Optional microphone at DVinfo.net

Edwin Hernandez · December 10th, 2005, 10:33 PM

The Panasonic sites states that the camera comes with a built-in microphone and that the unidirectional microphone (the one shown on all the pictures) is optional.

How much will that microphone cost?
Is it worth it?
How good it can be?
What would you buy instead?

Betsy Moore · December 10th, 2005, 10:54 PM

Personally, I think if you're going to spend any money at all for an exterior mic you'll usually want to go ahead just get a really good one (better than the upgrade Panny's offering) that you can have for 10, 15 years over the course of three or four cameras. I use a Sennheisser shotgun on the camera and I can also use it on a boom--I had to pay a few hundred dollars for it but the sound is perfect and with a little luck, kids who are little today will be drinking age before I have to replace it--and you can usually get a slightly discounted used one of terrific quality on ebay, this site, maybe even Craig's List, etc.

Dean Sensui · December 12th, 2005, 09:12 PM

Well, for HD cameras you need Panasonic's HD microphone.

Standard mics won't work nearly as well because of the new format's higher defnition...

... if you believe that, then I should be a salesman! :-)

Seriously, I was using an AT 897 shotgun but just started using an AT 4051 unidirectional mic on my Sony PD-170.

The AT 897 was selected because it didn't require phantom power and I was using it on a Canon XL1s.

But when I started shooting with a Sony PD-170, which does have phantom power, that opened up a wider selection of mics, and I decided to use the 4051. It's better at rejecting noise from the rear of the mic and has options for unidirectional and supercardioid pickup patterns. Fidelity is wonderful, too.

December 10th, 2005, 10:33 PM	#1
Edwin Hernandez Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City, Panama Posts: 162	Optional microphone The Panasonic sites states that the camera comes with a built-in microphone and that the unidirectional microphone (the one shown on all the pictures) is optional. How much will that microphone cost? Is it worth it? How good it can be? What would you buy instead?

December 12th, 2005, 09:12 PM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Well, for HD cameras you need Panasonic's HD microphone. Standard mics won't work nearly as well because of the new format's higher defnition... ... if you believe that, then I should be a salesman! :-) Seriously, I was using an AT 897 shotgun but just started using an AT 4051 unidirectional mic on my Sony PD-170. The AT 897 was selected because it didn't require phantom power and I was using it on a Canon XL1s. But when I started shooting with a Sony PD-170, which does have phantom power, that opened up a wider selection of mics, and I decided to use the 4051. It's better at rejecting noise from the rear of the mic and has options for unidirectional and supercardioid pickup patterns. Fidelity is wonderful, too. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

December 10th, 2005, 10:54 PM	#2
Betsy Moore Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 444	Personally, I think if you're going to spend any money at all for an exterior mic you'll usually want to go ahead just get a really good one (better than the upgrade Panny's offering) that you can have for 10, 15 years over the course of three or four cameras. I use a Sennheisser shotgun on the camera and I can also use it on a boom--I had to pay a few hundred dollars for it but the sound is perfect and with a little luck, kids who are little today will be drinking age before I have to replace it--and you can usually get a slightly discounted used one of terrific quality on ebay, this site, maybe even Craig's List, etc.