Panasonic Stereo Microphone for Camcorders

Initial review: I'm using this with a Panasonic HC-X920. After fitting the X920 supplied cold shoe adapter the microphone easily fitted to the front and side of the camcorder. The microphone has a locking ring so the attachment is very secure. The microphone has a horizontal slot at the back which enables the cable to be supported. Getting the cable to fit into the slot is quite difficult but when fitted it appears to be very secure. I've tested the operation in the house but only limited testing outside. I've tried the microphone in all the camcorders modes full agc, manual with agc and manual no agc. The camcorder automatically recognises the microphone and switches to 2 channel stereo.In operation, sample testing at present, the microphone operates very well and is an improvement over the internal microphone. Handling noises will still be picked up so some care or a tripod will be necessary. (Applies to internal or external camcorders at this price I think)I've played with settings, which vary depending on camcorder model, but the manual with and without agc works well. I think in a controlled environment I'd opt for using without agc and in a more 'explosive' environment I'd use it with agc. Currently I've set my camcorder to -6db.I'll update this review when I've used the combination for real.

Although the item description is 'Panasonic Stereo Microphone for Camcorders' it is actually a Panasonic VW-VMS10 stereo mike and while it will fit a range of camcorders it would be safe to check out its compatibility with your gear first. I bought it for my Panasonic HC-X920 HD camcorder and it works a treat. Complete with soft carry pouch and a nicely made dead kitten windsock the latter makes it worth the money by itself as the built in mike is clever but appalling, especially with any wind around. The mike fits onto a standard accessory shoe and is powered from the camcorder. No extra batteries are needed.My camcorder recognises the mike when fitted and offers, via the shooting menu, various settings for it. I would suggest that you do not use AGC as you get that 'hunting for sound' effect during quiet passages as the gain gets turned up in the vain attempt to record something then slams down when a sound occurs. All very clever but unlikeable hunting quality pervades. Watch Neighbours for some occasional good examples of this approach. It also tells me that the mike will intrude into the picture area on full wide angle (it is forward mounted). This is wrong for this mike on a X920 but with other longer rifle mikes it would be correct; being over helpful with general purpose warnings eh Mr Panasonic? Lovely crisp sound, strongly front directional and a definite improvement on the built-in mike (usually the case since time immemorial).Carmarthen Cameras were very quick and efficient. I ordered on a Sunday and it was with me the following Wednesday, tracked, signed for standard free delivery. Excellent. Cannot be faulted Boyo. Will use them again.

Excellent quality as one should expect from Panasonic.I bought this for my Panasonic HC-X920, which although having a good built-in microphone, records loud "wind noise" even in mildly breezy conditions.This microphone, supplied with wind jammer provides a solution. It may not remove the wind noise completely, but brings it down to a very acceptable level. (I film local football matches, so there is always a degree of noise anyway!)It is easy to connect to the camera, using the shoe adapter (that came with the camera), and there is no need for a separate power supply, as it is powered through the camera's mic terminal.I would recommend this microphone.

I bought this microphone for my new Panasonic HC-VXF990 Camcorder. This camera has quite a sufficient built-in microphone but it does pick up a lot of wind noise and I hoped that this mike would help to cut that down. The microphone fitted the camera well and did not intrude at all into the viewing area of the lens. There was some improvement in the general sound recorded but this was completely spoilt by the extraneous camera handling noises also recorded. There does not seem sufficient damping between camera body and microphone so any handling of camera parts transfers immediately into the recording. Use of the zoom is particularly intrusive. I have never used a microphone before so I cannot say whether it is better or worse than others like it. It may be the camera which has not been designed well enough although I would have expected a Panasonic camera and microphone to have worked well together. Certainly the built-in mike is clean in this respect. It may well be a good mike if used on a boom or if the camera is fixed on a tripod with no handling of any kind, simply recording what is before it. However, for use in an action mode, where parts of the camera mechanisms are being altered whilst recording, I cannot recommend it (for the Panasonic HC-VXF990 Camcorder at least.)

This is an excellent piece of kit which slots nicely into the supplied external shoe supplied with my Panasonic HC-X920 camera which is again an excellent camera and gives superb High Definition results but was let down by wind noise over the inbuilt microphone. I live very near the sea on the Bristol Channel so in this windy spot have had ample opportunity to test the microphones performance with the dead cat fitted. I am well satisfied as with quite strong breezes up to 20 mph the wind is deadened to virtually a whisper. I have used this camera for around 2 years ever since Panasonic announced it and I wish I had had the foresight to purchase this mic a lot sooner.

I am very pleased with the quality of the sound this Microphone captures...Having used the inbuilt ones in the Panasonic X920 for two Years, i wish i had bought this earlier.. It makes the sound much crisper and picks up sounds not normally heard. Well impressed ...worth the Money !!