CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**AnalogRocks**

So I'm looking for a high zoom point and shoot that can do video in a pinch. Problem is most dont have a mic jack.

How would I wire in one? I want it to interrupt the internal mics when the external mic is plugged in. Just as it does with a real camcorder.

I was looking at the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS as a possible candidate.

barclay66 · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:50 pm Post subject:

Hi,

For this you would be needing a switched 3.5mm (1/8") jack. If the built in Mic is stereo, by cutting the cable going to the Mic, you will have three lines on each side of the cable (Left, Right and Ground). Connect the ground back together and You have 5 lines (Left from the Mic, Right from the Mic, Ground, Right to the PCB and Left to the PCB). Connect these according to the diagram below. Done!
This will only work if You use the same type of Microphone as the one built in (most common: Condenser microphones).

Regards,
barclay66

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 8:56 pm Post subject:

If you're going to record from an external mic, then you should also have an adjustable mic gain and a headphone output so you can monitor what you're recording. Besides the fact that you'll kill the warranty, and that whatever mic recording circuit the camera has may not work well with whatever external mic you pair it with, I think this is probably not a good idea.

Check out the Lumix DMC-FZ200, Jeremy. The Lumix cameras are great. A little more spendy than the Canon, but worth it to have a really excellent camera that you don't have to hack together to get what you want.

There's also the Nikon P7800 (or last year's Nikon P7700), but it's not a super-zoom. What are you doing with a point/shoot that you need so much zoom?

SC

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:01 pm Post subject:

Oh, there's one more option, too… Get whatever long-zoom camera you want and use an external recorder (Zoom H1 for instance) to capture the audio, then sync it on the computer. Not that much more work if you're going to edit anyway, but not useful if it's just for vacation video and such that you weren't planning to edit.

SC

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:31 am Post subject:

My application is car show photography. I need a flippy screen and stereo sound to capture the rumble of the engines.

External stereo mic would be just the ticket. I want the Canon because I already own a canon flash. Plus I like the miniature setting.

I want the long zoom because all the others have owned have been 3 - 5x times zoom. Plus this is IS

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:58 am Post subject:

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:58 am Post subject:

Yeah something to look at. I don't mind switching teams. I was Pentax before I went Canon in 2001. Still shoot Pentax from time to time too.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:25 am Post subject:

Wow that camera got terrible reviews.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz200

Jumping ISO to 3200 and ruining shots.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:39 am Post subject:

No, it got an excellent review - I'd say almost stellar, concluding with:

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:43 am Post subject:

I didn't say I wouldn't check it out. I have just have had cameras with misplaced controls before. They are annoying.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:23 am Post subject:

Found another contender:
FUJIFILM HS50EXR
Already has a mic jack too.