External microphone on K7

RobG · 04-01-2010, 10:41 PM

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Hi All,

Can anyone tell me whether using a mono mike on the K7 could cause any damage to the circuitry? I have an old mono shotgun mike with a flash mount that I'd like to try on the K7 for taking video of birds and animals. But having spent AUD$1300 on the camera (with a WR lens) I don't want to damage it.

Has anyone bought a stereo mike for their K7? Any pointers to a good option? I presume there's mikes out there which have flash mounts?

Rob

tr13 · 04-02-2010, 03:08 AM

No it won't damage anything :-)
Some mono mikes just record on both channels, some only on one.
This depends on used plug (either ground on other channel or plug like in stereo and doubling).
And most external mikes are mono, btw.

RobG · 04-02-2010, 05:40 AM

Hmm.. I'll have to go digging. I found a couple of stereo microphones with hotshoe mounts but they're between AUD$180 and $400.

e.g. Azden microphones from Proton Digital
The $400 one is made by Rode.

Entropy · 04-02-2010, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by RobG

Hmm.. I'll have to go digging. I found a couple of stereo microphones with hotshoe mounts but they're between AUD$180 and $400.

e.g. Azden microphones from Proton Digital
The $400 one is made by Rode.

I have an Audio-Technica PRO-24 CM, it was less than $100 USD.

It works amazingly well with my Canon HF100, at least compared to the builtin mic. It should work with the K-7.

The higher-end stereo mics are going to perform better, but that AT provides great "bang for the buck".

RobG · 04-02-2010, 05:13 PM

Thanks Entropy! I'll go to a couple of stores today and see what I can find. It's good to get an idea of what is out there and people are actually using!

RobG · 04-03-2010, 03:08 AM

I'm disappointed to say I didn't find much. Only one store had a suitable microphone and it was AUD$299. I can buy it cheaper on the web even after postage. I am nevertheless amazed that there isn't a compact and cheaper microphone around.

RobG · 04-03-2010, 05:47 PM

This thread should probably be in the Video forum. Sorry! The article below should be made a stick IMO:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-video-forum/61898-k-7-movie-sound-primer.html

Entropy · 04-05-2010, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by RobG

I'm disappointed to say I didn't find much. Only one store had a suitable microphone and it was AUD$299. I can buy it cheaper on the web even after postage. I am nevertheless amazed that there isn't a compact and cheaper microphone around.

I'm not at all. It's next to impossible to find decent gear in brick-and-mortar stores these days, unless you're in a megacity where specialty stores exist.

(In the United States, this has pretty much become "New York City" for photo and video equipment, B&H + Adorama + J&R = juggernauts with major online presence that make it hard to compete.)

I got my PRO-24 CM from J&R, by the way. Don't know what a good choice for Australia is.

netuser · 04-05-2010, 10:43 AM

Anyone tested this ?

Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone Mini Mic for Disc Camcorder on eBay (end time 18-Apr-10 04:14:20 BST)

RobG · 04-05-2010, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by netuser

Anyone tested this ?

Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone Mini Mic for Disc Camcorder on eBay (end time 18-Apr-10 04:14:20 BST)

That would be a great cheap alternative! The angle of the microphone would end up being odd, because of the position of the socket on the camera, but it would be a lot less hassle than mikes the size of the Rode ones (which I've already ordered BTW).

RobG · 04-05-2010, 03:41 PM

Originally posted by Entropy

I got my PRO-24 CM from J&R, by the way. Don't know what a good choice for Australia is.

Shopbot.com.au is a good place for Ozzies to compare prices.

I managed to save a few dollars on the Rode mike.

Rob

RobG · 04-14-2010, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by RobG

Shopbot.com.au is a good place for Ozzies to compare prices.

I managed to save a few dollars on the Rode mike.

I have received the Rode microphone but will have to wait until the weekend to give it a try. FWIW I am actually quite impressed with the quality of the sound from the built-in mono microphone.

Rob

**grey goat** · 04-14-2010, 08:29 PM

I've recently started thinking of an external mic, though I haven't shot much video at all with my K-7.

Rodes are good. Audio-Technica's are, too--some great values there. The AT ATR6250 can be had at Full Compass in Madison, WI, for under $40 right now. I haven't checked elsewhere, and I haven't tried the mic, either. But it seems as if it'd be a good low-priced mic. And Full Compass is just 30-some miles from here. Great company.

I've got a Fostex digital recorder it'd be fun to try in conjunction with the K-7, too. I need to read more about the audio in the K-7, but it seems using an external recorder would provide a big jump in control.

A good off-camera mixer between the mic and the K-7 would help, too, I'll bet. If I start thinking about that too much, I'll start wanting something from Sound Devices, a company just up the road from here in Reedsburg, WI, that makes probably the best portable digital sound gear anywhere.

Maybe I should stick with still photography for a while. . . . Or spring for that inexpensive ATR6250 and content myself with it. . . .

Entropy · 04-15-2010, 08:01 AM

As far as mixers, I keep on hearing good things about Behringer in terms of "bang for the buck".

RobG · 04-18-2010, 04:11 AM

Originally posted by RobG

Has anyone bought a stereo mike for their K7? Any pointers to a good option? I presume there's mikes out there which have flash mounts?

I tried the Rode Stereo Videomic on the K7 for the first time today. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any idea how many dB the "dead kitten" imposes on the levels.

The audio quality from the microphone seems excellent but the levels are low. I am uploading a video I took today where I have normalised the audio levels. Because the conditions were peaceful, this means the volume has been pushed a LOT in some sections and the noise levels appear to be much higher than they actually are. The stereo image generated by the microphone seems excellent to me - in other words, you can hear the positions of things just as they were, relative to the camera. The signal to noise ratio of the Stereo Videomic seems to be very good (74 dB SPL according to the manual).

I'll post a link to the video as soon as it is finished uploading - 142 MB of MP4 file takes quite a while to upload!

Rob

04-01-2010, 10:41 PM	#1
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	External microphone on K7 Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Hi All, Can anyone tell me whether using a mono mike on the K7 could cause any damage to the circuitry? I have an old mono shotgun mike with a flash mount that I'd like to try on the K7 for taking video of birds and animals. But having spent AUD$1300 on the camera (with a WR lens) I don't want to damage it. Has anyone bought a stereo mike for their K7? Any pointers to a good option? I presume there's mikes out there which have flash mounts? Rob

04-18-2010, 04:11 AM	#15
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobG Has anyone bought a stereo mike for their K7? Any pointers to a good option? I presume there's mikes out there which have flash mounts? I tried the Rode Stereo Videomic on the K7 for the first time today. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any idea how many dB the "dead kitten" imposes on the levels. The audio quality from the microphone seems excellent but the levels are low. I am uploading a video I took today where I have normalised the audio levels. Because the conditions were peaceful, this means the volume has been pushed a LOT in some sections and the noise levels appear to be much higher than they actually are. The stereo image generated by the microphone seems excellent to me - in other words, you can hear the positions of things just as they were, relative to the camera. The signal to noise ratio of the Stereo Videomic seems to be very good (74 dB SPL according to the manual). I'll post a link to the video as soon as it is finished uploading - 142 MB of MP4 file takes quite a while to upload! Vimeo Rob Last edited by RobG; 04-18-2010 at 05:15 AM.

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04-02-2010, 03:08 AM	#2
tr13 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 343	No it won't damage anything :-) Some mono mikes just record on both channels, some only on one. This depends on used plug (either ground on other channel or plug like in stereo and doubling). And most external mikes are mono, btw.

04-02-2010, 05:40 AM	#3
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Hmm.. I'll have to go digging. I found a couple of stereo microphones with hotshoe mounts but they're between AUD$180 and $400. e.g. Azden microphones from Proton Digital The $400 one is made by Rode.

04-02-2010, 08:20 AM	#4
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Originally posted by RobG Hmm.. I'll have to go digging. I found a couple of stereo microphones with hotshoe mounts but they're between AUD$180 and $400. e.g. Azden microphones from Proton Digital The $400 one is made by Rode. I have an Audio-Technica PRO-24 CM, it was less than $100 USD. It works amazingly well with my Canon HF100, at least compared to the builtin mic. It should work with the K-7. The higher-end stereo mics are going to perform better, but that AT provides great "bang for the buck".

04-02-2010, 05:13 PM	#5
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Thanks Entropy! I'll go to a couple of stores today and see what I can find. It's good to get an idea of what is out there and people are actually using!

04-03-2010, 03:08 AM	#6
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	I'm disappointed to say I didn't find much. Only one store had a suitable microphone and it was AUD$299. I can buy it cheaper on the web even after postage. I am nevertheless amazed that there isn't a compact and cheaper microphone around.

04-03-2010, 05:47 PM	#7
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	This thread should probably be in the Video forum. Sorry! The article below should be made a stick IMO: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-video-forum/61898-k-7-movie-sound-primer.html

04-05-2010, 08:00 AM	#8
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Originally posted by RobG I'm disappointed to say I didn't find much. Only one store had a suitable microphone and it was AUD$299. I can buy it cheaper on the web even after postage. I am nevertheless amazed that there isn't a compact and cheaper microphone around. I'm not at all. It's next to impossible to find decent gear in brick-and-mortar stores these days, unless you're in a megacity where specialty stores exist. (In the United States, this has pretty much become "New York City" for photo and video equipment, B&H + Adorama + J&R = juggernauts with major online presence that make it hard to compete.) I got my PRO-24 CM from J&R, by the way. Don't know what a good choice for Australia is.

04-05-2010, 10:43 AM	#9
netuser Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,236	Anyone tested this ? Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone Mini Mic for Disc Camcorder on eBay (end time 18-Apr-10 04:14:20 BST)

04-05-2010, 03:33 PM	#10
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by netuser Anyone tested this ? Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone Mini Mic for Disc Camcorder on eBay (end time 18-Apr-10 04:14:20 BST) That would be a great cheap alternative! The angle of the microphone would end up being odd, because of the position of the socket on the camera, but it would be a lot less hassle than mikes the size of the Rode ones (which I've already ordered BTW).

04-05-2010, 03:41 PM	#11
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by Entropy I got my PRO-24 CM from J&R, by the way. Don't know what a good choice for Australia is. Shopbot.com.au is a good place for Ozzies to compare prices. I managed to save a few dollars on the Rode mike. Rob

04-14-2010, 07:39 PM	#12
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobG Shopbot.com.au is a good place for Ozzies to compare prices. I managed to save a few dollars on the Rode mike. I have received the Rode microphone but will have to wait until the weekend to give it a try. FWIW I am actually quite impressed with the quality of the sound from the built-in mono microphone. Rob

04-14-2010, 08:29 PM	#13
grey goat Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spring Green, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 945	I've recently started thinking of an external mic, though I haven't shot much video at all with my K-7. Rodes are good. Audio-Technica's are, too--some great values there. The AT ATR6250 can be had at Full Compass in Madison, WI, for under $40 right now. I haven't checked elsewhere, and I haven't tried the mic, either. But it seems as if it'd be a good low-priced mic. And Full Compass is just 30-some miles from here. Great company. I've got a Fostex digital recorder it'd be fun to try in conjunction with the K-7, too. I need to read more about the audio in the K-7, but it seems using an external recorder would provide a big jump in control. A good off-camera mixer between the mic and the K-7 would help, too, I'll bet. If I start thinking about that too much, I'll start wanting something from Sound Devices, a company just up the road from here in Reedsburg, WI, that makes probably the best portable digital sound gear anywhere. Maybe I should stick with still photography for a while. . . . Or spring for that inexpensive ATR6250 and content myself with it. . . .

04-15-2010, 08:01 AM	#14
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	As far as mixers, I keep on hearing good things about Behringer in terms of "bang for the buck".