ahead and use it..