audio technica AT815b
You need to put a battery in this to power it, but it includes foam and stand clamp. Approx £200
Audio Technica AT815b.jpg
beyer dynamic MCE 86SII
Hypercardiod. Includes shock-mounted suspension clamp and suitable for mic stand/boom. You need to put a battery in this to power it. Approx £250
Beyer Dynamic MCE 86SII
Remember to ask your supplier if they will do an educational discount
sennheiser K6 + ME66
Sennheiser K6 + ME66 Shotgun capsule If you can afford it, this is what to go for. You buy two items which fit together, a base unit and a 'gun-mic' capsule. You need to put a battery in this to power it.
Sennheiser K6 capsule system. Approx £175
Sennheiser K6 alone
This is the basic power unit onto which you can screw a selection of microphone pick-up sections. For general film and video the best capsule to fit onto the base unit is the ME66 Shotgun capsule. Approx £160
Sennheiser K6 with ME66 Shotgun capsule attached
IMPORTANT!! You need to buy both items K6 and ME66!
N.B. This microphone kit must have a 'pistol-grip' mount and windshields to protect it (like all gun mics). The advantage of this one is that you can buy what you need as a complete kit made by Rycote. The Rycote Softie kit 18cm will fit Sennheiser K6+ME66 and comes with combined windshield, shock-mount suspension and pistol-grip which will screw onto mic stand or boom pole. Approx £150
Almost all of these microphones have professional 3 pin XLR connectors. You will have to buy an adaptor lead to connect these to a mini-jack plug for your camcorder
camcorder microphones
Camcorders always come with a microphone of some sort. Those that are moulded into the body are nearly useless. You should always fit an external mic with this type of camera
A worrying new feature of many small cameras is the mini-jack socket doubles up as the headphone socket this makes it impossible to monitor live sound
Many midrange, semi-professional Camcorders have mics which you can unplug and fit an extention cable inbetween. This is a low-tech solution, but can work okay as long as you find a suitable method to cradle the microphone. You should talk to a specialist video shop about your requirements.
Some HiFi shops or internet sites will offer you mics for camcorders which will range in price from £25 - £80. These mics will have suitable mini-jack connectors but they will require extension cables and are fragile.
A cheap microphone might do the job for a while. However, these mics are generally of poor quality, flimsy & intended for light domestic use. Invest in a sturdy mic from the start