I'll be doing shots outdoors with more than one person. So, NTG-3 instead of MKH-416?

[oxband]

I'm trying to decide between a NTG-3 or MKH-416 for a outdoor shotgun. My thinking is that since sometimes I will be doing shots with multiple people in it, I want the NTG-3 since it's the scope of what it picks up is slightly larger (as you can tell, my background is not in audio........)

does that logic make sense? is that a reason for making this choice?

 

[John Willett]

I'm trying to decide between a NTG-3 or MKH-416 for a outdoor shotgun. My thinking is that since sometimes I will be doing shots with multiple people in it, I want the NTG-3 since it's the scope of what it picks up is slightly larger (as you can tell, my background is not in audio........)

does that logic make sense? is that a reason for making this choice?

The NTG-3 and the MKH 416 have, in theory, the same polar-pattern.

They were designed to do the same thing.

If buying new, I would get the new MKH 8060 over the 416 or the NTG-3.

 

[oxband]

Why would you prefer that mic?

 

[John Willett]

Why would you prefer that mic?

Because the 8060 is the latest technology. It's a symmetrical capsule mic. with ultra ultra low distortion figures and much quieter (ie: much lower self-noise) than the others. It also has a much better (ie: smoother) off-axis response.

The polar-pattern is theoretically the same as the 416, but much better implemented.

It's like asking why I would prefer to drive Sebastian Vettel's F1 car over the one driven by Stirling Moss :grin:

 

[Steve House]

I'm trying to decide between a NTG-3 or MKH-416 for a outdoor shotgun. My thinking is that since sometimes I will be doing shots with multiple people in it, I want the NTG-3 since it's the scope of what it picks up is slightly larger (as you can tell, my background is not in audio........)

does that logic make sense? is that a reason for making this choice?

No shotgum mic can properly cover two people at once, the patterns are simply too narrow. You need a skilled boom operator who will swing the mic to point directly at the person speaking, moving the mic in the flow of the conversation.

 

[oxband]

Sometimes I'm able to get a sound person. And sometimes it's me with the mic attached to my camera. That being the case, should that affect what mic i want? Im aware the sound is never nearly as good without a boom person. But that's not always an option.