[Fay Jai]

I got a couple of very nice Gift Cards for X-mas, and have decided that I will finally get a camcorder. I'm thinking the Sony MiniDV DCH-HC42...any one want to try to talk me out of it? Are there things I should look out for? I looked it up on PriceGrabber and found one from Electronics Expo that was almost $100 less then on Amazon...However, I'm a little afraid of ordering stuff online like this (you know, what do I do if it breaks, thaqt kind of thing)

Thanks!

~Jason

[rockdoggydog]

Wait about a month is my advice, there are about a metric megaton and a half of new camcorders here this year at CES, all of which will soon be unleashed on the world soon. You may see something better or it may drive the price down on the one you want. I'm especially impressed with the new offereings from Samsung and Panasonic that they have on the show floor.

Rocky

[pim]

I'm entirely clueless here so hopefully someone will take pity and help me out.

I'm considering buying a Canon VIXIA HF100 camcorder--not that I know anything about anything but cNet has it as one of the top ten favorites of their editors, and the prize is right next to the comparable Sony's. My DSLR is Canon so the brand is friendly to me.

I'd like to get external mic for it--and considering one of the Sennheiser wireless lavaliers like this one, but frankly I'm not entirely sure if I want to spend the extra $500 on microphones on top of the price for the camera. I don't plan on doing anything fancy with it, perhaps a silly clip once in a while for the blog, but nothing much more professional. Does anyone have any advice on what mic to buy to this camera?

Thanks a million.

[Liza]

If you have any thoughts to using your audio in even a semi-professional way, I'd recommend an external mic - though I'll bet there's something cheaper than $500. Built-in mics are non-directional, so your audio only comes best in one direction, the direction the mic is facing. If you're recording in kitchens or restaurants, you'll need a wireless on your subject - or risk being overwhelmed by the rumbling stock pot!

[rancho_gordo]

I bought a wireless clip on mic for my camera and it's AMAZING. I don't think anything says hobbyist like bad sound. I can't believe I paid over $100 for it. I'll try and find it.

Grantk, do you remember?

[GrantK]

I don't remember which one you bought, RG, sorry.

Liza is right about not using the built in mic, especially in a noisy environment but the problem is they're omni-directional so sound comes in equally from every direction. Lavaliers are all right, but they require some interaction with the subject so they're not so convenient for grabbing shots on the fly. If you're in a controlled situation where you have time to clip the mic to them, they're fine. They're omni-directional but since they're so close to the subject they don't pick up a lot of ambient sound. I have the Sennheiser G2 wireless lavalier which is good, but it's probably overkill for what you want, Pim.

You can also get a directional mic that will attach to your camera (aka shotguns, short and long). A properly placed directional will sound better than a lavalier, but placing them properly is the problem. I have a Panasonic AG MC 100 that's pretty good for the price. I've had to do interviews in situations where I couldn't put a lav on the subjects and didn't have an extra person to boom (the preferred option, by the way). I wouldn't want to do it outside on a windy day or in a noisy room, but it was a lot better than the built in mic and a lot more convenient than clipping the lavs to the subject and then having to adjust the transmitter and receiver.

If you're ever in Oakland, the people at Leo's Pro Audio are great and the prices usually very competitive. They're on Telegraph Ave. at 54th St., just north of the Temescal foodie block (Dona Tomas, Bakesale Betty, Piazziolo, some gourmet organic taqueria, and Genova, an old school Italian deli) on Telegraph Ave.

[pim]

I bought a wireless clip on mic for my camera and it's AMAZING. I don't think anything says hobbyist like bad sound. I can't believe I paid over $100 for it. I'll try and find it.

Grantk, do you remember?

Is this the one?



Sony WCS999

[pim]

Liza and Grant, thanks for the advice. I'm definitely going for the external mic, and thinking the wireless clip on will work better than a shotgun, though I might actually get a shotgun too--Canon has one that fits the shoe on top of that camera so if I'm going with that VIXIA for sure I'll be getting that shotgun.

Grant, I thought that Sennheiser was overkill too, would be great to find something in the 100+ range and not much more. I might be up in the East Bay soon and will try to check out the store.

[GrantK]

Lav v directional depends on the shooting conditions. I would say get both but it's not my money.

Make RG look at his mic for the make and model. I can't remember what it was but it was a fraction of the Sennheiser and didn't sound bad from the clip I watched.

[pim]

Both the Sony lv and the Canon shotgun together are still cheaper than that Sennheiser alone.

Actually, I was considering two cameras, the Sony HDR SR7 and the Canon Vixia HF10 (or HF100), and decided on the Canon because for the price of the Sony (or just a tad more) I could get a Canon and a good Lav mic system. Now that you're talking me out of the Sennheiser I'm saving even more money.

The VIXIA HF10 is good, you think? It's got some good reviews and the features etc seem to fit what I want to do.

Ooh, and thank you, btw.

[Liza]

I would really urge the lav over the shotgun if you're doing interviewing. The minimal interaction you have with your subjects does two things:
1- gives you better sound
2- warms them up ("Ooh, you have to clip that on me?)
3 - lets them know you're serious ("Oh, this is a real, professional mic!")

I've covered the NYC Citymeals-on-Wheels event two years in a row. First year, the DP brings the standard digibeta camera package which is a pretty honking big camera. It radiated seriousness. Second year, DP brings a small digital package and we had to flash credentials more than once and explain how the camera works, is professional, etc.

[ghostrider]

I would really urge the lav over the shotgun if you're doing interviewing. The minimal interaction you have with your subjects does two things:
1- gives you better sound
2- warms them up ("Ooh, you have to clip that on me?)
3 - lets them know you're serious ("Oh, this is a real, professional mic!")

I've covered the NYC Citymeals-on-Wheels event two years in a row. First year, the DP brings the standard digibeta camera package which is a pretty honking big camera. It radiated seriousness. Second year, DP brings a small digital package and we had to flash credentials more than once and explain how the camera works, is professional, etc.

If you read this post first, it sounds like you're filming interviews in the bathroom ("lav"). Makes perfect sense that you'd have minimal interaction when your subject is in one of the stalls, though I didn't quite understand the choice between interviews in the can vs. at the point of a shotgun.

[Liza]

At the point, it's either you're at their mercy, or they're at yours.

[GrantK]

I would really urge the lav over the shotgun if you're doing interviewing. The minimal interaction you have with your subjects does two things:
1- gives you better sound
2- warms them up ("Ooh, you have to clip that on me?)
3 - lets them know you're serious ("Oh, this is a real, professional mic!")

I've covered the NYC Citymeals-on-Wheels event two years in a row. First year, the DP brings the standard digibeta camera package which is a pretty honking big camera. It radiated seriousness. Second year, DP brings a small digital package and we had to flash credentials more than once and explain how the camera works, is professional, etc.

A boom operator looks even more professional though.

The lavalier is preferable to the shotgun mounted on the camera for sure, but using a lav isn't always possible for us poor slobs who are forced to work alone. Or if you have radio interference with the wireless system (rarely happens, but I've heard disaster stories). Then the shotgun on the camera is much preferable to the built in mic. Get both so you're flexible. <shrug>

Make sure you get a good pair of headphones! That's not something to skimp on. You'll want to monitor the sound, if not for the whole shoot, at least at the beginning while you set levels, etc.

About the cameras, I personally dislike Canons but haven't used any of the solid state models. I don't like the layout or the interface. But that's largely personal preference. Quality-wise, I think the differences between the major brands are negligible and probably only really apparent in side-by-side comparisons.

[rancho_gordo]

So I got this one.

I checked my old orders and paid $150 for it last year.
Easy to use and easy to configure. The one Grant had was off and we recorded it too loud if I recall.