Looking for a compact external microphone for the Canon EOS R50.

Question

What is the best compact external mic for a Canon EOS R50 that actually fits well and doesnt get in the way of the flip out screen? I am leaving for a trip to Tokyo in literally four days and I just did a test recording in a park and the internal mic picked up way too much wind and background noise and it just sounded thin and terrible.

I spent all morning looking at the Rode VideoMicro II since everyone raves about it but then I read a couple forum posts saying the R50 has that new multi-function shoe and some people were having issues with the cable height blocking the screen from fully articulating which would be a total nightmare for vlogging myself. Then I looked at the Canon DM-E100 because it is tiny and cheap but some YouTube reviews make it sound like it isnt even worth the $100 price tag if the audio quality is only a marginal upgrade over the built-in one.

I need something that:

is super small

doesnt need a battery (plugin power only)

wont block the screen when I flip it out

costs under $150 or so

I can run to B&H here in New York tomorrow morning but I really dont want to buy something and have to return it right before my flight so I need to be sure. Is there a specific tiny shotgun mic that just works perfectly with this specific body?...

helen.coleman · Accepted Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "Honestly, if you are worried about the cable..." - yeah that cable height is a total pain on these small bodies. Being so stressed about gear breaking on my first trip, I looked for the toughest tiny mic possible. Ended up with the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Compact+Directional+On-camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Compact Directional On-camera Microphone and it is amazing! The whole thing is built like a little tank and fits the R50 perfectly without messing with the screen. Here is why it works:

shock mount is built inside so nothing snaps off in your bag

locking 3.5mm cable keeps everything totally secure

no batteries means one less thing to fail while exploring Used it at a windy pier last week and the sound was fantastic! Since you are hitting B&H tomorrow, just ask to test the cable clearance... it sits low enough that vlogging stays easy. Have a blast in Japan!

lisa.cox · Answer

Honestly, if you are worried about the cable clearance on that R50 body, you might want to consider the Canon DM-E1D Directional Stereo Microphone for Multi-Function Shoe. Since it pulls power and data straight through that digital hot shoe, there are zero cables to block your screen when it is flipped out. It is basically the cleanest setup for that specific camera, though be careful because it only works on newer Canon models with that specific mount. If you prefer a standard 3.5mm jack, I would suggest the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Super-cardioid+Directional+On-Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Super-cardioid Directional On-Camera Microphone. It is significantly better for vlogging than the Rode because the cable plugs into the front of the mic, keeping the wire further away from the screen hinge.

Canon DM-E1D: No cables at all, uses shoe power, digital signal.

Sennheiser MKE 200: Internal shock mount, very small, cable is less intrusive. I would probably skip the DM-E100... the sound quality just isnt a big enough jump from the internal ones. Since you are heading to Tokyo in a few days, you really dont want to be fighting with cables while you are trying to film in a crowded spot. I think the digital shoe mic is your safest bet for zero interference.