F5: Most compact on-camera mic for reference audio?

Grug

Grug

Veteran
Hi guys,

My ACs are getting pretty fed up with taping an NTG3 shotgun mic onto random parts of my F5, and I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a nice compact mic than can be easily attached to the camera without getting in the way?

Sound quality can be rubbish since it's just a reference track for syncing in post. Small and easy to attach is the goal.

Cheers,

Mark
 
I've been using the AT875R on both the C300 & FS7 for on camera audio. Short and cheap with surprisingly decent sound.

If you don't need XLR and don't care about audio or external batteries the Rode Videomic pro or Sen MK400 series works if you have a spare shoe mount and are tiny but pretty one trick pony.
 
FrameFarmMedia said:
I've been using the AT875R on both the C300 & FS7 for on camera audio. Short and cheap with surprisingly decent sound.

If you don't need XLR and don't care about audio or external batteries the Rode Videomic pro or Sen MK400 series works if you have a spare shoe mount and are tiny but pretty one trick pony.
Click to expand...

Cheers, where do you feed the audio into if not the XLR ports?
 
Another vote for the AT875R. Had it recommended on this board. Cheap, but well built, with great sound and it doesn't get in the way of my wide angle FOV.
 
Thanks guys, the AT875R looks pretty ideal. How are you mounting yours to the camera?
 
I've been using the "Tiny mic" by well established German company Ambient for on-cam sound with the FS-7. It's incredibly high quality for the price (around £350/$500), and it really IS tiny. http://www.ambient.de/en/products/ambient-recording/microphones/tinymike.html

Comes with a cable from their proprietary tiny plug to XLR, accepts +48V phantom, and gives a nice rounded, highly directional sound. With the included adaptor ring it will fit in a standard XLR mount or cradle, and comes with a lyre-style noise-isolator that will attach to a hotshoe. Comes with a foam cover, but not a windjammer fluffy.

Check it out!

jason
 
If its only for scratch track, what about using an omni directional lav mic where you can just stick or tape the microphone onto the camera body rather than mounting it?

The other small/compact shotgun mic worth considering is the Rode NTG1.
 
This has been a big problem for me over the past 7 years, as I lug around a big Rode NT4 on most of my cameras on custom mounts because the mic is too big & heavy for the Sony mount.

I've asked Rode on a number of occasions to consider making a scaled down version with just the X-Y capsule head but no battery cylinder, for on-camera use. The NT4 is a pretty good sounding mic with good bass response, so I live with it and it beats trying to strap on a pair of Neumann U87A's.

Now that I've just finished the transaction on a Sony FS7 purchase, I'll be revisiting this situation again. One would hope that in 7 years, SOMEONE has a stereo mic that's less bulky, is flat from 20-20,000Hz, phantom-powered and under half a grand.
 
I've had an Azden SGM-PD2 that I got with a used camera ~4 years ago. It's small and cheap, about the same sound quality as the AT875 I also own (I have the AA version, not the R)
 
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