Best shotgun under $500
- Thread starter scottfs
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jasonbrooks
Well-known member
Unhesitatingly recommend the Ambient TinMic. Fantastic quality in a really small package. You might even find your NT3 becom s the backup for everything outside of studio/setup IVs (I did!). - jason
Jim Feeley
Veteran
If it's really going to be a backup for your NTG3 (as in: will sit in a case unless your NTG3 goes down), why not a used NTG3? That'd match well, if continuity is a concern. And the NTG3 is a decent mic (as you know).
Interesting that Jason recommends an Ambient Tiny Mike/Mic (they seem to spell it both ways). I have one to and use it on cameras (with the Rycote mount, windshield, etc). It's pretty good and very small and light. I haven't compared to an NTG3, but it's an interesting idea. http://ambient.de/en/product/atm216/
IronDave here like the Diety S-Mic2. I haven't used (or even seen) one, but Dave seems like a smart guy. And they're inexpensive:
https://www.deitymic.com/smic2/
If the NTG3 is working everywhere for you, then another shotgun can be a fine choice. But if you want a mic more for interiors (or small close exteriors), maybe consider a used Audio-Techinica AT4053 or an Audix SCX1HC. Those are both nice for dialog, imo. I'm more familiar with the AT4053; it's underpraised imo.
That's about all I can think of in your price range. What do others recommend?
Interesting that Jason recommends an Ambient Tiny Mike/Mic (they seem to spell it both ways). I have one to and use it on cameras (with the Rycote mount, windshield, etc). It's pretty good and very small and light. I haven't compared to an NTG3, but it's an interesting idea. http://ambient.de/en/product/atm216/
IronDave here like the Diety S-Mic2. I haven't used (or even seen) one, but Dave seems like a smart guy. And they're inexpensive:
https://www.deitymic.com/smic2/
If the NTG3 is working everywhere for you, then another shotgun can be a fine choice. But if you want a mic more for interiors (or small close exteriors), maybe consider a used Audio-Techinica AT4053 or an Audix SCX1HC. Those are both nice for dialog, imo. I'm more familiar with the AT4053; it's underpraised imo.
That's about all I can think of in your price range. What do others recommend?
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Having a backup NTG3 gives you identical sound, which obviously is the prime role of a backup. It also lets you have identical mics for recording two tracks, which can be useful. A used NTG3 can be had for under $500 and fits your criteria. I have an NTG3 and think it is a very good mic. If matching the sound isn't an issue, there are a few other mics that have features which are handy. The AT875 is a shorty shotgun that hits above its weight for the sub-$200 price. It is my go to if I need a cam mounted mic (sometimes necessary). Due to its short length, has a wider pattern than the typical shotgun, which can be a good thing at times. It also sounds pretty decent, though not as good as the NTG3. A very similar sounding mic but is much more a traditional shotgun is the AT897. If it weren't for the different pattern due to length, it sounds very similar to the 875. The main reason I keep an 897 is that it is self powered which gives the option of using a wireless system or plug-on recorder which doesn't have phantom power. Note that the output of most inexpensive shotguns will be less than the NTG3 whose signal is pretty hot by comparison. This will matter if using a cheapo recorder with weak preamps.
So if you want identical sound, a spare (used) NTG3 fits your criteria. If you prefer to save a few bucks, other choices have features that may be valuable to you.
Grant
So if you want identical sound, a spare (used) NTG3 fits your criteria. If you prefer to save a few bucks, other choices have features that may be valuable to you.
Grant
"IronDave" sounds nice, maybe I'll change my username!
And yes I agree with a lot of what Jim is saying.
Why not get another NTG3? (I own four of them at the moment.... some people might say I have a microphone problem)
As having two exactly identical mics is a handy thing! As I'll often enough find myself using two booms in a scene.
But then again, that is not everyone's needs.
And if buying new, then I reckon the Deity S Mic 2 is the best buy out there for a sub $500 shotgun (it is the mic I usually chuck in my bag as my back up, doesn't get used that often, but now or then it saves the day like on this shoot when my Sanken CS3e/CS1e was struggling in the RF environment the camera department had created with all their wireless gear (of course at lunch time when they switched off everything, then my Sankens sounded absolutely fantastic again!! I could easily see with my RF Explorer how the background noise level would increase drastically as I moved closer to the camera dept's gear):
Am liking the S Mic 2 more than the older Deity shotgun. I really should put up a review of the two head to head on my youtube channel soon.
The other alternative (my favorite!) is to buy secondhand, you might for instance maybe find a Sanken CS1e at close to that price if you're lucky and patient. Just to give one other mic I own and love as an example, heaps of others you could keep an eye out for! I have dozens (*cough* hundreds *cough*) of saved searches on eBay for exactly this purpose.
However, this is all assuming you already own some kind of hypercardioid like mic for indoor usage rather than a NTG3. (as many many times they are preferable! Not just with reflection issues. But also when the ceiling is low indoors, or going through doorways, or when dialogue is improvised / off script / doco)
If you don't own one, then get this first! Something like the Audio Technica AT4053b or the Oktava MK012, just to give a couple of examples out of many.
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puredrifting
Major Contributor
Listen to the Audix SCX1 too!