Canon DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone
for iVIS - VIXIA and LEGRIA Camcorders

                            with wind breaker

• For Vixia / Legria and iVIS Camcorders
• Includes Furry Windmuff
• Cable Free Installation

The Canon DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone delivers high-quality stereo audio recordings to camcorders such as the Vixia HF10, HF100, HG20 and HG21 Camcorders. The microphone attached to the camera's advanced accessory shoe for cable-free installation.

Review:

This mic provides three sound acceptance patterns (shotgun, 90-degree stereo and 120-degree stereo spreads), and comes with an effective windscreen. This windscreen looks like squirrel tail or something, and some people refer to it as a dead cat.

The DM-100 is a big improvement in sound. It makes the DG-20 and similar video camcorders quite a bit more effective and professional.

My video camera (and most budget camcorders) have built-in stereo mics that work well, but are sensitive to the slightest wind, and they are often producing a bit of white noise. This external mic solves the wind noise problem - by using the windscreen/dead cat, the wind problem is virtually a non-issue. It works very well for outside filming.

The switchable polar patterns and superb frequency response add depth and dimension that is simply not possible with the on-camera mic.

As a result, my videos will from now sound better and clearer, and there will be less white noise in the background. If there still is noise, I will blame it on my tube amps! :)

Other microphones worth having a look at would be the Sennheiser MKE 400 and the Rode VideoMic - both get very positive reviews. I decided on the Canon because I know it will fit, it has good reviews and is the most affordable of the three. I am not sure if these other microphones mentioned are a lot better or not, but they would definitely be worth checking out. They do cost more though.

Final word - the DM-100 is a bit expensive for being just a microphone. I guess is somewhat typical - you get a video camera for a decent price, but most accessories you buy for it will cost you. That's something we've all seen before!

In summary, this is a nice microphone for Canon video cameras. I will absolutely recommend it, since the sound quality, versatility and windscreen improves the sound dramatically over the built-in microphone. The only drawback is that it's somewhat pricy. However, the improvement in sound makes it worthwhile.