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General discussion

Best External Mic for Sony HDR-CX260V?

by Tmroper Oct 10, 2013 4:45AM PDT

Just looking for the best external mic for a Sony HDR-CX260V? Would like to have one that mounted on the top. Thanks for any help ahead of time.

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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External mic
by Terfyn Oct 10, 2013 4:27PM PDT

Rode mics are considered the best. I use Yoga myself.

But why do you want to camera mount? Is it for show? (in which case any old mic will do)

The microphone needs to be near the source of the sound. A camera mounted mic will pick up the same sound as the internal mics so is of little benefit.
Get the mic as near to the sound as possible, using an extension lead if needed. Example, a concert, If you are videoing from the rear of a hall with a camera mounted mic, you will pick up all the audience noise before the music, so coughing and muttering will become part of your soundtrack. The mic needs to be in front of the players.
The only advantage of a camera mounted mic is that you can easily fit the mic with a wind shield (deadcat). Essential for most outdoors recording, available from the mic makers (at a vast cost) or Amazon. I made my own and it works for my Yoga mic and my Zoom H2.

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Mic for Sony Handicam
by Tmroper Oct 10, 2013 9:22PM PDT

I'm gonna be using is mostly for filming wild game hunts. I'm new at this, so any suggestion as to what kind is best for this type of filming would be greatly appreciated. Correct me if I'm wrong but I guess a remote mic would probably be best.

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Shotgun
by Terfyn Oct 11, 2013 4:19AM PDT

An option for this type of filming would be the Shotgun mic that should concentrate the sound from a distance.
The Rode shotgun video mic may be worth a look.

Now I know what you want the mic for, I understand that sticking a mic under the nose of a sleeping lion may not be an option!! so a camera mounted mic must be the best compromise. The highly directional design of the shotgun mic will remove some of the surrounding sound. Having said that, the sounds of the animals and the hunters will add to the atmosphere of the video.

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Mic for handycam
by Tmroper Oct 21, 2013 4:30AM PDT

I might be wrong on this but from what I can tell I can't even get an external microphone that mounts on the camera for this model (HDR-CX260V). There's not an interface shoe on the top of it to attach one. I really hope I'm wrong about this but if someone knows something different please let me know. Thanks ahead of time.

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Mic Mount
by Terfyn Oct 21, 2013 3:06PM PDT

If you don't have a shoe on the camera, buy a handheld bracket. These have a screw mount and one or more "shoes" for mics, lights etc.

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