h4n vs NTG2

R

root

New member
I've got a 7d and I'll be shooting some video over the summer and I'll be outdoors most of the time. I'll also probably end up doing one interview as well.

I can only afford either the h4n or a ntg 2 with an xlr to mini jack adapter.
If I could only have ONE which do you think would be better?

I'll probably end up getting both at the end but I'm not sure which one I should get first.


Thanks in advance,
Root
 
I have the Zoom H2 and have also worked with the Tascam DR-100 and although the internal microphones are great for capturing ambience, and a room, the polar patterns are very wide and do not lend themselves to dialog recording (unless the room is very quiet and you don't mind having lots of the room in your recording).

If you're serious about filming, the NTG2 will serve you far and wide. The pattern is far more narrow, and you'll have a better change of keeping the most important sounds in the foreground. If course, I'm speaking from the perspective of using a boom pole to get the mic in close to the action. If you talking about having the mic on the camera, all bets are off.

I am not aware of a pocket recorder that has internal microphones appropriate to dialog recording (unless you can quiet the room and maybe even apply treatment).


Hope that helps.
 
You're really comparing apples and oranges. I'd go with the mic first, but get an external recorder as soon as you're able to. Even if the 7d firmware does let you disable the AGC (can't recall if that's true or not), it's still not a great device for sound recording.
 
You can record decent sound if you follow three simple rules:

Get the proper mic close to the source

Control the input

Record to a capable device

If you leave any of the above out, your sound will suffer. You have spent some money on a cam, if you cheapout on audio, it will limit your shooting capability.

For the price of a H4n, you can get a Tascam DR100 which has dual mics; omnis and hypers + XLR inputs. They aren't great mics compared to what you might plug in, but for limited scenarios, it is more versatile than the zoom.

Another Rule:

Good sound requires more than the the three rules above.

Welcome to DVXuser.

Grant
 
Since you will be outdoors the NTG2 will be a good choice but you won't have anything to record to. You can purchase a cable with xlr to 3.5mm stereo plug. Does the 7D have a 3.5mm jack to plug a mic to?

But to address your question of which one to purchase, that is entirely what you think will be most important to your projects. The ability to capture good audio with a decent mic or having the second system for audio. The H4n is a really good recorder with mics on board. They are good for ambient audio recording. You can use it for booming but that is not suggested. So there is going to be a drawback no matter which one you choose.
 
If you can, opt for the NTG-3. Having both, I can tell you it's a world of difference between NTG1/2(battery) and NTG-3.
 
DJDecay said:
If you can, opt for the NTG-3. Having both, I can tell you it's a world of difference between NTG1/2(battery) and NTG-3.
Click to expand...

If the OP can't afford a recorder and the NTG-2 in one shot, how's he paying for an NTG-3? Plus he still has to power it.
 
DJDecay said:
If you can, opt for the NTG-3. Having both, I can tell you it's a world of difference between NTG1/2(battery) and NTG-3.
Click to expand...

Is it a bad thing to be battery powered? The phantom power on the H4n sucks so much juice that I was planning on getting an Ng-2. In other words, do you think the NTG-3 is just a better mike, or specifically a better mike because it isn't battery powered?
 
Kellar42 said:
Is it a bad thing to be battery powered? The phantom power on the H4n sucks so much juice that I was planning on getting an Ng-2. In other words, do you think the NTG-3 is just a better mike, or specifically a better mike because it isn't battery powered?
Click to expand...

No it's not a bad thing, NTG-1 and NTG-2 are functionally equivalent MIC's one just has a AA battery bay, which saves power on equipment like ENG video cameras or other gear that normally have to provide a shotgun microphone with with +48 phantom power.

NTG-3 is a way better mic, possibly the best out of their super cardiod lineup - w/o the battery feature. NTG2 is just an NTG-1 with a battery compartment, therefore longer - making it look more robust and serious.
 
JordanBlock said:
If the OP can't afford a recorder and the NTG-2 in one shot, how's he paying for an NTG-3? Plus he still has to power it.
Click to expand...

True... I guess it's simply buyers remorse for being cheap and getting the NTG-2 for me kicking in. :).

But there are loads of (although bulky) cheap ways to add +48 shadow to a mic that does not have it built-in.
 
Kellar42 said:
Is it a bad thing to be battery powered? The phantom power on the H4n sucks so much juice that I was planning on getting an Ng-2. In other words, do you think the NTG-3 is just a better mike, or specifically a better mike because it isn't battery powered?
Click to expand...

The NTG-3 is made to compete with mics like the 416, it's in a different class than the NTG-1/2. The NTG-1 and 2 are solid, entry-level shotguns that are a very good value for the price. There's no real performance difference of the NTG on battery vs Phantom, something that's not true of some other mics with a battery option.
 
I can't wait to see (hear) the results of the NTG-2! I just ordered one today and it's coming in on friday! Can't wait! :)
 
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