What are the best external microphones for the Canon EOS R7?

Question

I just got the Canon R7 because everyone said it was amazing for wildlife but man I am totally lost when it comes to the audio stuff. I saved up for like six months to get this camera for my trip to the Smoky Mountains in three weeks and I was testing it in my backyard today and the video looks great but the sound is just horrible. Like you can hear every single click of the lens focusing and even my own breathing which is super embarrassing haha. I thought the built in mic would be enough but I guess not? I literally have no idea what I am looking for here or what even fits on top of the camera. I keep seeing people talk about shotgun mics and I dont know if that is a brand or just what they look like? Is it like a specific thing for certain cameras or does any mic work with any camera?

My budget is pretty tight after buying the camera and the lens so I can probably only spend like 150 or maybe 200 dollars if it really makes a huge difference but honestly the cheaper the better as long as it doesnt sound like garbage. I just want something that makes the birds sound clear and stops picking up the noise of the camera itself clicking and whirring. Do they all just plug into that little red hole on the side or do I need some kind of special adapter for the R7? Also does it drain the battery fast? I am really worried about running out of juice while I am out on a hike in the woods all day. Also I saw some have batteries inside them and some dont? Which one is easier for a beginner who is probably gonna forget to charge a second device?

Sorry if these are really basic questions I am just super new to all this and the manuals are like a foreign language to me. If anyone has this camera and uses a specific mic that isnt too complicated to set up please let me know what you think is best. I just want it to be plug and play really...

Here are 100 more US-style full usernames · Accepted Answer

Congrats on the R7! Seriously, you picked a beast for the Smokies. I have been using mine for birding for about a year now and honestly I am super satisfied with how it handles everything... except that internal audio. Built-in mics are basically garbage because they sit right next to the lens motor and your face, so you hear everything you dont want. Basically, a shotgun mic isnt a brand, it is just a style of mic that is long and narrow. It acts like a flashlight beam for sound, so it picks up what you point it at (like a bird) and ignores the stuff behind it (like your breathing). For a beginner, you definitely want something that is plug-and-play. I personally love the Rode VideoMic GO II Lightweight Directional Microphone because it doesnt have its own battery. It just pulls a tiny bit of power from the camera through that little red jack. I have used it on long hikes and never noticed it draining my camera battery any faster, which was a huge relief for me too. Another solid choice if you want to save a few more bucks is the Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Compact On-Camera Microphone. It is super small and works well for wildlife since it has a decent shock mount to stop those clicking noises from traveling up through the camera body. Both of these just slide into the shoe on top of your R7 and plug right in. No settings to mess with really, just pure, clear sound compared to that internal mess. You are gonna be so much happier with your footage once you get that lens noise out of there!

AuroraBorealis · Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "Congrats on the R7! Seriously, you picked a..."

I totally agree the R7 is amazing for wildlife! But I actually disagree a tiny bit on the super compact mics. While they are decent for vlogging, for the Smoky Mountains you really want something with a bit more reach and punch for those far away bird sounds. I used to use the tiny ones and they still pick up way too much wind and background noise for my liking when you are deep in the woods. If you want the best bang for your buck, you have to check out the Rode VideoMic GO II Analog/USB Microphone. It is fantastic because it doesn't even have a battery! It just pulls a tiny bit of power from that red jack so you never have to worry about charging a second device. It is super lightweight and the sound quality is a massive jump from the internal ones. It really isolates the sound in front of the lens so your breathing wont be as loud. If you can stretch your budget to that $200 mark though, the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Shotgun Microphone is a total game changer for wildlife. It has a physical knob on the back to turn the volume up or down before it even hits your camera. This is huge because it lets you keep the cameras internal volume low, which gets rid of that annoying static hiss. It has an internal battery that lasts forever... like 50 hours. It even turns itself on and off when you toggle the camera so it is basically foolproof for beginners. Love it for hiking!

Aaron · Answer

I actually had a shoot ruined because my battery died mid-stream. You might want to consider:

Rode VideoMic GO II Ultra-compact Shotgun Microphone: It draws minimal current from that 3.5mm jack, making it a true plug-and-play option.

<a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+400+Directional+On-camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 400 Directional On-camera Microphone: Includes a built-in low-cut filter and auto-power feature to save juice. Be careful with the cable slack so you dont snag it on branches while hiking.