Abstract: A camera having means for detecting sound in a bi-directional manner. A microphone, for example a first order gradient microphone, is placed within a camera body and is in communication with two apertures extending from the front and rear surfaces of the camera body. Background noise is reduced and sound from the scene being photographed and the user of the camera is preferentially detected by the microphone. Preferably, the microphone is mounted in a substantially resilient and acoustically opaque material to reduce stray noises, such as from the motors of the camera.