View Full Version : Best on camera shotgun for HVX for $100 or less
mrbrycel
12-07-2008, 05:55 PM
My girlfriend wants to get me a Christmas present I can really use. Her budget is under $100, and I was trying to think of ideas to give her. I have pretty much zero audio equipment, so I was thinking either a lavalier mic, or a small shotgun mic to attach to my HVX to get a little better audio than the onboard mic. Can anybody recommend anything?
Justyn
12-07-2008, 06:06 PM
I'd say a nice set of headphones. You won't get either a good Lav or a good shotgun for that price...
Maybe a battery or something else. Don't skimp on the audio.
eL ProduceR
12-07-2008, 06:22 PM
Hi, I would recommend the AudioTechnica AT875R (http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/cae8c23cfe000574/index.html) shotgun mic; although is priced at $180 at some online stores, is the best bang for the buck at this price point. You can use it on-cam, as a boom, even for V/O. There is a really good review (http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html) comparing different professional shotgun mics and the AT875R did great. Your girlfriend can always give you a gift card and you can pony the extra cash, should you decide on this mic.
Salud!
Manyoi
mrbrycel
12-07-2008, 06:27 PM
Hi, I would recommend the AudioTechnica AT875R (http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/cae8c23cfe000574/index.html) shotgun mic; although is priced at $180 at some online stores, is the best bang for the buck at this price point. You can use it on-cam, as a boom, even for V/O. There is a really good review (http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html) comparing different professional shotgun mics and the AT875R did great. Your girlfriend can always give you a gift card and you can pony the extra cash, should you decide on this mic.
Salud!
Manyoi
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check out that mic. Have you ever used it as a boom before? How'd it do?
eL ProduceR
12-07-2008, 06:30 PM
Honestly I haven't, in fact, I ordered it couple of days ago since it was out-of-stock everywhere! There are some audio samples on the review I recommended before though.
Salud!
Manyoi
do you also edit? what software do you use? if you use FCP and dont already have them, the nattress film effects are one of the best $100 you could EVER spend.
mrbrycel
12-07-2008, 07:18 PM
do you also edit? what software do you use? if you use FCP and dont already have them, the nattress film effects are one of the best $100 you could EVER spend.
Yes, I edit on FCP, but I've never heard of the nattress film effects. What kind of film effects are they and how do you get them?
its kind of a "poor mans magic bullet looks" which kind of does it a disservice because its very feature-rich.
go here:
http://www.nattress.com/Products/filmeffects/filmeffects.htm
but look over the whole nattress site, there may be other things youd need more...
also have a look at toolfarm.com
they have stuff in your price range as well
and id totally let go of that cheap mic thing. pretty much ANY mic under $200 isnt going to make your production in any way better
puredrifting
12-07-2008, 09:27 PM
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check out that mic. Have you ever used it as a boom before? How'd it do?
Hi:
I wrote the article linked to above and I use the 875r quite a bit on a boom. More than on camera. It is amazingly good for the money and is competive with mics that cost two to four times as much as far as I am concerned. It is such a good value.
It is my number one recommendation for a good on-camera mic and as a boom mic for cheapskates and poor shooters everywhere. Its not at Sanken or higher end brand sound level but it is quite close. I personally find its sound more appealing than the much more expensive 4073a.
Dan
mrbrycel
12-07-2008, 10:08 PM
Hi:
I wrote the article linked to above and I use the 875r quite a bit on a boom. More than on camera. It is amazingly good for the money and is competive with mics that cost two to four times as much as far as I am concerned. It is such a good value.
It is my number one recommendation for a good on-camera mic and as a boom mic for cheapskates and poor shooters everywhere. Its not at Sanken or higher end brand sound level but it is quite close. I personally find its sound more appealing than the much more expensive 4073a.
Dan
Thanks for all the great responses and feedback. If I don't get this mic for christmas, I think I will definitely purchase one. My focus is mostly toward the visual aspect of film/video, so I think it would be wise to dedicate the majority of my budget toward video/lighting/grip equipment, especially since most big shoots I have audio people recording to their own separate devices. But I do enjoy making doc's, and occasionally have clients that need me to shoot interviews, and seeing as I prefer the sound of a shotgun over a lavalier, I wanted to find an inexpensive, yet good shotgun for these smaller projects. I think this mic sounds like it'd be the perfect one.
Mark Smith
12-08-2008, 01:56 AM
wait 18 years and save up for a Schoeps CMIT5U . you won't be disappointed
puredrifting
12-08-2008, 08:59 AM
wait 18 years and save up for a Schoeps CMIT5U . you won't be disappointed
Good one! It is a sweet, sweet mic, that's for sure. It was hard to ship it back when my testing was finished. You cannot realize how cool it is to have $15,000.00 worth of mics at your disposal.
Dan
ChipG
12-08-2008, 09:07 AM
FYI for a cheap lav purchase in the future I have seen used Tram TR50's on eBay sell for $80-$120. I have 4 of them and 4 sonotrams and love em'. They are great for docs, sound great and can take about any abuse you can put them through.
ChipG
12-08-2008, 09:11 AM
There is a really good review (http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html) comparing different professional shotgun mics and the AT875R did great.
Dan writes all the good reviews. Go Dan!
SPrimeau
12-09-2008, 01:41 AM
Dan writes all the good reviews. Go Dan!
Maybe you can look for an interview hand held mic like a Shure VP64AL or a SM58.
interview hand held mic like a Shure VP64AL or a SM58
why? unless hes a singer or shoots news or weddings...
ChipG
12-09-2008, 08:38 AM
Yea, I have a EV RE50 for hand held interviews, it seems to be the standard and they can be bought for less than $200. It's like a battle axe, I mean it is a battle axe.
goetzpd
12-09-2008, 09:01 AM
What about the MXL FR-303 Condenser Shotgun Microphone? It would work on the camera but is too short to use on a boom pole. It is six inches. The rubber bands of the shockmount would be over the holes in the mic and would displace the windscreen. It sells for $150.
http://www.mxlmics.com/condenser_mic/FR-303/FR-303.htm (http://www.mxlmics.com/condenser_mic/FR-303/FR-303.htm)
SPrimeau
01-01-2009, 07:14 PM
why? unless hes a singer or shoots news or weddings...I know that.
He said that he didn't have audio equipment and want to find something under 100$.
Me, I have 2 shotgun's, SM58, SM57, VP64AL, a wireless system, lavalier mics, etc.
Him, he have to start somewhere!
What can be bought under 100$? Maybe he could have looked for a cheap used shotgun on ebay!