Lumix DMC-ZS3: Using foam as wind screen

Wind howl! You've seen news reporters with big fuzzy microphones? That fuzz scatters direct wind pressure, lessening that trembling wind howl. For gentle breezes, a simple foam cover will do. For vocals in the studio, a net screen in front of the mic will stop the deep PUH PUHP sounds.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (TZ7) has a built in Wind Cut feature, but it doesn't work that well. So I scoured the net for "camera hacks." One person uses a bandaid...the gauze acting as the fuzz. I tried it in stiff winds, and it did not work. I then rolled up some bandage gauze into a pinkie size roll and just held it over the mic holes. That worked fairly well. I finally settled on using a chunk of foam from a mic wind screen I bought at Radio Shack. Again, I simply held it down on top of the two stereo mic holes, which are located handily on top of the ZS3. Your mic holes may be in another location and you may have to tape the foam on.

The videos (obviously I hardly looked at what I was filming!) are shot at Lakeside Cafe at Shoreline Park in Mtn. View, CA. It's always windy there at the side of the lake.

The music snippet is from the wonderful puzzle/physics video game called World of Goo. The two creators actually give away download of the album. So hope that using a snippet here and there will get people interested in the game. You can download "Chapter One" as demo at http://www.worldofgoo.com.

There are plenty of clips on YouTube showing people playing the game, but do yourself a favor and just get a sense of it. Only one part of it is creating the structure. The rest is figuring the scheme of things yourself. There are no game instructions except to say that you build a structure with goo drops. From then on, you figure what physics sensibilities are applicable in each level.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Wind
• howl
• wind
• screen
• Lumix
• DMC-ZS3
• TZ7
• Audio
• recording
• microphones
• mics
• Shoreline
• Park
• Mountain
• View

[clubcar98]

Hi! Im thinking of getting this camera and have a few questions...

Does it record in 848x480 Standard Definition, and does it optical zoom/focus while recording in that format? The Panasonic website says it records in that but I dont want to buy it and be unhappy.

[CarolJWright]

@clubcar98 sorry to be late with answer.'

the camera zooms while filming, but sometimes there is a buzz mechanism sound. did you buy the camera? I would have loved an ext mic jack...

[ZelosWilder]

Thanks for the nice demonstration! You're the 3rd video I watched of this camera in deciding if I want it... I Do want it and now you even gave me a useful tip on wind noise. Thanks a lot! :) Good choice of music at the end.

[CarolJWright]

if you're doing video and want the 720p high def, make sure you have the video editing program to handle it. Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 does accept that format, AVCHD Lite, and the cheapest program you can get that does multi-camera as on the One Love music video. Boston Therapy Dog is also shot on the Lumix.

[FOOSAG]

Wow.. that piece of foam works so well. It is able to get rid of the wind noise without getting rid of other noises.

[CarolJWright]

yep, seems to work that way, but that's the way most of the foam - fuzzy windscreens work. Actually lost my little bit of foam and have to get another supply.

[VcoverStoof]

Thats a mad difference!

[MyColorful1]

Thank you so much for demonstrating the use of foam I will invest in some

[Beatzotto]

and great music! love that game :D

[Beatzotto]

genious!!! cheap and efficient!

great tip!

[fdh1004]

I tried this and it works just great. Thanks for the tip.

[fdh1004]

Thanks for the great tip and taking the time to post it. Very helpful. The video quality on this camera is unsurpassed. I did get a MacBook to handle the HD part.

[ZelosWilder]

I have the camera now and love it...I have the editing program to handle it I think but my computer itself cannot..its slightly old..Im due for an upgrade soon but til then I STILL Love this camera. =)