Ok guys looks like this is the one to get, it has a battery and it's about $250 on amazon - AT897 or At8035. See

- when I get my GH3 ;) perhaps I will amazon prime them both and see what works.

Does anyone have any update with the AT875R on the GH3 or G6?

That's good news it works with the GH4!

@HillTop1 never did purchase the GH3 unfortunately .

@Roy_Batty You say you have the HVM-101F but it should be the XVM-101F, the mono to stereo version. Then use a regular 2.5mm to 3.5mm jack adapter, like Hama B000X1CDME, or even cheaper stuff.

@John_Farragut

Actually, I do have the XVM-101F. I typo'd that last post. Many thanks for your reply.

Just got a GH4. The ATR875 does not really work, mic levels are far too low just like with the reports of the GH3. I think this has to be an incorrectly wired cable, going to try a TRS to TRRS adapter.

Hi Balazar,

I tried to access your new links to your tests, but was bombarded with requests to install a video app I'd never heard of, and don't need, so I declined.

I am using the AT875r with my GH2, using a cable I made as you've described. I am getting a hell of a lot of hiss on the recording, but it's otherwise really good quality at level 4 on the GH2.

Would supplying a higher voltage to the mic from an external source, such as a 9v battery be a good idea? I could then presumably lower the gain on the GH2 preamps to say, level 2, and get a really excellent onboard mic sound, similar to the AT875r on a real video camera with phantom power and XLRs.

@LucasAdamson, you clicked an ad instead of the 4shared download link.

Powering the microphone with a higher voltage will improve its sensitivity just a little. I think most of your problem is that the preamps in the GH2 just aren't very good. If you're not using an external preamp, you'll only get good SNR if the signal is strong, i.e. when the sound is loud or very close to the mic.

More recently I've tested the AT875R on the Sony a7S, and though it works, I've come to the conclusion the mic sounds much much better when connected to a proper preamp with phantom power. The frequency response is flatter (fuller; more bass), and the hiss is much quieter. I'm not thrilled about the bulk of a preamp, but I don't know any way to get really good sound without one. There are some small and light ones, e.g. Juicedlink Riggy or Fostex AR501. The older Juicedlink CX series can be had cheaply on eBay. I use a Tascam DR-100 mkII.

I also use a Tascam DR100 Mk2 but I do think that having a good directional mic on the camera is a great backup for pro work, or else a greatly convenient way of improving the sound for non pro shooting, when you just want to grab the camera and shoot something. Perhaps you're right that a Juicedlink is the proper way to go.

It's an old thread, I realize. I did finally determine that the AT875R sounds a lot better when powered to spec instead of with 2.5 V. Of course some external pre-amplification also helps to overcome the noise of the GH2's preamps (or whichever camera. These days I use the Sony a7S).

The inexpensive iRig Pre provides phantom power and pre-amplification. It needs to be adapted or rewired to plug into a camera's mic input. I haven't tried it myself , but if my math is right:

• The AT875R's self noise is 20 dB. With the mic's high sensitivity, that makes -102 dBu on the mic's output.

• The iRig Pre's equivalent input noise is -113 dBu.

So the iRig Pre's noise is well below the AT875R's noise. They should be a good match for each other. A mic that's much less sensitive or much less noisy than the AT875R wouldn't be as well matched to the iRig Pre.

I still like the AT875R a lot for dialog. (it's not very good for music) It has particularly good wind resistance. I wish there were some on-camera mic solution that was smaller, lighter, and simpler that sounds just as good, but I have yet to find it.