Panasonic VW-VMH3 Stereo Zoom Microphone for GS500, GS150, GS250, GS200 and GS400 Series CCD Cameras

Comments about Panasonic VW-VMH3 Stereo Zoom Microphone:

Works great on Pv-Gs 250 Panasonic Camcorder!

Comments about Panasonic VW-VMH3 Stereo Zoom Microphone:

I use the GS250 to record in-person interviews with people for different kinds of research studies my firm conducts. The built-in microphone picks up a lot of extraneous noise, especially when the camera is set up across the room.

This mike solves that problem. I can set up the camera across the room, set the mike to "zoom" and then it sets itself to the level of visual zoom of the lens, isolating the audio of a conversation from the ambient room noise quite nicely. It turns the GS250 into a more sophisticated camcorder.

Comments about Panasonic VW-VMH3 Stereo Zoom Microphone:

This microphone is like an extension for your ear -- well, at least for your camcorder's ear.

You can be standing at some distance from the sound source, and when you zoom in with the lens, the microphone also zooms in to pick up the sound. I did this, for example, at a Big Sur waterfall that was some distance away. When I zoomed in, you could hear the water hitting the sand below in the resulting shot. I was amazed and convinced with that one shot alone.

The microphone also has wide and tele settings.

I used it for years, until one time recently I somehow broke the plastic part of the connector where the device attaches to the camcorder. That is the one reason I didn't give this a 5-star rating. One needs to be cautious when the microphone is attached and avoid picking up the camcorder by the microphone.

However, I like the excellent features of the microphone so much, I bought a replacement, so that should tell you something.

Comments about Panasonic VW-VMH3 Stereo Zoom Microphone:

Panasonic made the best prosumer Mini DV cameras bar none. Not ready for the expensive and frustrating change to HD? Neither am I. My arsenal of trusty Panny PV-400 and 500's (sadly, discontinued a few years ago) just got better. On-board mics are never that great, and this inexpensive little jewel was designed specifically for the hotshoe on these models. My prosumer cam now looks pro, and I'm proud to be using my 3CCD SD's into the second decade of the twenty-first century. While many filmmakers are stressing over which HD system is most compatible with their editing software and how to properly store their footage-- I'll be rolling my master and storage tape (all in one, imagine that!)with improved audio thanks to this baby.

These are used for my railroad history documentaries, and are frequently subjected to less than ideal weather conditions. Trains run rain or shine, and so does my equipment. So far, so good. Honk and wave should you pass a guy with a pair of silver Panny's on Manfrotto tripods. All purchased from B&H, of course!