MPN: ECMZ37C
Strengths: Balances sound nicely.
Weakness: On/Off switch
The thing I like about this microphone is how it balances the sound nicely. I use a Sony camcorder which has a microphone on top and upon filming people, whenever I said something, my voice coming from behind the camera would always record quite loud as compared to the people in front of the camera, so in the course of a recorded conversation it would be loud/quiet/loud/quiet, etc.
With this microphone, it balances the sound nicely. It picks up the sound in front of the camcorder well, and then slightly quiets my voice behind the camera so the sound records with more balance.
This microphone has a little battery in it and there's a rotary on/off switch on the back of the mic. It works fine but it is another thing to remember (both to turn it on, and to turn if off when you are done.) Sony's older microphone took all its power from the camcorder.
The microphone fits nicely on top of my PC-9 camcorder yet adds some size to the whole package so it doesn't fit in my fannypack as easily. Can't even notice a weight difference at least.
I can also plug this microphone directly into my PC mic input and use it for narration.
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TopAs regards "It picks up the sound in front of the camcorder well, and then slightly quiets my voice behind the camera so the sound records with more balance.", this is true, but unfortunately was about the only thing I liked about this mic. In all other respects it was no better than (and sometimes not as good as) the mic built in to my camcorder.
Strengths: nicely built, cute
Weakness: performance
Various tests I ran showed conclusively that this mic is no better than - and sometimes inferior to - the mic built into my Canon DV camcorder. Signal strength is not enhanced, wind noise is not avoided or attenuated, and directional discrimination is disappointing. Save your money.
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TopStrengths: Gets just what is in front of you.
Weakness: Needs inexpensive battery, but does not come with the battery, so you have to make another trip to the store.
I bought it for video taping interviews between 2 people in front of me. Noticeably better than my Sony camera mic. I can see it will be useful for other things - like recording a bubbling brook when people are talking behind you. Effective in wind too, when you use the included cover. Battery is supposed to last 900 hours - that's good.
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Top
Sony ECM-Z37C Camcorder Microphone
Strengths: excellent shot gun mic. I use it in small video production and it works great.
Weakness: not well at picking up bass sounds. Is mono only, naturally.
We shoot shorts with this mic on the end of a boom pole and it is great for vocals in video production. Very narrow cone and rejects outside noise great. Works perfect with our sony digital 8 and makes no noise even through 50 feet of wire. well worth the money.
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