Best External Microphone for Canon EOS 70D
The Canon EOS 70D remains a legendary workhorse for videographers thanks to its pioneering Dual Pixel CMOS AF, but its internal microphone is a major weak point, capturing distracting motor noise and hollow audio. To truly unlock this camera’s cinematic potential, you need a dedicated external solution. After years of testing shotgun and lavalier setups on Canon bodies, I’ve found that the Rode VideoMic Pro+ is the absolute gold standard for 70D users, offering the perfect balance of convenience and professional-grade fidelity.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Best External Microphone for Canon EOS 70D: Detailed Reviews
Rode VideoMic Pro+ View on Amazon View on B&H
The Rode VideoMic Pro+ is the ultimate companion for the Canon 70D, addressing almost every pain point a videographer faces. My favorite feature is the automatic power function; it senses when you turn your 70D on or off, saving you from the heartbreak of recording a 20-minute take only to realize your mic was dead. It utilizes a supercardioid pickup pattern that excels at isolating your voice while rejecting ambient room noise. The built-in Rycote Lyre shock mounting is world-class, ensuring that your 70D’s lens movements or handling clicks don’t ruin the track. It also features a safety channel, which records a second track at a lower volume—a lifesaver if your subject suddenly shouts. While it is a bit bulky on the 70D’s hot shoe, the audio quality is exceptionally rich with a very low self-noise floor that compensates for the 70D’s somewhat noisy internal preamps.
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Rode VideoMicro View on Amazon View on B&H
If you find the Pro+ too expensive or cumbersome, the Rode VideoMicro is an incredible alternative that punches way above its weight class. Measuring just 80mm long, it sits discreetly on top of the 70D without making the setup feel top-heavy. What I love most is the simplicity: it runs on “plug-in power” from the camera’s 3.5mm jack, so there are no batteries to charge or switches to flip. It comes with a high-quality “deadcat” windshield, which is essential if you’re filming outdoors. You’ll notice the sound is much more directional and natural than the built-in mics, though it lacks the gain boost of more expensive models. This means you’ll have to rely more on the 70D’s internal preamps, so I recommend keeping your camera’s manual audio levels around 25-30% to avoid hiss. It’s the perfect “set it and forget it” mic for casual shooters.
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Takstar SGC-598 View on Amazon View on B&H
The Takstar SGC-598 is a bit of a cult classic in the budget filmmaking world. For the price of a few lattes, you get a shotgun mic that significantly outperforms the 70D’s on-board audio. It features a +10dB sensitivity enhancement switch which is vital for the 70D; by boosting the signal at the mic, you can turn down the camera’s noisy internal preamps, resulting in a much cleaner recording. To be honest, the build quality is very “plasticky” and the shock mount feels a bit fragile compared to Rode’s Rycote system, but the sound quality is shockingly decent. It uses a single AA battery, which lasts quite a while. If you are just starting out and every dollar counts, I find this is the only ultra-cheap mic that provides a professional enough sound to be usable for YouTube or school projects. Just handle it with care!
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Sennheiser MKE 600 View on Amazon View on B&H
The Sennheiser MKE 600 is a “pro” shotgun mic that bridges the gap between DSLR shooting and high-end cinema production. Unlike standard on-camera mics, the MKE 600 features a long interference tube, giving it incredible side-noise rejection. It’s perfect for the 70D because it can be powered by a single AA battery, meaning you don’t need a phantom-power-capable XLR preamp to use it—just a simple XLR-to-3.5mm adapter cable. The sound profile is remarkably flat and natural, avoiding the “bassy” artificiality found in cheaper mics. I’ve used this in noisy trade show environments and it does an exceptional job of pinpointing the subject’s voice while pushing the background din into the distance. It is quite long, so you’ll need to ensure it doesn’t peek into your frame when shooting at wider focal lengths, but for professional-grade dialogue, it’s unbeatable.
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Rode VideoMic GO II View on Amazon View on B&H
The Rode VideoMic GO II is a versatile little beast that I often recommend to creators who bounce between their 70D and a smartphone or laptop. It’s lightweight and battery-free, much like the VideoMicro, but it features a much more advanced acoustic design borrowed from the high-end NTG shotgun line. The real “magic” here is the USB-C port on the side; you can plug it directly into your computer for voiceovers or into your phone for TikToks, and it acts as a high-quality digital interface. On the 70D, it delivers a very crisp, modern sound with plenty of detail in the high end. You’ll notice it’s slightly more “directional” than the VideoMicro, making it better for talking-head videos in slightly echoey rooms. It’s a brilliant, modern tool for the 70D owner who needs their gear to work across multiple platforms.
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Buying Guide: How to Choose an External Microphone
Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rode VideoMic Pro+ | Pro Vlogging | ★★★★★ | Check |
| Rode VideoMicro | Lightweight Travel | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| Takstar SGC-598 | Beginner Budget | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| Sennheiser MKE 600 | Docu-Style Audio | ★★★★★ | Check |
| Rode VideoMic GO II | Multi-Platform Use | ★★★★☆ | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Canon 70D have a microphone jack?
Yes, the Canon EOS 70D features a standard 3.5mm (1/8 inch) TRS microphone input jack located on the left side of the camera body under a rubber flap. This allows you to connect almost any standard on-camera shotgun or lavalier microphone. However, it does not have a headphone jack, which means you cannot monitor your audio in real-time while recording, making on-screen level meters very important for 70D shooters.
How do I reduce the ‘hiss’ when using a mic on the 70D?
The “hiss” usually comes from the camera’s internal preamps when they are pushed too hard. To fix this, go into the 70D’s Sound Recording menu and switch it from ‘Auto’ to ‘Manual’. Turn the recording level down to about 20-30%. If your microphone has a gain boost switch (like +10dB or +20dB), turn that on. This forces the microphone to do the heavy lifting, resulting in a much cleaner signal.
Will a shotgun mic pick up the 70D’s autofocus motor noise?
It can, especially if you are using older STM or USM lenses. While Dual Pixel AF is quiet, it’s not silent. To prevent this, use a microphone with a high-quality shock mount (like the Rycote Lyre) and choose a microphone with a “supercardioid” pickup pattern. This pattern is highly directional, focusing on what is in front of the lens rather than the vibrations coming from the camera body itself.
Can I use a wireless lavalier mic with the 70D?
Absolutely. Wireless systems like the Rode Wireless GO II or DJI Mic work perfectly with the 70D. You simply plug the receiver into the 70D’s 3.5mm jack using the included TRS cable. This is often a better choice than a shotgun mic if you are filming someone more than 6 feet away from the camera, as it keeps the microphone close to the subject’s mouth.
Do I need a battery for every external microphone?
Not necessarily. Some microphones, like the Rode VideoMicro or VideoMic GO II, use “plug-in power” provided by the 70D’s mic jack. These are great for convenience. However, active microphones that use their own batteries (like the VideoMic Pro+) generally provide a stronger signal and better audio quality because they don’t rely solely on the camera’s power, which can be inconsistent and noisy.
Final Verdict
For the vast majority of Canon EOS 70D users, the Rode VideoMic Pro+ is the smartest investment you can make to elevate your video production. If you are a travel vlogger who values portability above all else, the Rode VideoMicro is a fantastic, worry-free alternative. For those just starting their journey and looking for the biggest bang for their buck, the Takstar SGC-598 offers surprising performance for its minimal price point.