Review: hot shoe adapters for the SONY EX camera
Many accessories for a modern High Definition camera require a hot shoe on the cam for mounting your lights, wireless receivers, microphones… etcetera. You have to put them somewhere!
The original SONY EX1 camera is supplied with one hot shoe mount (to be more precise: a cold shoe is the proper term). Only one!
The original, standard microphone mount on the SONY EX1 and to the right the hot shoe mount
But what if you want to mount more accessories on your camera?
You could stick a Rycote hot-shoe multiplier on the front of your cam. They’re handy. But in al honesty: I am using my third Rycote multiplier already. They all broke because the built quality is below par. Mounting a small on-camera light is quickly stressing the plastic. I’ve found my microphone bungee jumping from the camera’s XLR socket after the Rycote broke.
Some clever guys found this little niche and solutions are there. Today, I report on 2 hot shoe adapters that are available on the market.
The standard microphone holder on the EX1 camera can be detached. This holder isn’t really good anyway. Too close to the camera lens, and it’s prone to pass on handling noises and zoom motor noise. And it can brake quickly.
In place of the standard microphone holder you attach an extra hot shoe mount and off you go.
The DM accessoires mic holder replacement: get yourself an extra hot shoe! Attached in 2 minutes.
DM-accessoires has one for only $ 40.
Comes with screws and small manual
Build from metal, very rigid. Replacing the standard mic holder takes only 2 minutes. I think this must be one of the best spend $$$ on your EX camera.
Get a third vertical positioned hot shoe with the J-Rod
And if you need even a 3rd hot shoe mount, consider the J-Rod Super Strong Twin for only $ 45. It provides you with 2 additional hot shoe mounts so the wireless receiver on the side and the microphone goes on top.
A bit crowded over here
Only disadvantage are: it’s getting crowded in front of your XLR inputs and the center of gravity of your cam start to lean too much to the right side. And the build-finish is a bit less then the DM adapter.
Other than that, a great accessoire and $ 45 well spend.
Everything included
All hot shoe mounts come supplied with correct screws and a small one-page manual.
Happy shooting!
Erwin van Dijck is a video producer, cameraman and editor in the Netherlands. With over 9 years experience in web, marketing & communication and the video production field, he helps companies with producing their movies, promo’s, clips, event impressions, client testimonials, press videos etc. He is available for your next video project.
