Best external microphones for ZV-E10 II vlogging?

Question

Im so frustrated trying to figure out audio for my new ZV-E10 II. I have no idea what these plug types mean and the camera audio is just awful for my travel vlogs. My budget is like 150 bucks. Are there any mics that are basically plug and play for a total newbie?

BelfastBanter · Accepted Answer

Honestly, the internal audio on those cameras is pretty disappointing. If you want something decent under 150 bucks, I have had issues with cheaper setups, but these are reliable:

Rode VideoMicro II Ultra-compact Directional Microphone: Simple, no batteries needed, sounds much clearer.

Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Compact Directional Microphone: Great build, super lightweight, fits perfectly in a travel bag. Everything is basically plug and play since you just use the 3.5mm jack.

BruceHek · Answer

> the camera audio is just awful for my travel vlogs Yeah, unfortunately, the onboard mics on the ZV-E10 II are not as good as expected for any serious content. Had issues with wind noise using them before, which is just a nightmare for travel stuff. Since you want something dead simple, look at these instead. First, check out the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional Camera Microphone. It has a built-in windshield and shock mount so it is super plug-and-play. The audio is miles better than stock. Another solid pick is the Sony ECM-G1 Shotgun Microphone. It is tiny and runs off the camera power, so no batteries to deal with. It is super lightweight for vlogging setups too. Honestly, either of these is gonna be a massive upgrade. Let me know if you get stuck with the cables!

0334_ds · Answer

Regarding what #2 said about the camera audio being awful, I totally agree! For travel, you need something robust. Been thinking about your setup and for plug-and-play simplicity, these are fantastic options:

<a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+On-Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional On-Camera Microphone - awesome wind protection built-in, no batteries needed, super compact for travel!

Rode Wireless ME Compact Wireless Microphone System - basically perfect if you walk away from the camera, sounds professional and is dummy-proof.