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Caat · 05-24-2011, 04:06 AM

I am off on holiday to Cornwall in the next couple of weeks and when I was there last year I took many more videos than I expected on my K7. I am by no means a videographer but I found it a good way to create short 30 second to 1 minute memories.

The major issue I had was the inbuilt mic on the K7 is pretty poor: bad range, not very directional, quite and picks up the sound of the SR system really easily.

So I am looking to get a relatively cheap external mic. With better stereo sound I could see myself using the video feature a lot more - which is good because I did pay for it!!

I don't want to spend much for that £60 or £70 because as I said I am no videographer. I was looking at the Sony ECM-MSD1 which looks like a decent option and one of very few in that price range that perform OK.

Has anyone used this with a Pentax DSLR? I've read some people saying the hotshoe mount may not fit non-sony cameras?

Thanks in advance.

**Rondec** · 05-24-2011, 01:10 PM

I use a Rode Video microphone. I think it runs 150 dollars (at least it did), but it definitely is nice quality and does an excellent job.

FullertonImages · 05-25-2011, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

I use a Rode Video microphone. I think it runs 150 dollars (at least it did), but it definitely is nice quality and does an excellent job.

Another vote for the Rode Video Mic. It's a shotgun, and sounds great, even better than some more expensive mics.

Caat · 05-26-2011, 07:18 AM

It's about £80 in the UK which is OK, a little more than I was looking for.

How robust is it? It looks a little delicate?

FullertonImages · 05-26-2011, 09:10 AM

It's not the most robust one out there, and it's also one of the larger units on the market. But if you want smaller and tougher, you're going to pay for; and many of the other options don't sound as good as this one does. There's a new Rode VideoMic Pro, which is smaller and tougher, as well as the Sennheiser MKE 400, which is the same, but they are both more money. The VideoMic Pro sounds beter thanthe MKE 400, in my opinion, and the I think the standard VideoMic has a slight edge over the pro.

I don't think you will find a better deal than the $150 VideoMic. That's really cheap, and it sounds pretty darn good. You don't want to go cheap on audio.

Here's a video comparing the three mics mentioned, and another.

Cheers,

Ben

Caat · 05-29-2011, 03:20 AM

Thanks for that video review very useful.

**Ron Boggs** · 06-01-2011, 06:40 PM

Another vote for the cheaper Rode stereo videomic. I just traveled one last weekend without a case, just shoved in my computer case with the body and lenses flew here and there, shuttled to a sports event repeatedly each day for 4 days and it isn't any flimsier now than when I started. Yes, it seems less than bullet proof, but the fact that the mic is suspended by rubber snubbers means ambient camera noise is very well damped.

**Rondec** · 06-02-2011, 02:02 PM

Mine has held up pretty well over the year that I've had it. It has some rubber bands (snubbers?) that hold it in place and those are what break if anything does. I have had to replace a couple, but that's not too bad considering that it tends to just get pushed into my bag wherever there is an empty spot.

jogiba · 06-08-2011, 01:09 PM

I use a Rode Stereo VideoMic.

You Tube

You Tube

selar · 07-26-2011, 11:36 PM

Is that a deadcat on your RODE mic?

05-24-2011, 04:06 AM	#1
Caat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Photos: Albums Posts: 927	Good value hotshoe Mic I am off on holiday to Cornwall in the next couple of weeks and when I was there last year I took many more videos than I expected on my K7. I am by no means a videographer but I found it a good way to create short 30 second to 1 minute memories. The major issue I had was the inbuilt mic on the K7 is pretty poor: bad range, not very directional, quite and picks up the sound of the SR system really easily. So I am looking to get a relatively cheap external mic. With better stereo sound I could see myself using the video feature a lot more - which is good because I did pay for it!! I don't want to spend much for that £60 or £70 because as I said I am no videographer. I was looking at the Sony ECM-MSD1 which looks like a decent option and one of very few in that price range that perform OK. Has anyone used this with a Pentax DSLR? I've read some people saying the hotshoe mount may not fit non-sony cameras? Thanks in advance.

05-26-2011, 09:10 AM	#5
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	It's not the most robust one out there, and it's also one of the larger units on the market. But if you want smaller and tougher, you're going to pay for; and many of the other options don't sound as good as this one does. There's a new Rode VideoMic Pro, which is smaller and tougher, as well as the Sennheiser MKE 400, which is the same, but they are both more money. The VideoMic Pro sounds beter thanthe MKE 400, in my opinion, and the I think the standard VideoMic has a slight edge over the pro. I don't think you will find a better deal than the $150 VideoMic. That's really cheap, and it sounds pretty darn good. You don't want to go cheap on audio. Here's a video comparing the three mics mentioned, and another. Vimeo Cheers, Ben

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05-24-2011, 01:10 PM	#2
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,666	I use a Rode Video microphone. I think it runs 150 dollars (at least it did), but it definitely is nice quality and does an excellent job.

05-25-2011, 09:31 AM	#3
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by Rondec I use a Rode Video microphone. I think it runs 150 dollars (at least it did), but it definitely is nice quality and does an excellent job. Another vote for the Rode Video Mic. It's a shotgun, and sounds great, even better than some more expensive mics.

05-26-2011, 07:18 AM	#4
Caat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Photos: Albums Posts: 927 Original Poster	It's about £80 in the UK which is OK, a little more than I was looking for. How robust is it? It looks a little delicate?

05-29-2011, 03:20 AM	#6
Caat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Photos: Albums Posts: 927 Original Poster	Thanks for that video review very useful.

06-01-2011, 06:40 PM	#7
Ron Boggs Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MT Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,350	Another vote for the cheaper Rode stereo videomic. I just traveled one last weekend without a case, just shoved in my computer case with the body and lenses flew here and there, shuttled to a sports event repeatedly each day for 4 days and it isn't any flimsier now than when I started. Yes, it seems less than bullet proof, but the fact that the mic is suspended by rubber snubbers means ambient camera noise is very well damped.

06-02-2011, 02:02 PM	#8
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,666	Mine has held up pretty well over the year that I've had it. It has some rubber bands (snubbers?) that hold it in place and those are what break if anything does. I have had to replace a couple, but that's not too bad considering that it tends to just get pushed into my bag wherever there is an empty spot.

07-26-2011, 11:36 PM	#10
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Is that a deadcat on your RODE mic?

Good value hotshoe Mic

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