need help -- microphone for Canon Elura 100

[Barb O]

After a few years of using Canon still camera Motion JPEG video clips, I finally purchased a mini-DV camera yesterday. I decided to stay with SD for now. At a camera store, I purchased an older model closeout (a Canon Elura 100) that was reviewed well by camcorderinfo. That review is at http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Ca ... atings.htm

My immediate objective is to purchase an external microphone. Normally I would learn more before buying accessories. However, I have read multiple owner posts that say the in camera mic picks up noise from the tape mechanism.

The camera has a MIC terminal and the instruction book says
-- "use commercially available condenser microphones with their own power supply"
-- "you can connect almost any stereo microphone equipped with a 3.5 mm plug but the audio volume will be different than with the built in microphone"

The mic jack/terminal is on the top of the camcorder. There is no shoe to mount the microphone. Camera will be used for recording family events both inside house and a gym as well as outside. Not sure about price. Would wireless be a good solution? Please make suggestions.

[Steve Grisetti]

I'd go wireless, particularly if you think you'll ever do any interviewing or shooting any video in which you want to hear someone on camera speaking. Good audio in those situations can make a world of difference. And, particularly if you plan to shoot any event (like a wedding) you don't want wires draped all over everything.

Condenser mikes give you the best, cleanest sound. They have a little battery inside (which can last for years). But you can also get surprisingly good fidelity with a plain old dynamic mike, properly placed (which brings us back to that wireless thing).

The question comes down to, once again, how much do you want to spend? I bought my wireless for $30 (made in China, sold by some guy on Amazon) and it more than meets my needs. A prosumer mike is more around the $200 price tag (Think Sony and Azden) but pro mikes can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Which, at least in my book, flies in the face of buying a $400 camcorder...

[jackfalbey]

If you do go wireless, be sure you don't buy one in the 698-806 MHz range that will be outlawed by the FCC next year. My $500 Audio-Technica wireless lavalier will be an "illegal device" in about 5 months...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/digital-vide ... -mics.html