Shotgun microphones are an excellent addition to any collection of photography gear. You’ll definitely need one if you’re interested in recording interviews or monologues, and they are great to have if you’re recording in an area that’s less than sound-proof. A decent shotgun mic for your DSLR will effectively filter out background noise from passing cars, wind, or other conversations.

What exactly is a Shotgun Microphone?

A shotgun mic has a unique cylindrical shape, which allows it to pick up the sounds in front of it, while ignoring and reducing the sounds behind it. The design gives it a narrow range of focus, making it especially adept at picking up human vocal frequencies.

Using this type of mic is great for recording footage with a lot of spoken dialogue, because it won’t pick up on interference and extra noise the way a camera’s built-in microphone would. They’re also useful for recording dialogue when you don’t want your subject holding a microphone themselves, or when filming an up-close shot with quiet sounds.

You may have realized that your camera’s internal mic just isn’t offering the sound quality you really want. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for finding an external shotgun mic that will.

Connection: XLR or 3.5 mm (mini jack)?

Finding the best shotgun mic for your DSLR depends on several factors, the first being what type of connectivity your camera supports.

There are two types of shotgun mics, XLR and 3.5mm (mini jack). The main difference between them is the mechanical design, not the recording quality itself. Consumer shotgun mics connect to the camera with a 3.5mm jack, while professional grade microphones use a 3-pin XLR jack.

Most people will say that the difference is that the XLR connectivity is more robust, and will hold up better over time. The XLR jack locks in, and has a broader range of surface conductivity to the camera, making it durable enough for professional use. The XLR mic’s connection is more balanced, so it is a bit less likely to pick up on interference and unwanted noise.

The downside to using one is that you will need an additional adapter or recording device. Beachtek offers a very nice (and affordable) audio adapter for this purpose. With this adapter, you have the option to attach two XLR microphones plus an additional mini-jack mic to your camera’s built in 3.5mm input.

For most hobbyists, a 3.5mm shotgun mic will work just fine, and can be used right out of the box without any accessories. Brands and styles of microphones will offer various features, such as different power options, volume control, size and durability.

Both types are capable of producing high quality recordings, and we’ve checked out some of the most popular designs featuring both types of connectivity so that anyone can find the best shotgun mic for DSLR cameras. After you’ve seen the great difference a mic can make in regard to sound quality, you’ll wonder how you ever recorded your precious footage without it.

Best Shotgun Mic for DSLR Cameras: an overview

Best Shotgun Mics with XLR Connection:

1. Rode NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone

   

This sleek, small condenser mic is great for an active videographer. If you’re into hitting the road and catching action up close and personal, it’s essential to have a mic that is easy to handle, but won’t fall apart. The Rode NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone is housed in a durable metal casing, yet is exceptionally lightweight, weighing only 5 ounces.

The ergonomic design also offers a super-cardioid polar pattern and line, with a gradient acoustic principle that efficiently reduces interference and noise from the sides of the mic. This gives the front of its capsule a great signal-to-noise ratio, so it can clearly pick up dialogue even in quite noisy settings. Its ergonomic design also reduces the occurrence of handling noise from moving around, loose cables, and general motion while recording. Its main downfall is that it doesn’t have a pad switch option for further noise reduction, and its somewhat higher price tag.

2. Audio-Technica AT875R Short Shotgun Microphone

This compact shotgun mic is a great asset for the videographer who wants to ensure the mic stays out of the frame. Measuring only 7 inches in length, the Audio-Technica AT875R has a line and gradient design with an exceptionally narrow acceptance angle. The small size makes it perfect for use with a compact digital camera or DV camcorder. It features very crisp, natural-sounding on-axis audio while effectively rejecting sounds from the sides and back of the microphone. It’s quite a sensitive mic, and is capable of picking up long range sounds.

Another nice little feature is that it comes with its own windscreen, to reduce the audio blurring you might encounter when recording outside. While this is a great mic, one of the disadvantages is that the small size means you have to check how you position yourself when interviewing someone to ensure you’re recording the sounds you want.

Best Shotgun Mics with 3.5mm connection

1. Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone (with Rycote Lyre Mount)

This is a really nice 3.5mm shotgun mic. The Rode VIDEOMIC is made from high quality thermoplastic, which makes it very durable even in extreme temperatures and never requires rethreading. Like the XLR styles we mentioned, this one also features a super carotid pattern at the front of the capsule, this time coupled with a barrel design to efficaciously reduce ambient and background noise.

A nice feature here is the built-in adjustable 10 or 20 decibel pad, which allows you to change the mic’s sensitivity for recording in loud environments.  This mic’s main downfall is that it runs on 9 volt battery, and doesn’t necessarily produce professional-grade results. It’s an excellent quality mic for its price range though, and it gets the job done quite well.

2. Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone

This mic is a little more expensive than the other 3.5mm we reviewed, but it has a few different features as well. The Sennheiser MKE 400 is made from durable lightweight metal, and has an integrated shock mounting that allows compatibility with nearly any camera. It is optimized for video recording and has switchable functions for long and short distances. This switches are a nice feature for additional noise reduction, and its mounting reduces handling noise.

It is very user-friendly. Simply plug it in, and vastly expand your camera’s capabilities. Like the VIDEOMICR, it runs on batteries, but the MKE 400 uses a single AAA battery and can operate for up to 300 hours of recording time. This 3.5 mm mic rates pretty high, although users report that the windscreen easily comes off, and that it doesn’t work with Apple products.

Additional links

Manufacturers:

• Rode
• Sennheiser
• Audiotechnika

More information on choosing microphones for video:

• Desktop Documentaries