Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

HD Camcorder with external microphone capability?

Jan 15, 2011 8:43AM PST

Hi all

can you recommend any models that are flash card memory (no hd models) and have the external mic input jack?

$500 to $1000 preferably.

Regards

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Same here
Jan 18, 2011 6:36AM PST

I'm looking for an HD Camcorder with an external mic input too. Price range for me though is $200-450 if anyone can help I'd appreciate it

- Collapse -
The list is not too long...
Jan 18, 2011 12:17PM PST

This is likely incomplete.

Canon HF R series
Canon HF M series
Canon HF S series (some of them)
Kodak Zi8
Zoom Q3HD
Maybe a Sanyo Xacti

I *think* only the Canon HF S series (maybe the HF M series) and the Zoom Q3HD have manual audio control.

ALL have small lenses and single, small imaging chip so don't expect great low light performance. The HF S series will fair well, but nowhere near any of the 70mm or larger cams with a 3-chip array.

ALL the Canons record to very compressed AVCHD MTS files. Hope your computer can deal with them. The others - I think - record to MOV files... since we don't know what editor or computer you are using, we don't know if you can deal with any of these files.

Have you found any others?

- Collapse -
I *think*
Jan 18, 2011 12:18PM PST

Canon HF R series
Kodak Zi8
Zoom Q3HD
Maybe a Sanyo Xacti

The Q3HD is the only one with decent manual audio control. Tiny lens and imaging chip - no low light miracles.

- Collapse -
Try this
Feb 2, 2011 2:16AM PST

I tried several to record loud music. I bought a Zi8 with an Audio-Technica Pro24cm (camera mount) and have gotten great experiences from it. Over an hour rec time, rechargable batts (don't have to fill up the landfill with the lead), The software that comes with it is basic but it doesn't require you to convert the files to some other format (which reduces vid quality) and it works on any computer. Check out the 4 vids I made with this combo (there's another that was made with Panasonics) at http://www.youtube.com/user/waynestrain