Post Body:
Hi everyone,
I’m a hobbyist videographer and I’ve recently started recording my son’s football matches on Sundays. I’m looking to invest in a high-quality shotgun microphone to improve my audio game, and I could use some expert advice.
"I don't have the option to do post-production, so whatever I record is what I'll use. I know I won't get Hollywood sound, but as a hobbyist, I still want to get the best out-of-camera audio I possibly can."
The Environment: I shoot in different cities throughout the year, dealing with various climates:
- September to March: I’m in inland regions (Ankara) where the weather can be rainy, snowy, overcast, or sunny. Since it’s winter, conditions can be quite damp.
- March to May: Mostly sunny, with occasional wind and partly cloudy skies (Osmaniye).
- May to September: I move to regions near the coast (Istanbul-Sinop). During this period, I shoot in a location about 10–15 km from the sea where it gets very humid and windy, with sunny or partly cloudy conditions.
The Setup:
- Camera: Sony NX800 (XLR input).
- Position: Exactly on the touchline/sideline.
- Movement: Mounted on a Manfrotto MVK502AM head via a magic arm. I’m constantly panning to follow the ball.
- Wind Protection: I plan to use a Cinela Piano windshield.
What I’m looking for:
- Isolation: Maximum rejection of ambient noise, traffic, and peripheral wind noise.
- Reach: I need to capture on-field sounds clearly, whether the action is right in front of me or across on the far touchline.
- On-Axis & Off-Axis Performance: Since I’m constantly panning, I need a mic that isn't too narrow on-axis, but still offers clean, natural-sounding off-axis rejection without heavy coloration.
My Current Shortlist:
- Sennheiser MKH 8060
- DPA 4017
- Sanken CS-3e
- Schoeps CMIT 5 (The Blue One)
Being relatively new to high-end audio, I’ve gathered that these are some of the best in the business, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on how these models compare in terms of stability and performance under these specific seasonal and regional conditions. Are there any others I should consider?
Thanks in advance for your help!