Wireless Lav Setup on A6500 / Mirrorless Cameras with No Headphone Jack

bossmode on 30/06/2019 - 20:13
Last edited 30/06/2019 - 20:26

I recently picked up a mirrorless camera during a sale and I'm now looking to physically monitor the audio levels via headphones, as opposed to the on-screen audio peaks.

For those who aren't aware, the A6500 is a mirrorless camera which doesn't have a headphone jack, so it's not as straightforward as simply plugging in headphones!

I'm currently using this shotgun microphone for interviews, but I'll need to purchase a wireless lav setup eventually since I have a few shoots coming up where the subject will not be facing the camera, or moving whilst speaking.

The shotgun mic came with a TRRS cable but when I connected it up to the a6500, it didn't work (audio wasn't recording, headphones weren't picking up anything) - I'm not sure if this is due to a faulty cable, or due to the fact that the a6500 only has a microphone jack, therefore, it will only operate as an input rather than an output (headphone)?

Solutions I'm considering

  1. Purchase a wireless lav (say, the Rode Wireless Go), which doesn't have a headphone jack, and connect it up via TRRS into the a6500 (Will this even work?)
    a. This guy on YouTube is claiming that it will, but I'll defer to you guys for your opinions

  2. Purchase a wireless lav that has a headphone jack (this option is probably double, maybe triple the price tag of option 1)

  3. Macgyver a HDMI/VGA connector (as it has a 3.5mm headphone jack) with a mini HDMI jack to monitor the audio levels (not ideal)

Let me know your thoughts, am open to suggestions, though bear in mind that the subject most likely won't be stationary for long and will be performing actions away from camera.

Electrical & Electronics Camera Sony

Comments

  • klonky on 06/07/2019 - 08:12

    This seems pretty cool https://youtu.be/1rpPkcHKXGc

  • Vic009 on 28/11/2019 - 12:20

    Hi

    Please share your findings which option you eventually went with.

    • bossmode on 28/11/2019 - 14:25

      It's probably not the response you were hoping for, but I went with the Rode Wireless Go option and just deferred to eyeballing the levels gauge when the talent was presenting.

      If audio is important to what you need it for I'd suggest to fork out the extra dollars and get the A6600, which resolves this issue as it has a microphone jack, better battery life (a new type of battery is used), and the selfie flip on the screen.

  • Vic009 on 29/11/2019 - 17:18

    Thanks mate. Really appreciated your feedback

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