I once tried balancing a long shotgun on my gimbal and it was a total disaster... kept hitting the motors. Be careful with that MKE 600. Honestly, check out the Rode VideoMic Pro+ On-Camera Shotgun Microphone.

• dedicated safety channel
• fits the S5II gimbal setup easily
• much better noise floor The preamps on your S5II are actually fine, that hiss is just your current mic. Grab a solid deadcat for those Tacoma gusts tho.

Regarding what #2 said about "I once tried balancing a long shotgun on..." - hes totally right, that MKE 600 is way too long for a gimbal. Ive been really happy with the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Super-Cardioid Shotgun Microphone on my S5II. It handles wind well and supports a safety channel too. Its super light, so it wont mess with your gimbal balance. Plus, the gain knob is great for those quiet vows.

I am still learning the ropes myself but I have spent a crazy amount of time testing this on my own S5II recently. I would be really careful with those standard 3.5mm inputs tho because those thin cables always seem to snag on the gimbal motors when you least expect it. I eventually decided to go the DIY route and built a kit using the Panasonic DMW-XLR1 XLR Microphone Adapter which totally solved my noise floor issues. I paired it with the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Audio-Technica+AT875R+Short+Condenser+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Audio-Technica AT875R Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone because its incredibly lightweight and short. It fits perfectly on top of the camera without throwing off the gimbal balance. One quick tip: make sure to use the physical gain dials on the adapter rather than the camera menu for faster adjustments during the ceremony. Those Tacoma winds can be brutal so you might want to consider getting a high-quality deadcat since the stock foam covers wont do much out there...

I fought with noisy preamps for years until I finally switched to the Rode VideoMic NTG Hybrid Analog/USB Microphone and it changed everything for my wedding gigs! Seriously, the S5II loves this thing.

• The built-in safety channel is a total godsend for vows.
• Its incredibly light for gimbal work.
• Sound quality is just crisp and professional without that nasty hiss. I used it in a storm last month and it totally crushed it!

Building on the earlier suggestion, it seems like the consensus is that physical length is your biggest enemy when you're trying to balance that S5II on a gimbal. I saw this earlier and wanted to chime in with some technical bits because choosing the wrong weight distribution can really fry your motors over a long wedding day. Basically, anything over 7 or 8 inches is gonna be a nightmare to tilt.

• <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+400+On-Camera+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 400 On-Camera Shotgun Microphone: You might want to consider this one if you want to keep the rig as small as possible. It is incredibly compact and the internal shock mount is solid for movement. Just be careful though, because it doesn't have a dedicated safety channel output like the Rode NTG series, so you'll have to be more precise with your gain levels.
• Rode NTG5 Short Shotgun Microphone Kit: Since you asked about this one, I would suggest it for the Tacoma weather specifically. It uses RF-bias tech which basically makes it immune to the moisture and humidity you'll find outdoors in the PNW. It is very short for a pro shotgun, so it might just clear your gimbal if you slide the plate forward.
• <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Audio-Technica+AT875R+Short+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Audio-Technica AT875R Short Shotgun Microphone: This is kind of a sleeper hit for gimbal users. It is tiny for an XLR mic, but make sure to account for the extra weight of an XLR adapter if you go this route. Definitely double check your clearance for those low-angle shots before the wedding day. I am around if you need to figure out the gain staging for the S5II preamps once you finally pick one!

Like someone mentioned, that MKE 600 is way too long for a gimbal setup. I learned that the hard way at a windy beach shoot where my rig kept tipping... ended up having to tape the mic to a light stand just to get the shot. It was a total mess and I looked like such an amateur. The advice so far is solid regarding the safety channels and weight.

• Stick to the compact designs.
• Prioritize a brand with good weather sealing.
• Make sure the gain control is easy to reach. In my experience, if you want something that just works forever, you should look into the professional offerings from Sony. They make some incredible top-handle audio kits that integrate perfectly with full frame rigs. You honestly cant go wrong with their pro audio gear. Just pick something from their high-end line and youll stop worrying about hiss forever. Its all about that reliability when the vows start.