Panasonic FZ1000 arrives

I am hopping over quite a bit to arrive here, but the Lumix FZ1000 is my first 4K Bridge phone. Susan handed it over to me yesterday, since when I have set it up, checked a couple of stills, and am otherwise starting the long learning process which always accompanies a new device. Luckily most of my cameras are from Panasonic, so the Menu system is no problem. Unfortunately there are no guides by people like David Thorpe who provided a great guide to his setup on the GX7, which helped me quite a bit.

However, learning about this superb device is half of the reason for buying it.

I was very much surprised by the Røde Stereo Videomic Pro. It is unbelievably light, such that one feels the need to handle it with extreme care when opening the battey cover, or setting the tiny switches.

I came across a Chris Hull on YouTube who uses the same gear to produce some superb videos of ducks, and various other subjects., with great sound too.

I also came across him as a well known user on AVForums Camrecorder forum, where he answered a query and gave me a lead to a software package which just happened to be on offer as it was Memorial Day in the US, so I got several bonus packages at a very good bundle price :)

All for now, but expect more here anon.

Stereo Update

My back is getting over carrying the Subwoofer, and then the Onkyo Receiver home from the local 'Post in a Shop', up the steep hill to my house. The back pain came a day or two later, and I'm just getting over it..

Of course, deciding to refurnish the 'stua' to suit the stereo system didn't help any, as I have a hell of a lot of books, and boy are they heavy!

I've moved the bookcases and shelves to their end sites, but there are still large 'movers boxes' of books waiting to take their new places on the shelves.

Moving the bookcases and a few pictures uncovered some pretty resistant dust stains that had to be washed as well as possible where they had become exposed.

So, the end wall of my stua now has three book shelves, where the TV takes centre place on top of a now unused Soundbar. On its left is the Onkyo NR-535 Receiver, and to its right is the Pioneer Blu-ray player BDP-450. All in rather uninspiring black boxes.. oh yes, and I have an Airport Express providing audio from iTunes to the PC Input. Hardly any visible wires these days with HDMI cables between the devices, and a short Optical from TV to the Receiver :)

The basic 2.1 sound is surprisingly good! Those old Sony SS A-705s are remarkable. Mind you they cost a bit back there when the kids were young.

Only snags/Cons; the Blu-ray Remote (like many) is hopeless. It was ages before I pressed something and suddenly saw SACD video.. come to think of it, they might have an Android app, though I don't feel like spending more on a Pioneer Wifi option. Why couldn't they have built it in like Onkyo do?

BUT, I'm damned happy with the result, and can recommend both the Onkyo and Pioneer devices to anyone reading this.

My Sony Stereo system has given up the ghost

After many years of excellent service it has retired to the cellar room, and I've ordered a reasonable replacement, an Onkyo NR535 5.2 Receiver, together with a Jamo SUB 260 Woofer.

The Sony SS-A701 Front speakers are still going strong, with 45 Hz to 20 KHz response :)

I spent a couple of hours searching for the latter's specifications without luck, but eventually found them inside the old Stereo manual, which I nearly threw out. There was a single sheet which I'll copy here in case it'll help someone else locate them some time in the future..

I'll continue in a few days time with a mini review of my experience setting the new system up.