journal Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Hi Audio Brains, I am wondering if you guys can help me with finding the best shotgun mic for under $1,000 or probably more realistically around $500 used. I am looking for something that can also run without Phantom Power (battery or other options). This is because I am looking to have one mic that I can use when I am just field recording, or mounting it on my 5D Mark iii for super run and gun stuff. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journal Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I should note that I am open to non-shotgun suggestions that work pretty similarly and are recommended for one reason or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Yeremian Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 That's kind of like asking "What wrench is best to fix my car". It really depends on what you want to accomplish. There is no one best mic for anything, in fact, there are plenty of 300 dollars mics that will outperform 2000 dollar mics in certain applications. You need to decide first what type of mic you want, are you just trying to single out what you are pointing your camera at in exteriors, or are you planning on hanging it above people on interior sit down interviews? Unfortunately the old "jack of all trades master of none" applies to microphones you may be looking for. -Oh and about the Phantom Power thing. You can get a battery powered phantom power box. Any mic you would realistically consider for this application will require phantom power (or potentially T power, but less likely). If you are going into a DSLR you may want to consider getting a handheld recorder to record the sound, they generally provide Phantom power and give you better quality, monitoring, and options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Flaitz Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I think the Sennheiser ME66 would fit this category well. Though there are a few Audio Technica mics that are even cheaper than the ME66 that can be battery powered, the AT8035 for example you can get for around $150 used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tirrell Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I would go with the ME-66, I have mentioned this before but a great many news people use them for handheld interview shotguns because they are battery powered and can put out acceptable audio with a narrower pickup than a re-50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macrecorder Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Rode knocks the rest them out of the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veli Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 You may get a MKH 416 t-power used for 500$ .. but I would never recommend using shotgun as camera mic.. and it's also depending on usage.. what type of stuff you shoot etc.. ref this thread on what factors I look before selecting, renting or buying a new mic: and it's you get what you pay for too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelo Waldron Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 ....... looking for something that can also run without Phantom Power Rode NTG2 http://www.rodemic.com/mics/ntg-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 The ME66, like all the K6 powered capsules, is in my opinion, awful, compared to what else is out there, the Rode NTG-2 blows it out of the water. I keep an NTG-2 in the car now just for times when I need an internally powered mic, it's not the best, but it's cheap and very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyHall Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I've used an Rode NTG-2 for a couple years as my beater shotgun. Works great with a AA and doesn't cost a lot, but the screws sometimes need tightening in order to quiet it down on a boom. I've used it as an on-camera mic, but only when I absolutely had to. I can't say any on-camera mic will be adequate all the time, so Chase's answer of "it depends" really ends up being the best advice. I've seen DSLR folks swear by the Rode VideoMic, which also does an adequate job at picking up sound in front of the lens. I'll say that if your distance to the subject moves much beyond three feet, then any mic is going to sound meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journal Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Thanks for the suggestions guys! I should have included more information, but was dead tired when I was typing up that post. - I shoot mostly documentary stuff and externally record using lav or lavs and a shotgun on a boom pole to a SD702. - I was using an NTG-2 before it got stolen, but was never that impressed by it. That said, I am a video person first and am still learning the professional ropes of audio and can't say exactly what I didn't love about the NTG-2. - I occasionally shoot DSLR and am thinking now that I have a Mark iii, that can monitor sound (although it is pretty damn clunky to do so), I was thinking of trying to fill two slots with 1 mic (my shotgun and an on-camera) - For the "on-camera" I mentioned the non-phantom because I had an NTG-2 that could use batteries and I was considering the NTG-3, but it doesn't have a battery option. - Also, for the "on camera" I would always be within 3 feet, and most likely within 2 feet of my subjects when recording any audio dialoge that I care about. - I was hoping I could use the same shotgun that I use on a boom to also do intimate (close proximity) on camera stuff. - I am not in love with the Rode Video Mics, but am very interested in the not yet released VideoMic HD, which is a small recorder built in to record better audio, but also inputting for camera audio. - I will definitely check out the ME-66 and MKH 416 t-power. Thanks for those suggestions. - Is an NTG-3 not impressing anyone? - If I were to buy a few mics, maybe I can take a few suggestions and buy as I go (getting the most useful to me 1st and so on). Something like this may warrant separate posts. I may do this later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I think the NTG-3 is a nice mic ... but it is phantom power only so doesnt fit your criteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Perhaps the just-announced Sennheiser MKE 600? Phantom or AA battery: "The new MKE 600 shotgun microphone from audio specialist Sennheiser provides video journalists with a microphone that can master even the toughest video sound challenges." http://en-de.sennheiser.com/news/mke-600-shotgun-microphone-for-video-journalists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I see used MKH416's all the time on eBay for well under $1000. The trick is, you also have to get a mount, zeppelin, and wind jammer (furry) for it, and then you'll be over a grand. I'm not a fan of the ME66. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journal Posted September 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 The trick is, you also have to get a mount, zeppelin, and wind jammer (furry) for it, and then you'll be over a grand Is it compatible with the Rode Blimp, mount/zep/furry? I will be doing some research on the MKH416 and that new Sennheiser Jim suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tirrell Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I see used MKH416's all the time on eBay for well under $1000. The trick is, you also have to get a mount, zeppelin, and wind jammer (furry) for it, and then you'll be over a grand. I'm not a fan of the ME66. I only mentioned it because the onboard battery power requirement and the under 1k part severely limits choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Wielage Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Is it compatible with the Rode Blimp, mount/zep/furry? That depends on which specific blimp and mount. I would say, probably not. I'm more familiar with Rycote and K-Tek's products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundslikejustin Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 The Rode Blimp comes with a multitude of clips to fit an abundance of mics, including 19-22mm round mics (eg MKH 416), 23-25mm round mics (ME66), Square side mics (MKH 50 etc) and a heap more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Andrews Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Is it compatible with the Rode Blimp, mount/zep/furry? I will be doing some research on the MKH416 and that new Sennheiser Jim suggested. Yes, the MKH416 fits fine in the Rode Blimp. Although mine only came with the small round clips when I bought it two years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent R. Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Just to inform you all; sennheiser just announced a new mic, MKE 600 with internal power via AA batteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Reineke Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 The 'new' Sennheiser MKE 600 appears to be directed at the 'one-man band' wedding videographer type crowd. In the under $500., NT1 and AT897 price range I would assume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Denton Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 - For the "on-camera" I mentioned the non-phantom because I had an NTG-2 that could use batteries and I was considering the NTG-3, but it doesn't have a battery option. - Also, for the "on camera" I would always be within 3 feet, and most likely within 2 feet of my subjects when recording any audio dialoge that I care about. - I was hoping I could use the same shotgun that I use on a boom to also do intimate (close proximity) on camera stuff. - I am not in love with the Rode Video Mics, but am very interested in the not yet released VideoMic HD, which is a small recorder built in to record better audio, but also inputting for camera audio. - I will definitely check out the ME-66 and MKH 416 t-power. Thanks for those suggestions. - Is an NTG-3 not impressing anyone? - If I were to buy a few mics, maybe I can take a few suggestions and buy as I go (getting the most useful to me 1st and so on). Something like this may warrant separate posts. I may do this later. I doubt you would find the 416 very useful as an on camera mic. It has a very tight pattern so you'd need to have the camera pointed directly at his mouth the whole time or else you won't get much usable sound. The 416 sounds horrible off axis as well. The NTG-3 sounds great and has a wider pattern but not phantom as previously mentioned. Unless you've got some one to boom for you you're probably not going to get a better sounding battery powered on-camera mic than the NTG-2. There are better mics but only when used properly for reasons such as handling noise, tight pickup patterns and low frequency rejection. There might be a number of hyper-cardioid mics that would be better as an on-camera mic but most of these require phantom. Perhaps look into a beachtek box and you'll have a far bigger range of shotguns and hypers to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journal Posted September 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 I was actually considering selling all my crap (or just rarely used) mics and getting just a couple important mics for my purposes. I was thinking: 1 - Relatively tight pattern shotgun for recording on a boom in the field (mostly outdoors, but also some indoor talking head stuff) 2 - Some sort of Stereo mic to give a more realistic sound on camera when I'm stuck in that senario and to just capture more realistic sound for all non-interview type situations 3 - Some sort of wider pattern cardiod mic for Public Radio Style interviews (not paired to video) with a warmer and more intimate feel. Someone mentioned the Senn MSK418S to me that can switch between a normal shotgun and some sort of stereo setup? Unless I am confused here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journal Posted September 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 These would not be limited to my orginal $1K post of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Stereo camera mics normally do a great job of picking up as much lens servo noise and camera operators breathing as anything usable. The 418 can indeed do what you say, but it's entirely the wrong choice for a camera mic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.