Can I use the standard xls1 mike as an external mike for my gs400?
 

Can I use the standard xls1 mike as an external mike for my panasonic gs400? Let me explain. I have both cams, and I was just going to go out an get a Rhode mic for the GS400, as it does not really have a mic, the internal one is really bad, and I am wondering if I can use the one that came with the XLS1, which seems like a good mike. The first thing I noticed is that the plug is different (looks like a DC pin). Hmmmm....ideas?

I also want to build a boom; anyone know of a good webpage that describes that? I live in nepal, and there is no way to buy one here. thanks!!!
jigs

I don't know for sure, so don't believe me, but I THINK it would be impossible. Because of that strange connection of the XL1S and I think the mic from the canon is powered from the Canon itself (yep it needs powering :-))

That being said, can anybody (sorry, I asked this in another thread, but didn't really could find a closing answer, and I didn't find a closing answer when I did a search) tell me if the XL1S mic can sound good if you put it on a boom?
And are there actually -200 euro mics who give you more quality than the XL1S one? Is a -200 euro shotgun mic on a boom better then the XL1S mic on the camera?

Thanks for the advice, and Jiggy: Good luck. (Note, I really ain't sure about this! But I have the XL1S and my nephew the GS400 so I think it's impossible.)

Mathieu, thanks for the post! i guess u are right, the canon mike needs power, and where to get that if hooked to the gs400? Scratch that idea. That's why the Rhodes mike has a battery. Your relative may be interesting in this link:
http://www.pana3ccduser.com/article.php?filename=Using-the-R%F8de-NT3-Studio-Microphone-with-Panasoni

So we are trying to do the same thing, i think. Long pole, cable, some way to attach, and a proven mic that works on the end of it all.

A wireless clip mike might work, but the seinhauser ones cost as much as the XLs1! I found some cheaper ones, but have never heard of the company and i have never seen one sold anywhere:
http://www.azden.com/

Still, a mike on a pole would be more versitile than a clip mike for the scenes i want to shoot. I wonder about transmitting power over long distances and what wire to use to conduct sound and whatnot too. but surely someone out here must have figured this out!

jigs

Yeah, I know a friendly guy who will help me at the shoot, and he has the XLR adaptor, but I don't know if he has a good external mike. And they are so expensive! I know if you pay alot many times it has a reason, but I don't have the money now to buy an expensive mike.

The XL1 mic needs a source of clean 5 vdc power. If you can figure out how to power the mic, it can be used as a surce for other gear. (Not hard to do, just takes a bit of technical skill and cunning.) At this point, most folks prefer to buy a different third party mic tha is optimized for theri specific application.