Fujifilm GFX100S Built-in Stereo Video Mics
Surprising Audio Quality
I’ve always viewed built-in camera microphones with a bit of a withered eye – something of a last-resort solution – usable in emergencies, but not something I want for serious recording. My expectations and assumptions took a delightful hit recently when I first recorded my stepdaughter playing a native drum her mother gave me for Christmas a couple years back. My stepdaughter has been a professional drummer, performing with a couple bands in past years, so her playing is nuanced and skillful – she knows what she’s doing and how to hit the drum and when. Something I’m still working on learning… But it wasn’t just her performance that captivated me—it was also how remarkably natural and true-to-life the audio sound was when captured by the built-in microphones of my Fujifilm GFX100S. This was a very welcome surprise and added feature of this camera I will find of great value.
Capturing Authentic Sound
The tone of this drum is genuinely exceptional: deep, rich, full, and unmistakably native design with its stretched skin top and leather hide bindings. Listening to the playback, I felt the resonance and texture of every beat – the built-in stereo microphones preserved not just the sound, but the emotion and atmosphere of the moment. The aural arena, as I call it. Correct stereo placement on the sound stage, all properly in phase.
Why Such Impressive Audio?
Curious to understand why the audio from a camera mic could sound so authentic, I identified a few factors:
- Quality Components: Fujifilm clearly chose superior microphone capsules and internal preamps, leading to much clearer audio. They decided audio was worth more than a cheap throwaway mic capsule and matching noisy preamp like nearly 100% of the DSLR manufacturers use.
- Optimal Placement & Isolation: The stereo microphones are thoughtfully placed to reduce camera handling and internal vibration noise. Duh, ya think thinking about where you put a mic counts? You bet it does!
- Minimized Internal Noise: Fuji engineered the internal electronics to significantly reduce electronic hiss and interference. This costs money too, so it wasn’t an accident. They truly cared about true audio quality to match the truly beautiful cinematic video quality this camera delivers.
- Intelligent Audio Processing: Internal audio processing handles ambient levels and gain smoothly, creating a natural, full dynamic range without harsh compression. People sound like people breathing normally, not like people holding their nose while speaking as with the mics in my 35mm full frame bodies.
Practical Experiences
Here’s how I’ve found the built-in microphones perform practically:
- Casual Interviews and Family Recordings: The sound quality is genuinely good enough to trust without additional gear.
- Documentary and Atmospheric Shoots: Natural ambient sound is beautifully preserved, especially useful in capturing authentic environments.
- Musical Performances: Impressively captures the depth and nuances, especially noticeable with instruments like this native drum.
Of course, for the highest of the professional-grade, studio-level productions, dedicated external audio gear still can’t be beat. It remains necessary. But for capturing everyday, spontaneous moments? The GFX100S microphones far exceeded my expectations.
Final Thoughts
The Fujifilm GFX100S built-in microphones aren’t merely usable; they’re surprisingly exceptional, especially for a camera’s internal audio system. The stereo image they deliver is beautifully crafted, and perfectly complements the stunning cinematic quality of the video. This memorable moment—capturing my stepdaughter’s heartfelt drumming—cemented for me just how capable these microphones truly are.
Have you had similarly surprising experiences with built-in camera microphones? I’d love to hear about them!
