benr Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Okay, believe me I do realize this is probably a moot point, but since I dont have much experience in this field I wanted to consult those that did before I make this swap. I just purchased a Rycote WindShield Kit 4 from B&H for my Sennheiser MKH-416 and as Im sure you all know it comes with the standard Grey WindJammer (Dead Cat, etc). Now, where I have intentions of shooting will mostly be in dimly lit areas, large warehouses (for which I might not even use the 416), or outdoors at night, around working artists who probably wont appreciate any distractions. So I was thinking that a black WindJammer might be just that little bit less distracting and hopefully help lower the possibilities of the artists from getting annoyed with the booming. I contacted Rycote and one of their resellers is okay with swapping my new Grey WindJammer for a black one for free, so cost is a wash. I will probably also do the same for my Rycote Baby Ball Gag WindJammer if a black one is available. The question is, is there any reason I may be missing that is something I should be considering by going with a black WindJammer over a Grey? Dirt? Heat Absorption? Etc? Also Im assuming the quality of the two would be the same. Basically this: To this: Thanks guys and hope this isnt too stupid of a question. And Senator, go easy man, I cant help it, I over think things way too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 You are over thinking this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benr Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 You are over thinking this... Yea thats what I was afraid of. Maybe I just needed someone else to say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Well, I've often wished for black--never really understood why they were grey (my old Lightwave zep covers were all black). Black would show up some what less in certain sorts of reflections.... phil p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benr Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Well, I've often wished for black--never really understood why they were grey (my old Lightwave zep covers were all black). Black would show up some what less in certain sorts of reflections.... phil p Yea see and thats kinda what I was thinking: "Huh, why ISNT the standard included WindJammer black?" Seems to me it would make more since just to blend into the background more. Not to mention most Boom poles, mics and cables are all black. Why the Rycote WindShield isnt also perplexes me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Didn't know they made black. I think that would be a good choice. I have a dark camo one (between sock and furry in terms of fiber length) for an old 416 zepp. It has come in handy for some night stuff with reflections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benr Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Didn't know they made black. I think that would be a good choice. I have a dark camo one (between sock and furry in terms of fiber length) for an old 416 zepp. It has come in handy for some night stuff with reflections. Yea they make some really wild ones actually, check their product page out and then on the thumbnail image bar below the big image keep scrolling right: LINK Weird stuff like this: and more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Those look similar to fur length on my camo one. Perhaps same source vendor. Mine was sold by Koala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimPitot Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 They use green at Wimbledon. I'd love a green one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 camo: they'll never see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 camo: they'll never see it! I keep it by my cloak of invisibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 The different colors were made to match the adds on soccer stadium. IMHO rycotes should be vissible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundwil Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I had a Black Rycote windjammer for a while (it's been relegated to my 2nd basket since it got singed getting too close to a open fire), it got a few friendly comments, work well, I don't see an advantage either way personally. I would definitely get one if I thought it would have an advantage over the standard grey. Wil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 The different colors were made to match the adds on soccer stadium. IMHO rycotes should be vissible. It is common to hide reflections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DyerEar Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I own the yellow version. I can hold it high up in the air when it's cold and grey ( which is 90% of the time here... ) and we all for a moment pretend we're in LA. On a more serious note as has been mentioned - many of the non standard colours have shorter fur so less extreme wind protection. I believe the solid colours lie in the middle and the camo/ patterned flavours are the shortest length. If you need maximum protection they have a 4inch fur for special orders... I believe it's called '4 inch grey' which is a little boring IMO. The yellow is called 'Monsanto Gold' which is very exciting! Simon, London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Reilly Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Conversely, might want to opt for high visibility to catch boom in shot more readily. I've considered marking the end of a black foam with white stripes to make it more obvious under less than ideal monitoring...black and white viewfinders, small LCDs etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 It is not "overthinking" to find ways, large and small, to optimize your tools of the trade. I believe it's sometimes called "professionalism." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I dont understand what reflections? It is common to hide reflections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Monstanto should come in Orange only.. (: Maybe Monsanto Yellow represents corn... I own the yellow version. I can hold it high up in the air when it's cold and grey ( which is 90% of the time here... ) and we all for a moment pretend we're in LA. On a more serious note as has been mentioned - many of the non standard colours have shorter fur so less extreme wind protection. I believe the solid colours lie in the middle and the camo/ patterned flavours are the shortest length. If you need maximum protection they have a 4inch fur for special orders... I believe it's called '4 inch grey' which is a little boring IMO. The yellow is called 'Monsanto Gold' which is very exciting! Simon, London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I dont understand what reflections? You might have a night scene in front of a house with windows, or by a car, or some set with glass walls . Depending on the shot and lens (depth of field), the mic can be in the reflection but remain unseen to the audience, allowing the boom operator to be in a better position. If a zeppelin is required due to wind, a black windjammer might be easier to "hide" in frame than a gray one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 That makes sence. Thank you for expanding my knowledge. I meant for the strange colored ones.. I have seen them used infront of a soccer stadium add to match the collor of the backround. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundslikejustin Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 At the Australian Open (tennis), there are bright blue Rycotes that blend in with the blue walls. The line judges and ball-kids also wear blue, the stand up against the wall and pretty much disappear. BTW, The walls are blue because it makes the tennis balls easier to see. (greeny-yellow) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimPitot Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 This is amazing, now I can mix & match colours depending on my outfit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benr Posted January 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I own the yellow version. I can hold it high up in the air when it's cold and grey ( which is 90% of the time here... ) and we all for a moment pretend we're in LA. On a more serious note as has been mentioned - many of the non standard colours have shorter fur so less extreme wind protection. I believe the solid colours lie in the middle and the camo/ patterned flavours are the shortest length. If you need maximum protection they have a 4inch fur for special orders... I believe it's called '4 inch grey' which is a little boring IMO. The yellow is called 'Monsanto Gold' which is very exciting! Simon, London. Now THAT is something I would be concerned with and exactly why I posed the question. Looking at the first two images I posted of the standard grey and the black WindJammer, the standard grey does seem to have slightly longer hair than the black one. So the question now is, how much of a difference in performance will there be between the two? Is it negligible? Is it enough that I should be keeping the longer haired grey? Man, why wouldnt they make them all the same length so it didnt matter?! At $175 a pop they should all be created equal with just the different color schemes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmus Wedin Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Now THAT is something I would be concerned with and exactly why I posed the question. Looking at the first two images I posted of the standard grey and the black WindJammer, the standard grey does seem to have slightly longer hair than the black one. So the question now is, how much of a difference in performance will there be between the two? Is it negligible? Is it enough that I should be keeping the longer haired grey? Man, why wouldnt they make them all the same length so it didnt matter?! At $175 a pop they should all be created equal with just the different color schemes. I've also been thinking about getting a black fur for my Rycote kit 4 and I find myself hesitating for the very same reasons. Having a black fur would help me a great deal on this "No re-takes"-reallity show I'm doing where we shoot mostly during the night. But I don't want a windjammer of lesser quallity as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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