HF200 External Microphone Query

1. anindya49
   Member

   

   Hi, I recently got a Canon HF200. I am now looking
   for an external microphone (one
   that plugs into the mic terminal).
   Just out of curiosity I plugged
   in a regular headset mic (the
   jack is compatible). However, it does
   not record anything. The in-built
   microphone cuts out when I
   plug in the headset mic, but
   there is no sound. I have
   already tried manually increasing
   the gain.

   So the question is, is this to be
   expected, or is there a problem
   with the mic terminal? The camera
   is brand new and everything else
   works (including the headphones).

   Any suggestions/insights?

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. CraftersOfLight
   Member

   

    Starting at the simple...

   Your headset mic, does it share the headphone plug or is it separate (do you have one plug, or two)?

   If it's one then I do not think it will work. It will cut out the onboard mic as it will open that part of the curcuit to disable it. It will also, most likely, have 4 or 5 contacts on the plug (tip, usually ground, 2 or 3 bands, one for mic and others for left and right headphone, and the part that enters the "handle").

   If it has 2 separate plugs, are you sure you are not plugging in the headphone instead of the mic? 

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   Posted 2 years ago #

3. anindya49
   Member

   

   Hi. Thanks for the reply. My headset has two plugs: a red one for the mic, and a green one for the headphones. I am plugging in only the mic.

   In the meanwhile I visited a local camera store and asked them about this. They told me that I need to get a mic which has the correct impedance for video work, and that the regular pc mics might not work with the camcorder. I also had a look at the manual; Canon suggests a "condenser microphone with its own power supply".

   Maybe it's a good idea to start a camcorder mic compatibility thread.

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. anindya49
   Member

   

   I got an Audio Technica lavalier mic for use with the HF200, and it works perfectly. So, basically you need a powered condenser mic for this camera.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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