• Blogs
• Tradeshows
• Partners
• White Papers
• Events

Shoot Expertise: Camera Mics

Apr 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Barry Braverman

Sound advice for shooters.

           

The Sennheiser MKH416 (pictured in middle) has been a loyal and faithful friend for almost 30 years, accompanying me to every corner of the world. The phantom-powered MKH416 PH (street price $1,100) is at bottom.

Riding (short) shotgun

For shooters, the need for a reliable short shotgun microphone cannot be understated. As I operated behind the scenes in remote northwest India for The Darjeeling Limited last year, my camera-mounted mic captured the bulk of the location audio. With such a responsibility, the choice of mic is a top priority. The preponderance of action occurs 6ft. to 8ft. in front of the camera, so the matter of a mic's performance at this range is paramount. Specifically, this requires the mic to have a tightly focused pickup pattern that is resistant to off-axis interference, as well as a wide dynamic range and smooth response — especially in the lower frequencies that favor the human voice.

Since my first assignment for National Geographic — the eruption of Mount. St. Helens in 1980 — I've been carrying with me the same Sennheiser MKH416 throughout the world. Twenty-eight years later, I can still recall my anxiety in investing more than $700 in a non-camera piece of gear. Today, I regard that 416 as one of the best investments I've ever made. Rugged as hell and impervious to extremes in temperature and humidity, the Sennheiser MKH416 is like an old, trusted friend and devoted family member. (See sidebar on p. 20.)

The CS-1 from Sanken (top) and Sennheiser’s own mid-range ME66 (bottom) are excellent options for professional ENG and documentary applications.

While the 416 has been my on-camera mic for years, many shooters eyeing its current $1,100 street price might consider some lower-cost options. The more economical Sennheiser ME66 is extremely popular among ENG crews who are willing to trade a degree of ruggedness and performance for the lower price and lighter weight.

At 2.1oz, the ME66 is about one-third the weight of the 416, a key consideration for shooters who want better balance on compact camcorders such as the Sony PMW-EX1 and the Panasonic AG-HVX200. The ME66 and its more directional cousin, the ME67, are a bit more sensitive than the 416, owing to their electret-condenser design. Such a design, while resulting in a lower cost than that of the 416's RF interference capsule, is also less tolerant of extremes in weather conditions and has not as much presence overall. The ME66/67 can be powered either by battery power or phantom power, so there's some advantage there.

For entry-level shooters, Sennheiser has introduced an even lower-cost short shotgun: the MKE 400, intended as an alternative to the typically anemic built-in mics found on most consumer cameras. Solidly constructed with a $200 street price, the MKE 400 is remarkably responsive given its compact size, which tends to restrict low-end response and dynamic range. In this regard, the MKE 400's low-end response seems to cut off rather abruptly, so shooters working in a more professional sphere would do better to select the ME66, ME67, or MKH416 instead. The MKE 400 is powered by a single AAA battery and features an integrated shoe and shockmount; its 1/8in. input plug can be adapted for XLR applications via a simple adapter included with microphone.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!