Sony XLR-K2M – New XLR Module for the A7S removes hot shoe lead

News

by Tim FokSeptember 15^th, 2014

Sony has announced a new XLR module for the A7S, the XLR-K2M. The device is smaller and more affordable than the current XLR-K1M XLR adaptor and the the hot shoe cable, alleviating the requirement for an additional cold shoe mount.

Matt Allard from News Shooter caught up with Sony at IBC with a pre-production model of the currently un-named audio adaptor:

https://vimeo.com/106097373

The previous XLR-K1M adaptor is great, opening up more professional audio solutions for Sony cameras like the A7S. However, the adaptor is only connectable via a hot shoe cable, the module itself also requires an additional cold shoe mount, meaning a rig or arm is required if you want the XLR peripherals.

This isn’t such a bad thing when rigging up the Sony A7S, however the beauty of the camera is that it’s small and discreet, traits not usually shared by a rigged up camera setup.

The new adaptor module removes the cable, you simply attach the device directly to the camera.

There’s certainly situations where both XLR adaptors would have use, Sony has foreseen this and will continue to sell the XLR-K1M adaptor when the new one ships; it would’ve been nice to see a new device replace it, with a removable cable so that you can choose according to setup, instead you’ll have to be more decisive at the time of purchase (or buy both).