Need input on the DM-50 Directional Mic at DVinfo.net

Aaron Nanto · September 25th, 2002, 10:30 AM

Hi all,

Just bought a GL2, and I'm looking at a under $200 audio mic. I know that Canon offers the DM-50, but I can't find any reviews on it - how does it perform? Any issues about it that I should be aware of? Thanks!

Chris Hurd · September 25th, 2002, 03:02 PM

It's a decent mic for under $200. It's very handy. There's a suspension cradle which cuts down on the camera motor noise going to the mic, and the pickup pattern is much narrower and more directional than the on-camera mic. Plus you have a choice of three switchable patterns. Keep in mind that $200 is considered next to nothing in this business. That said, you can't go wrong with the DM50. They hold their value well, so if you don't like it you can always sell it. Hope this helps,

Aaron Nanto · September 25th, 2002, 03:38 PM

Thank you a lot for the comments. One more question I had - is there any kind of extender that I can get in case I wanted to use that mic away from the camera?

Chris Hurd · September 25th, 2002, 05:45 PM

An extender is not available; the mic connects directly to the camera's hot shoe. The form factor of the mic is such that it's useable as a camera-mounted item only. You would not want to use it off of the camera; consider a different mic for that specific purpose. Hope this helps,

Will Fastie · February 17th, 2003, 07:25 AM

The question of the specifications of the Canon DM-50 on-camera microphone has been raised here several times, but the specs have never been proffered.

I was wondering if a DM-50 owner could post whatever information was provided with the mic. If spces were not provided in whatever documentation came with the mic, knowing that would help as well.

A piece of advice I got here in the forum suggested that if I needed to know the specs of this mic, then I probably shouldn't buy it. It's a good point. But I think we can provide a service by getting some solid info about the mic posted or, lacking any, by raising a collective voice to a vendor that has given us some great cameras but fails to explain its less expensive products very well -- specs and manuals for things like the DM-50 are not provided at canondv.com.

Thanks.

Chris Hurd · February 17th, 2003, 09:04 AM

We already have a thread on this topic; please refer to http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=6238. I suppose I should combine these two discussions since they're both covering the same thing.

Will Fastie · February 17th, 2003, 12:25 PM

Chris:

I read that thread. In fact, I read every thread on the board that so much as mentioned the DM-50 in passing.

The reason I started another thread was to make the subject stand out by targeting owners of the mic, if any.

Naturally, I'll be happy with whatever decision you make regarding the two threads.

Will

Chris Hurd · February 17th, 2003, 01:00 PM

Well, hopefully we can find the mic specs.

Don Palomaki · February 17th, 2003, 06:35 PM

My observation has been that Canon does not publish much in the way audio performance specifications for their mics.

Scott Silverman · February 17th, 2003, 10:33 PM

Try sending Canon an email asking for the specs. Or give Customer Service a call. They are usually pretty friendly, at least when I called a while ago they were. If you do have success, I would love to know the specs also.

Good luck

Will Fastie · February 18th, 2003, 08:59 AM

I called and wrote Canon. No dice.

I suppose the fact that Canon doesn't want to tell us could be a hint.

Chris Hurd · February 18th, 2003, 08:47 PM

Yes, the bottom line is, this is a *consumer* mic.

Will Fastie · February 19th, 2003, 01:04 PM

Chris:

You've made this point several times, but I just don't get it. I buy $30 consumer products all the time that come with specs or that are described in detail on a vendor's Web site. Both Sony's ECM-MS908C (list $120) and ECM-Z37C ($150) "consumer" camcorder mics, which are similar to the DM-50 in style and function, are well-documented at the site.

I remain hopeful that a DM-50 owner can provide the information Canon won't.

Will Fastie

Steve Nunez · February 19th, 2003, 05:10 PM

As an alternative- check out the Azden SG-X- cost was $129 at B&H and is a better solution than the GL2 stock mic......I'm sure Azden has the specs posted online somewhere....the SG-X will probably perform very similarly to that of the DM-50....but feel free to ask the board- maybe some members here have had or tried both mics.

Tom Voigt · February 19th, 2003, 05:50 PM

Type: Back electret stereo condenser shotgun microphone
Directivity: Super-directional/Uni-directional stereo
Sensitivity: -40dB/PA (0 dB= 1V/ 1 Pa, 1 kHz front, along axis)
Frequency: 150-15,000 Hz
Output impedance: 200 ohms (1 kHz)
Operating temperature range: 0-40 C
Dimensions: 32x81x150mm, 120g

I can't compare it to any other microphone, but I like it a lot. It produces a very nice recording of music and voice with a very good stereo image (in the center, stereo shotgun, setting).

September 25th, 2002, 10:30 AM	#1
Aaron Nanto Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 46	DM-50 for GL2..how is it? Hi all, Just bought a GL2, and I'm looking at a under $200 audio mic. I know that Canon offers the DM-50, but I can't find any reviews on it - how does it perform? Any issues about it that I should be aware of? Thanks! __________________ Aaron Nanto \| Photo+Cinema www.aaronnanto.com

September 25th, 2002, 03:02 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	It's a decent mic for under $200. It's very handy. There's a suspension cradle which cuts down on the camera motor noise going to the mic, and the pickup pattern is much narrower and more directional than the on-camera mic. Plus you have a choice of three switchable patterns. Keep in mind that $200 is considered next to nothing in this business. That said, you can't go wrong with the DM50. They hold their value well, so if you don't like it you can always sell it. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 25th, 2002, 03:38 PM	#3
Aaron Nanto Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 46	Thank you a lot for the comments. One more question I had - is there any kind of extender that I can get in case I wanted to use that mic away from the camera? __________________ Aaron Nanto \| Photo+Cinema www.aaronnanto.com

September 25th, 2002, 05:45 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	An extender is not available; the mic connects directly to the camera's hot shoe. The form factor of the mic is such that it's useable as a camera-mounted item only. You would not want to use it off of the camera; consider a different mic for that specific purpose. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 17th, 2003, 07:25 AM	#5
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	DM-50 Owners: Got Specs? The question of the specifications of the Canon DM-50 on-camera microphone has been raised here several times, but the specs have never been proffered. I was wondering if a DM-50 owner could post whatever information was provided with the mic. If spces were not provided in whatever documentation came with the mic, knowing that would help as well. A piece of advice I got here in the forum suggested that if I needed to know the specs of this mic, then I probably shouldn't buy it. It's a good point. But I think we can provide a service by getting some solid info about the mic posted or, lacking any, by raising a collective voice to a vendor that has given us some great cameras but fails to explain its less expensive products very well -- specs and manuals for things like the DM-50 are not provided at canondv.com. Thanks.

February 17th, 2003, 09:04 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	We already have a thread on this topic; please refer to http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=6238. I suppose I should combine these two discussions since they're both covering the same thing. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 17th, 2003, 12:25 PM	#7
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Chris: I read that thread. In fact, I read every thread on the board that so much as mentioned the DM-50 in passing. The reason I started another thread was to make the subject stand out by targeting owners of the mic, if any. Naturally, I'll be happy with whatever decision you make regarding the two threads. Will

February 17th, 2003, 01:00 PM	#8
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Well, hopefully we can find the mic specs. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 17th, 2003, 06:35 PM	#9
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	My observation has been that Canon does not publish much in the way audio performance specifications for their mics.

February 17th, 2003, 10:33 PM	#10
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	Try sending Canon an email asking for the specs. Or give Customer Service a call. They are usually pretty friendly, at least when I called a while ago they were. If you do have success, I would love to know the specs also. Good luck __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

February 18th, 2003, 08:59 AM	#11
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	I called and wrote Canon. No dice. I suppose the fact that Canon doesn't want to tell us could be a hint.

February 18th, 2003, 08:47 PM	#12
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Yes, the bottom line is, this is a consumer mic. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 19th, 2003, 01:04 PM	#13
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	Chris: You've made this point several times, but I just don't get it. I buy $30 consumer products all the time that come with specs or that are described in detail on a vendor's Web site. Both Sony's ECM-MS908C (list $120) and ECM-Z37C ($150) "consumer" camcorder mics, which are similar to the DM-50 in style and function, are well-documented at the site. I remain hopeful that a DM-50 owner can provide the information Canon won't. Will Fastie

February 19th, 2003, 05:10 PM	#14
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	As an alternative- check out the Azden SG-X- cost was $129 at B&H and is a better solution than the GL2 stock mic......I'm sure Azden has the specs posted online somewhere....the SG-X will probably perform very similarly to that of the DM-50....but feel free to ask the board- maybe some members here have had or tried both mics. __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

February 19th, 2003, 05:50 PM	#15
Tom Voigt Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 92	Canon DM-50 Specs Type: Back electret stereo condenser shotgun microphone Directivity: Super-directional/Uni-directional stereo Sensitivity: -40dB/PA (0 dB= 1V/ 1 Pa, 1 kHz front, along axis) Frequency: 150-15,000 Hz Output impedance: 200 ohms (1 kHz) Operating temperature range: 0-40 C Dimensions: 32x81x150mm, 120g I can't compare it to any other microphone, but I like it a lot. It produces a very nice recording of music and voice with a very good stereo image (in the center, stereo shotgun, setting).