What are the best external microphones for Nikon D780 video setups?

Question

I just bought a Nikon D780 to film my sisters wedding in June but the sound is really scratchy right now. I have about $150 to spend and zero clue what I am doing with gear so sorry if this is a dumb question... what mic is actually easy to use for this?

SkylineBuffer · Accepted Answer

I'm really happy with the Sennheiser MKE 400 On-Camera Shotgun Microphone right now. Its 20Hz-20kHz range and 3-step sensitivity switch are great specs for the price. They work well. I've also been satisfied with the Audio-Technica AT8024 Stereo/Mono Microphone for weddings because you can toggle patterns for the vows. Both fit your $150 budget and solve those scratchy internal preamp issues. Honestly, you cant go wrong with either choice!

RetroVector · Answer

Honestly, for a wedding, simplicity is your best friend because things move fast. The scratchy sound youre getting is likely just the internal camera preamps struggling. With $150, you have some solid options that are basically plug and play.

Rode VideoMic GO II Shotgun Microphone: This is my top pick. It doesnt require a battery and pulls power from the D780. Its very lightweight and you dont have to remember to turn it on, which is a lifesaver during ceremonies.

Deity V-Mic D3 Shotgun Microphone: Very clear sound for the price point. It uses a single AAA battery and has a smart 3.5mm jack. It feels pretty robust, which helps for events.

<a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional Microphone: Super compact with a built-in shock mount. It is very rugged for a wedding environment where youre moving around a lot. Just set your camera audio to manual and keep the levels peaking around -12dB so you dont clip.

YieldYard · Answer

TL;DR: Manual gain is your friend. The D780 preamps arent bad, but auto-gain will ruin your audio by hunting for sound. Set it manually to around 4 or 5 and use a powered mic. Avoid cheap, unshielded cables tho... weddings are full of RF interference from phones thatll cause clicking in your recordings. A powered lavalier is a solid alternative if you can hide it on the groom.