Hi, I've just got a Canon Vixia HV30 camcorder which has a 3.5mm mic input and an accessory shoe.

The manual says that the shoe will take the DM-50 mic, but I wanted to know if the shoe is compatible with other mics and if so what other cheaper options should I be considering? Ideally I don't want to have to use the 3.5mm input unless I'm using the shoe for a light. Again, can I use other lights other than the suggested canon VL3?

All help appreciated

[SEPH22]

Yes you can

Take a look at amazon.com
you will find a lot of mics that work with HV30 and user reviews about these mics

[redsox_mark]

Yes lots of mics will fit but only if you use the 3.5mm input.

[D Mylchreest]

Thanks for the other posts. I do most of my videoing outside and I find that the HG-10 on-board mic is susceptable to wind noise in spite of having the 'wind cut' switched on. I have tried using an ATR25 microphone but the quality of the sound isn't as good with the HG-10 as it was with the previous Panasonic camera. Canon do say in their instruction manual for the HG-10 that this might happen when using the input jack.

Could anybody help me? Is there a microphone out there which will use the 3.5 mm input jack and not loose any sound quality?

Thanks in anticipation

[A n d r e w]

Rode Videomic
Rode Stereo Videomic

Out of interest: what reason does Canon give regarding this warning about loss of quality using an external mic?

[D Mylchreest]

Thanks Andrew.

Canon merely say (on page 59 of the manual) 'You can connect almost any stereo microphone with 3.5 mm plug but the audio recording level may vary.'

With the ATR25 the sound level was pretty low but it was also muffled, it didn't have the crispness which I got from it with the Panasonic camera.

Thanks for your suggestions I'll look into them.

[D Mylchreest]

I took 'Andrew's advice and bought the Rode Stereo Video Mic and tried it out. The sound is fine, thanks Andrew. There is however a fly in the ointment. With the Mic Rode also supply a windgag and this tends to be on view in the image while filming in wide-angle. I have bought a 'Video Light Bracket' from 'Vanguard' after many hours tramping up and down Tottenham Court Road and the microphone fits OK on this but the entire assembly is a bit top heavy and inconvenient to use. I have tried accessories that are intended for bounce flash but these aren't too brilliant either.

Is there a better solution that fits directly on the accessory shoe?

MTIA

[A n d r e w]

Does the video light bracket connect to the camera's accessory shoe, or screw into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera?

[D Mylchreest]

Thanks for your response, Andrew.

It is screwed to the tripod mount.

Regards