Is it practical to use an extender cable on the onboard mic on the XL1S so you could use the mic as a handheld? If so, where can I get a cable like that?

Thanks!

It would be lucky to find such a cable. You would have to have one made,or make it yourself. Canon made it that way to make you have to buy the
Ma-100(200)

Scott

"Is it practical to use an extender cable on the onboard mic on the XL1S so you could use the mic as a handheld? If so, where can I get a cable like that?"

Not difficult to make if you are handy with a soldering iron and typical tools. Hardest part is probably finding the needed plugs/jacks. Someone probably offers one, and I've read of folks makein one (I even have one I used in my L2 days (too stiff cable actually)) but I've not run into any ads for one.

A potential issue is that the mic is unbalanced, so leads long enough to be useful as an off-camera wired mic would be prone to picking up electrical noise if there is any where you are shooting.

Thanks guys.

I would think that to be worth the trouble, I would need the lead to be at least 10 feet long. Since the cable would be unbalanced, would a cable that long pick up noticeable noise in a "normal" electrical environment (like a house or office)?

If so, does that mean it's generally not worthwhile to buy an unbalanced mic other than as on onboard mic?

Please pardon the simplicity of my questions. I'm new and trying to learn.

Thanks for your help.

Noticeable depends on your threshold for noise (most often hum) . I would expect that in most home/consumer environemnts 10 to 20 feet would be OK. Try to avoid running the cable near AC power lines/cords. If yo hear hum, try move the cables.

Professionals use balanced mics for just that reason, electrical noise pickup becomes one less thing to worry about, and they usually have a rather low threshold for noise.

Thanks, Don. I appreciate the help!