If you’ve just got your Canon EOS Rebel T7 (also known as the EOS 2000D) and thought “Now then, how do I connect my microphone to my Canon Rebel T7?”, then you’re in for some bad news…
To be able to use an external mic on your Canon Rebel T7, it needs a 3.5mm microphone jack.
It does have a 2.5mm jack which you might mistake for a mic input, but this 2.5mm jack on the Canon Rebel T7 is actually just for remote triggering.
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Can You Connect An External Mic To Canon Rebel T7
The Canon Rebel T7 does not have a 3.5mm microphone jack, so you cannot just plug in and connect an external mic.
Since the Canon Rebel T7 does not have an external mic input, you might want to use an alternative camera that does have a mic input.
In the next section, you can see why we recommend the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 as the best alternative.
There is also a way to use external audio without physically attaching a mic to the Rebel T7, which we describe later in the post.
There is a DIY method to install your own external mic port on to the Canon Rebel T7. I’ve included a video for this later in the post, but I don’t personally recommend it.
Alternative To The Canon EOS Rebel T7 That Has A Mic Input
If you need a similar camera to the T7 with an external mic input, then try the Canon EOS Rebel SL3.
Best Alternative To Rebel T7
If you need a camera like the Canon EOS Rebel T7, but with a microphone input, then the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is the best alternative.
Why We Recommend the Canon EOS Rebel SL3
The main reasons I recommend the Canon Rebel SL3 (also known as the 250D), are as follows:
Way Better Battery Life
The SL3 has a 1070 shot battery life vs a 500 shot battery life on the T7.
This means I can go much longer without replacing the battery on the SL3.
SL3 Has A Fully Articulated Touch Screen
I’ve found the fully articulated touch screen very useful when recording.
If the camera is pointed at you, you can flip the screen around so you can still see what is being recorded.
This way you can adjust your framing or settings straight away if something looks wrong.
It is much better than filming for ages without realising, only to find you have unusable footage!
The T7 has a fixed screen and it is not a touch screen.
Higher Resolution
One thing the Rebel T7 misses is that the Rebel T7 can’t shoot video at 4K resolution.
The SL3 can record 4K video at 24fps or 25fps, and 1080p at 60fps, but the T7 can only do up to 1080p at 30fps.
Having the ability to record 1080p at 60fps means I can actually have some decent slow-motion footage at 1080p.
Some other reasons I like the SL3 better than the T7:
- Better DIGIC 8 processor makes it faster and better.
- Higher ISO limit make it better in low light situations.
- The SL3 has 5 fps for continuous shooting of images, compared to 3fps on the Rebel T7. It is useful for taking pictures of fast moving subjects (like sports or wildlife).
- SL3 has a better autofocus system overall.
- The Rebel T7 doesn’t have clean HDMI but the Rebel SL3 does have clean HDMI.
Of course the main reason is that there is an external mic input on the Rebel SL3, while there isn’t one on the Rebel T7.
This means you don’t need separate audio and video tracks and you don’t need to do any extra steps in post-production to synchronise them (we describe this later in the post).
Also, all lenses that work on the Canon EOS Rebel T7 will also work on the Canon EOS Rebel SL3.
This makes switching cameras a pain free process.
Best Alternative To Rebel T7
If you need a camera like the Canon EOS Rebel T7, but with a microphone input, then the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is the best alternative.
Can’t I Convert The 2.5mm To A 3.5mm To Use A Mic On The T7?
No. On some cameras, you are able to convert a 2.5mm jack to a 3.5mm microphone jack using an adapter.
For this specific 2.5mm jack on the Canon Rebel T7, it is only possible to use it as a remote trigger. An adapter won’t help you here.
How To Use External Audio With Rebel T7
If you are desperate to use external audio for your Canon Rebel T7, there is still a way to get this done without attaching a mic to the Rebel T7.
Since you cannot use an external mic attached to the Rebel T7, you have to be a bit more creative.
One way to use an external audio device is to just record separately using a microphone that isn’t attached to the T7.
You can then synchronize the audio and video in your post-production process.
Basically, you would:
- Record your video with your Canon Rebel T7.
- Record audio separately with a microphone.
- Join the two audio and video tracks together in your editing software.
The video below shows you one way of doing this with a sony a6000, but the same concept applies to the Rebel T7.
DIY Method To Add An External Mic Port To The Canon Rebel T7
There is a DIY method that 99% of people probably shouldn’t try (that includes me).
This involves opening up the camera and messing with the internal wiring , then installing your own DIY external mic port.
This method is not recommended and it will void your warranty.
Only people that are very skilled with electronics should even consider this.
I am not an electronic engineer like the guy in the video, so I have not tried this and cannot endorse it.
I’m just putting it here for those of you who might want to take the risk (plus it was kinda fun to see the inside of a camera).
Video of DIY method
Conclusion
You should now know that you cannot attach an external microphone to the Canon Rebel T7 as it does not have a 3.5mm microphone jack.
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