Yeah, they do plug into the camera (usually via XLR inputs). Not too sure about the battery thing, but I believe that higher end shotgun mics do use battery power (unlike lower end mics that use the small amount of power provided by the connection of the camera itself). Don't quote me on that because I'm no expert.

An example of a shotgun mic that might be within your price range (if you can add a bit of cash to that $80)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=8533&A=details&Q=&sku=238826&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

It's not simple to use one of these things. You'll want someone with a steady hand and a good ear, because they'll have to hang the mic over the actor's heads in order to get the best possible sound from the dialogue, without swinging and moving and create a weird doppler effect. These mics are designed to pick up audio from a narrow area to cut out on background and ambient noise. Cutting out this intrusive noise will greatly increase the sound quality immediately. Also, if you have some decent editing software, you can play with the equalizer settings in post to create some interesting effects. Keep in mind though that for pretty much any movie, the only sound that is recorded while the video is recorded is the dialogue, and pretty much every other sound is recorded by a foley artist who recreates sounds from things that don't necessarily really make that sound (like the sound of a melon breaking where a head is crushed in). If you try and record the sound of footsteps, or anything else for that matter, during the filming process, you will be terribly depressed when you hear the sound afterward.

'In the life that man creates for himself, he too, creates his demise... and his legacy.'

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Originally posted by agvkrioni

I came into some money recently, about 80 dollars. I was wondering if anyone knew what type of Boom Mic would be good for starting out? My camera is a digital camcorder but its not very good at all. I want the sound to sound better than that echoed, bland, standard camera-microphone. Any suggestions?

Btw, I have no idea how to use one. I assume it plugs into the camera and doesn't require an external battery (maybe one inside the mic).

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Just to clarify: Some people are confused about a "boom mic". The "boom" is a piece of equipment - most often a pole of some kind - that the microphone is attached to.

What you're looking for is a good shotgun mic. That in itself is a generic term that means any long barreled mic. You want a good condenser (externally powered) mic with a ?lobar? pick up pattern to put on your boom pole. Lobar pick up means the mic focuses its audio pick up to a narrow area. This is why you want to use a boom pole to get the mic as close the the actor as possible - you?ll get clean dialogue tracks with less ambient noise.

I'm not aware of any good shotgun mic in the $80 range - Sennheiser is the standard http://www.sennheiserusa.com but that Azden Wordslinger mentions is a fair mic. Also, very few camcorders have a mic input. Check your camera to make sure it has one.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
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Alright, well I think I know even less about microphones than I had originally thought, then. I think I'll hold off on randomly buying one until I read more into it, somewhere. I want to make sure its an okay mic for the price and at the same time if I buy a boom pole that they will fit together.

Thank you both for your detailed help.

POLAR PATTERNS: Normal Mode - Cardioid, Tele Mode - Supercardioid

I saw that ??? on a shotgun camcorder mic. No idea what they mean. The cheaper ones I've seen on say, ebay for example, do not have the lobar functionality to them but I really haven't the budget to be picky.

Are Polar Patterns important?

I see this one that says it is great for podiums, teleconferences, and film. It is priced at 16.99 so I don't see how it could be any good. The stats supplied in the auction say the following:

Specifications:

* Energy Exchange: Condenser
* Directional: Uni-Ultra-Directional
* Frequency Response: 100-16000Hz
* Output Impedance: 1k ohms for short distance; 2.3k ohms for long distance
* Power Supply: DC1.5V
* Sensitivity: -45dB for short distance, -38dB for long distance

Instructions:
* Load batteries properly according to the ?+? ?-? polarities marked on the microphone battery shell. Connect the audio frequency output cable and cap Anti-wind foam.
* Switch on. Push the switch to ?TELE? for short distance application or to ?NORMAL? for long distance application.

Package Includes:

* Gun Microphone (Length: 10.83in)
* Stereo 0.25in (6.35mm) Jack to Mini 0.18in (3.5mm) Jack Adaptor
* Cable: 26.25ft (8m) 0.25in (6.35mm) Jack - XLR Cable
* Anti-wind foam cap
* Two microphone stands
* Storage box (Black)
* English instructional manual

Sometimes it's not about being picky. If you spend $40, $50, $80 on a mic that doesn't work for your needs, you have wasted the money. Sometimes the equipment needed to make a movie isn't cheap. A good shotgun mic will last longer than your camera - why skimp.

The polar pattern is a graph of the microphone's sensitivity vs. the angle of the incoming sound wave. Some mic's are Omnidirectional: They pick up equally in all directions. There are 3 types of "cardoid" polar patterns: Cardioid picks up very little from behind the mic, Supercardioid has a narrower pickup pattern than cardioid, but also has some rear pickup. Hypercardioid has a narrower pickup pattern than supercardioid, but also has more rear pickup than supercardioid.

What you want in a shotgun mic used to record dialogue in set is a lobar pick up pattern. You do not want cardioid or supercardioid.

That Azden suggested by Wordslinger is about as cheap as you can get for a shotgun mic. And in my opinion their functionality just isn't worth it. But if you cannot afford anything else and can't wait until you have the money for a good Sennheiser then it's something you have to decide on you own.

Does your camera have a mic input?

Yes my camera has a mic input. But again, my camera is a very low quality, 1 CCD digital camcorder. So the microphone... well I know I'm not going to get film quality sound and its not for professional use (when that time comes I'll upgrade).

This Azden, what did you mean about the poor functionality? It is only fit for a very small type of use and it is limited in what you can do with it?