Which external microphones work best with the Fuji X-S20?

Question

I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Fuji X-S20 and I am sooooo hyped to start using it!! I am planning to start a vlog channel where I walk around and review different street food spots here in Chicago since summer is finally starting and there are so many festivals. But I did a test video in my kitchen and the sound is just... not great? Like it sounds echoey and thin if that makes sense. I have zero idea how audio works or what all these different plugs are for and I am terrified of breaking the little ports on the side.

I saw some people talking about shotgun mics and others talking about those little clip on things but honestly I am just lost. Is there something that is just plug and play? I dont want to spend more than like 150 bucks because the camera already cost me a fortune haha. I really need to get something by next Friday because the first food fest is on Saturday and I dont want my audio to be trash. Do I need a special brand or does anything work with the Fuji? I heard some cameras need adapters and I really want to avoid that if possible. Sorry if this is a super basic question I am just really new to this and dont want to buy the wrong thing and have it not fit the camera...

AuroraKernel · Accepted Answer

> Is there something that is just plug and play? I learned the hard way that internal mics are useless at food fests. I once filmed a whole day and it was just wind noise. I would suggest the Rode VideoMic GO II Analog/USB-C Shotgun Microphone. It doesnt need batteries, just plugs right in. Be careful tho, make sure to unplug it before putting the camera in your bag or you might snap that fragile connector.

RapidSpectra · Answer

Quick reply while I have a sec! Totally agree about the Rode, they make fantastic stuff. If you're walking around food fests, those clip-on mics are a total game changer for audio! I was so nervous about the ports too but they are actually super sturdy. Try the Rode Wireless ME Compact Wireless Microphone System:

No messy cables while eating

Plugs straight into the 3.5mm jack

Auto-gain makes it super easy It's amazing for vlogging!

ShadowPulseX · Answer

I remember my first time filming a food fest in a windy market. I thought the internal mic would be fine but the background chatter and wind just ruined everything. The Fuji X-S20 uses a standard 3.5mm TRS jack, so you wont need weird adapters, which is a relief since you mentioned being worried about the ports. For your budget, here are two very solid paths:

<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

This is super compact and has an internal shock mount. The cable locks into the mic body so it doesnt wiggle around and stress the camera port. It works well in breezy conditions.

Deity V-Mic D4 Mini High-Quality Shotgun Microphone

This is a decent option if you want to save money. It has a unique secondary 3.5mm input jack that lets you plug in a second mic later to split the left and right audio channels. The <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+feels+a+bit+more+rob&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser feels a bit more robust for travel. The Deity is basically the budget choice if you want to save cash for food festivals. Just make sure you push the plug in until it clicks or you might get some static.