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General discussion

Canon Vixia HV30 HD question re mic

by msmiz Feb 23, 2009 11:29AM PST

Thanks for the help with my "battery" question. As posted earlier this is my first Camcorder.

I was told to get a "shotgun" mic for my camera because the sound of the camera will be heard while recording. I am travelling on vacation,to Egypt walking & touring daily so do not want anything that will be too cumbersome. In asking around the following have been suggested:
Azden ECZ-990
Canon - DM50
MKE 400 Sennheiser

I've found there is a big range in price on these and I don't want anything too big nor too expensive. I'd like your opinion on these or if there are others you think are better choices. Eventually I do hope to use my camcorder for some film projects but for now it's the vacation.
Thank-you!


This is my first camcorder and

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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The sound of the tape drive will be picked up
by boya84 Feb 23, 2009 12:12PM PST

buy the internal mics ONLY is there is no other audio for the mics to hear. That said, for any camcorder, its job is to record video - and the HV30 will do that. Using an external mic is a good idea if you do not want to learn how to use the manual audio control. When you use the manual audio control, you bypass the auto-mic-gain.

If you want to do this, I would go with the Canon DM-50. It will use the camcorder's hot shoe for audio and power (the other mics won't - but this will be least hassle). Keep in mind that this will reduce the camcorder battery life a bit.

If you want to make the investment now, then the Sennheiser - it can be mounted on the camcorder (with a cable into the camcorder's mic jack) or used with an extension cable (the EM-50 must stay mounted to the camcorder. If this Sennheiser is too much, Audio Technica make good camcorder mics, too. Another camera mountable mic is the RODE video mic. All these non-hotshoe connecting mics need a battery in them, so one more thing to keep track of... and you need to have spare batteries. Mostly AA, I think.

For a first camera, you are jumping in the deep end. Good for you. Learn to use the white balance and the manual audio control. Practice BEFORE you leave on you trip.

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Canon Vixia HV30 HD question re mic
by msmiz Feb 23, 2009 4:47PM PST

Thanks! Well I figure if I am going to use this camera I might as well use it the way it is meant to be used and I may never get to make this trip again so I want to make sure I get to shoot what I want and do it well. Yes I plan to practice with it before I go so I can troubleshoot ahead of time rather than getting there and get stuck. Thanks for all your advice... appreciate it. I may end up coming back with more questions but I have been searching the board for questions people have posted also who have it.
Thanks!If you have any other good tips I'll gladly take them!

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Tips?
by boya84 Feb 23, 2009 9:57PM PST

ALWAYS use a steadying device. Tripod, monopod, table, chair... whatever - make every effort to not shoo handheld - especially when fully zoomed in on something.

When you are practicing, take the process all the way through - capture the video to tape, import to computer, edit, export to whatever media - and watch the video... Be your own worst critic.

Have fun on your trip!

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