The 60d audio manually is so so. Which is a huge bummer. I thought for some reason the 60d and 5d could record solid audio. I have recorded audio through a mini-jack to xlr's on the sony Z1U (there are 2 versions of this camera one has xlr inputs and the other has mini-jack and I used the sony with the mini-jack). The audio even though it was coming off a mini-jack was still rock solid. So something in the Canon still camera body just doesn't have the ability to do this. Perhaps it is the preamp? I feel a beachtek is a waste of time here. Yeah you are controlling the levels but of mediocre audio. The zoom h4n is way better audio. I bought this as a supplement to my 7d. Basically as a B-Camera which is honestly great. but I really thought I was going to get solid audio. Not amazing but I thought it would be solid. It is just ok.
Here are some of my findings because I wish someone would have told me this. If you are on the fence here between the 7d and 60d I wouldn't say the audio should be a deciding factor because I don't feel this audio is that great on the 60d.
First off when you just go manual mode and use the internal 60d or 5d camera mic, which is a built in omni-directional mic, the audio is actually super solid and clean. The problem is if you go outdoors and it is windy or in a noisy environment then this mic just doesn't cut it. If you want to plug in a mic through the mini-jack that is where you will get into some problems.
Once you plug into that mini-jack you get this "hiss" noise. Basically there is something in the grounding or preamp on the camera body that can't handle a clean signal. It is usable I would say and if you put some filters on it you can clean it up or if you lay music under it again it is usuable. Especially for say internet stuff. Also just as b-roll audio and maybe stand up quick interviews it could work. I really was surprised how much cleaner the internal mic was over when I plugged a mic in through the mini-jack.
In terms of how you set audio on these cameras is also a pain. You can put the 60d in manual mode then set channel 1 and 2 levels. They are not independent. Meaning you can't adjust level 1 and level 2 separately. Both are married together so unless you have an outside mixer those two channels can't be adjusted independently. Also once you hit record you can't see your audio levels nor can you adjust them, again unless you have an outside mixer that also has the ability to show visually what is going on channel 1 and 2.
So all and all this audio upgrade from the 7d to the 60d and 5d is ok but it isn't anything to be that happy about. I think you could get away with some stand up interviews if you were running around doing stuff and for b-roll. But it is not good enough for sit down interviews or serious audio.
Ronster
Here are some of my findings because I wish someone would have told me this. If you are on the fence here between the 7d and 60d I wouldn't say the audio should be a deciding factor because I don't feel this audio is that great on the 60d.
First off when you just go manual mode and use the internal 60d or 5d camera mic, which is a built in omni-directional mic, the audio is actually super solid and clean. The problem is if you go outdoors and it is windy or in a noisy environment then this mic just doesn't cut it. If you want to plug in a mic through the mini-jack that is where you will get into some problems.
Once you plug into that mini-jack you get this "hiss" noise. Basically there is something in the grounding or preamp on the camera body that can't handle a clean signal. It is usable I would say and if you put some filters on it you can clean it up or if you lay music under it again it is usuable. Especially for say internet stuff. Also just as b-roll audio and maybe stand up quick interviews it could work. I really was surprised how much cleaner the internal mic was over when I plugged a mic in through the mini-jack.
In terms of how you set audio on these cameras is also a pain. You can put the 60d in manual mode then set channel 1 and 2 levels. They are not independent. Meaning you can't adjust level 1 and level 2 separately. Both are married together so unless you have an outside mixer those two channels can't be adjusted independently. Also once you hit record you can't see your audio levels nor can you adjust them, again unless you have an outside mixer that also has the ability to show visually what is going on channel 1 and 2.
So all and all this audio upgrade from the 7d to the 60d and 5d is ok but it isn't anything to be that happy about. I think you could get away with some stand up interviews if you were running around doing stuff and for b-roll. But it is not good enough for sit down interviews or serious audio.
Ronster
