results from this setup
 

if i get some tax money back may get this setup. record direct into camera with a schoeps,sd 302 with headphones. Would directly into camera be a waste if i got decent equipment like the shoeps and sd?

Ive heard samples with the sd being used and it really made a difference. Going into camera will be much easier for me. (should specify it would go into a canon a1)

People record straight into camera day in and day out. It wouldn't be a waste unless the camera can't handle the audio properly.

well put another way -

I have a HD100. I've had the audio board replaced. At mic level, its noisy, at line level its clean. using an external mixer sending line to the camera nets me good-as-its-gonna-get sound without going into a separate audio recorder.

so if your preamps are reasonably clean AND put out enough phantom power, you could do it to start with. down the road, having a mixer is more versatile when needing to add more mics, or feed 2-3 cams.

another things is that when having low dialog levels, the mixer preamps will be cleaner then the cameras if you are really using the gain.

so you could start with a great mic feeding the camera, then add the mixer down the road, or get a SD single or dual channel preamp which is cheaper, and might be enough for your needs for some time to come.

of course don't forget a decent boom and lyra shock mount.

You don't say which Schoeps but you are going in a good direction. FYI the SD302 going into the Canon at Line Level usually means running the Canon inputs wide open just to get to -20.

thanks for all the replies. Most likely the cmit5u. Audio is a much greater challenge for me than shooting.