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A Quick Overview
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Best Overall - Editor’s choice | Best budget shotgun mic for DSLR | Best Premium shotgun mic for DSLR | Best for Documentaries | Best for beginners |
| Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price |
Our Review of the Top 5 Best Shotgun Mics for DSLR in 2022
Best Overall - Editor’s Choice - Rode Videomic NTG
Highlights:
- It has a high pass filter of -20dB, a frequency boost and a safety channel all aimed at good output.
- It has circular cutouts that are effective for cancelling side and rear noises in its barrel instead of the more common slits used in shotgun mics.
- It has an auto-sensing 3.5mm cable that sets the mic’s mode to adapt with the device it’s being used with.
Rode has been producing quality shotgun mics for DSLR cameras for a while and this product is an absolute upgrade on their shotgun mics. The Rode videomic NTG has circular cutouts in the barrel, an innovative feature for rejecting side and rear noises. This feature makes it a perfect shotgun mic for video shoots of both long and short distances.
This mic has a flat frequency response ranging from 20Hz to 20KHz. In addition, the Rode NTG5 uses a supercardioid polar pattern which is not uncommon for shotgun mics of this calibre but still has an impressive signal to noise ratio. As a video producer, the high pass filter (-20dB) and high frequency boost can come in really handy when you need to make adjustments during production.
This mic’s versatility makes it suitable for uses other than using it with a camera whereby the auto-detecting 3.5mm audio jack comes into action. The Rode VideoMic NTG is a fully-featured USB Type-C microphone that you can use for recording from computers, tabs, e.t.c. This shotgun mic also comes with an in-built lithium battery that will last for at least 30 hours.
Best Budget Shotgun Mic for DSLR - Takstar SGC-598
Highlights:
- Low-frequency attenuation for the right amount of bass and removal of ambient sounds
- It features an anti-vibration toll that keeps it steady and keeps the camera whirring sounds out.
- It comes with a low-power indicator that comes on when the battery power is about to be exhausted.
If you are looking for good quality with a very affordable price tag, then you should focus on this part of the review because this is one of the best cheap shotgun mics for DSLR you will find available. What makes it deserving of this list, though? Let’s find out.
For a cheap shotgun mic, this product has a 50hz to 16KHz frequency response range and sensitivity of -32dB. In addition, the unidirectional polar pattern present in this shotgun mic combined with a heart-shaped single-point mic pickup effectively reduces background or ambient noise.
A particular feature that stands out in this shotgun mic out is its low-frequency attenuation. This mic attenuates frequencies of 60Hz/10dB, which adjusts the bass in the sound to the right amount. Unfortunately, the other side of this feature is that this shotgun mic lacks in the high-frequency sound department. However, like the Rode NTG, it also has a low-frequency filter at 200Hz, and you can also boost the audio sensitivity to an additional +10dB.
This mic runs on a 1.5V AA battery. Also, the Takstar SGC-598 comes with an anti-vibration feature that helps keep it steady and helps reduce the sound of the mechanical whirring of the camera to a minimum. Without a doubt, this is the best budget shotgun for DSLR you will find.
Best Premium shotgun mic for DSLR - Rode Videomic Pro Plus
Highlights:
- It comes with an impressive 2-stage high pass filter and 3-stage gain control.
- It has an impedance rating of 200 Ohms for sound audio output
- It can be powered with a rechargeable battery, 2 AA batteries, or plugged in with a USB.
Another Rode product makes it one of the best shotgun mic for DSLR cameras, albeit as a premium choice. The Rode Videomic pro plus is the latest in this series of RODE shotgun microphones. Of the plethora of features that this shotgun mic possesses is the automatic power function that makes the mic come on or go off with the powering on or off the camera.
Of course, it features the Rycote Lyre suspension system that Rode shotgun mic products have come to be known for. This mic has a frequency response range of 20 Hz to 200 kHz. In addition, this shotgun mic has a 2-stage high pass filter to reduce the lower frequencies and 3-stage gain control to improve sound signals. To top it off, this mic has an impedance rating of 200 ohms.
The Rode Videomic Pro Plus runs on a rechargeable 9V battery that can power the mic for about 70 hours when fully charged. Other options for powering this mic are with USB or with two pieces of AA batteries.
Best for Documentaries - Sennheiser MKE 600
Highlights:
- This mic is encased in steel which gives you that assurance of durability
- It has one of the lowest self-noise in the market, with a self-noise of just 15dB
- It brings in optimum noise rejection for clean audios while recording.
While video production can not be limited to a particular genre, some equipment is better suited for specific occasions. One such piece of equipment is the Sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun mic that is ideally suited for documentaries.
This narrow shotgun mic is encased in a metal housing and comes with a fur windshield and a shock mount; all targeted to give the best audio experience. The sound quality is not sacrificed for the rugged outer housing, though, as this mic still manages to produce the cleanest sound. In addition, the Sennheiser MKE 600 captures sound in a single direction, and it effectively cancels noise coming from the side and the rear.
The Sennheiser MKE 600 has a switch that can help you filter the lowest frequency noises like the minute sounds that come from you handling the mic. Like the Rode Videomic Pro Plus, you get the option of powering this mic with AA batteries or with a cord.
Best for beginners - Rode Videomicro Compact
Highlights:
- It can be powered simply by attaching the cord to the camera
- It features a Rycote lyre suspension system that ensures stability during filming.
- It comes with an excellent windshield that helps limit the effect of ambient sounds, especially in windy areas.
Individuals looking to start professional or semi-professional video productions will find this pick quite helpful. Not only is this shotgun mic cheap, but it also provides good quality audio to accompany your visuals. The Rode Videomicro Pro is a widely acclaimed shotgun mic that professionals and those just starting their video production journey can use.
This mic was designed so that it only needs a cord to power it as it draws its power from the camera. Just like the Sennheiser MKE 600, it has an entire metal body. The specifications on this mic include a frequency range from 40Hz to 20KHz. It also has the Rycote lyre suspension system for stability when shooting videos.
You can use this shotgun mic with either a camera, a phone, or any recording gadget with a 3.5mm cable port. Part of this mic’s features is a furry windscreen that helps to reduce ambient noise. Although this mic does not have the frequency filters common to the other Rode mics on this list, it is still effective enough to work for beginners and semi-professionals.
Quote Box
The versatility and ease of use of shotgun mics have made them increasingly popular among aspiring and professional video makers. You just need to point in the direction of the sound.
How to Pick the Best Shotgun Mics for DSLR Cameras
Shotgun microphones are pretty common with video producers, and they have proven to be very effective in capturing and enhancing audio. What makes them different from other mics, though?
Also, what are the things to be considered before choosing the best shotgun mic for DSLR in the market.? These are questions that we will answer in this section of the article.
First of all, what are shotgun mics, and how do they work?
What is a Shotgun Microphone?
Shotgun mics are microphones designed to have an input feature that is barrel-like so that it can narrow down the sounds it captures to a particular direction. This single direction feature is called unidirectionality. So, in simple terms, shotgun mics are mics known for their unidirectional quality.
This feature helps it concentrate on the audio source while ignoring other sounds coming from the rear or the sides. The unidirectionality of shotgun mics is also what makes them so suitable for recording with a DSLR.
Pick up Patterns in Shotgun microphones.
There are six pickup patterns (a.k.a. Polar patterns) common to microphones, but we will only be highlighting the polar patterns common to shotgun microphones. The cardioid polar pattern is the pickup pattern typical to the shotgun mic (i.e., unidirectional polar pattern). The cardioid pickup pattern has the highest sensitivity at the front; it drops off at the side and zeros out at the back.
There are three variations of the cardioid polar patterns that shotgun mic manufacturers make their shotguns in, and they are:
- Supercardioid: This is the basic variation of the cardioid pickup pattern. The mic is the most sensitive in front of the condenser, and audio to the sides of the condenser is canceled or rejected. The supercardioid receiving pattern can also detect sound from the rear of the mic, albeit with low sensitivity.
- Hypercardioid: This is a thinner variation of the supercardioid pickup pattern. Apart from this pickup pattern being more concentrated than the supercardioid, it also has an extended receiving area from the rear of the mic.
- Ultracardioid: This is the most concentrated of the cardioid pickup pattern variations. It is not as common as the first two polar patterns because the slightest shifts in concentration will cause audio coloration.
Most shotgun microphones use the supercardioid polar pattern. However, it is essential to check the specification of the shotgun mic to know the polar pattern the mic adopts. While one polar pattern is not better than the other, the intended use of the microphone is what should decide the polar pattern individuals should opt for.
Other polar patterns worth mentioning are omnidirectional (Equally sensitive in all directions, e.g., Lavalier) and figure 8 polar patterns (sensitive in the front and at the back equally but not sensitive at the side).
Other Things to Consider When Picking the Best Shotgun for DSLR
Microphone Impedance
Microphone impedance is one of the more technical reasons for picking a shotgun mic for a DSLR. It may seem unnecessary, but professionals know the value of this feature. In layman’s terms, impedance is something that blocks the smooth flow. Our voices or sounds we make into the microphone come in the form of AC signals.
Due to some reasons, there is an impedance in the voltage, which is the output. Since impedance is necessary for electrical circuits to function normally, it’s only logical to look for equipment with low impedance ratings.
In conclusion, you should check any shotgun mic you are interested in for the impedance rating. The vital thing to note is that the lower the ratings, the better it is for the output.
Sensitivity
If you have been shopping for microphones, you should have come across descriptions of some microphone features such as sensitivity(1). It is usually denoted with dB. As you have probably guessed, the sensitivity of a microphone determines how well a microphone can augment or reproduce a sound in the output.
The sensitivity of a mic is the ratio of the input pressure to the output voltage. In video production, high sensitivity in a microphone does not mean it is better and vice versa. However, you should be able to choose a shotgun mic with enough sensitivity to suit your projects.
You need to know the sensitivity rating of any mic you have or want because that will dictate how and where you can use the mic. For example, you wouldn’t want to use a highly sensitive microphone in a closed quarter with a sound source, and the results will be wrong. High-end shotgun mics sometimes have filters that you can use to increase or decrease the mic’s sensitivity.
Frequency Response
This feature of the microphone is usually described in ranges, for example, from 20Hz to 20KHz. The frequency response is the range of frequencies (tone or sound) that a mic can reproduce well, i.e., A shotgun mic with a frequency response of 50Hz to 18KHz is expected to produce any sound in this range well. The frequencies are responsible for the low, mid, and high.
Flat frequency response indicates that an audio output has perfectly modeled the frequencies in the audio input. Unfortunately, perfectly flat frequency response is hard to achieve realistically, so manufacturers show a variation in the frequency response usually measured in decibels.
When choosing a shotgun mic and even the best budget shotgun mics for DSLR, you should first consider the frequency response range the microphone can pick up and check the variations it allows. Basically, the more the variations, the more the sounds get unoriginal. So try and go for flat frequency response shotgun microphones for your DSLR cameras.
The fundamental difference between a shotgun microphone and a lavalier mic is their pickup pattern. Shotgun mics adopt the cardioid polar pattern, while lavaliers adopt the omnidirectional polar pattern. The use of one over the other mainly depends on the scenario that a mic is needed for.
A polar pattern is an important feature to consider when choosing a shotgun mic because it will dictate how well the mic will capture the sound in a particular direction.
Conclusion
Shotgun mics have gained notoriety due to their ability to focus on the desired audio amid other sounds. This unidirectionality makes it a good complement for DSLR cameras and video producers in general. Picking the best shotgun mics for DSLR available in the market is now easier as you can focus on the significant specifications you need from a shotgun mic.
Personally, the Rode Videomic NTG will be my go-to shotgun mic as it stands out from the rest in overall completeness and features. It checks all the boxes, including durability, frequency filters, cancellation of ambient noise, adaptability to different recording gadgets e.t.c. At the same time, a close second will be the Rode Videomic pro plus.
What are your preferences for shotgun microphones? What feature will your ideal shotgun microphone prioritize? Feel free to share in the comments.
References:
- Jerad L. (2012 May). Understanding microphone sensitivity. Retrieved from https://www.analog.com/en/analog-dialogue/articles/understanding-microphone-sensitivity.html