What are the best external microphones for Sony vlogging cameras?

Question

im freaking out a little because i leave for my tokyo trip next thursday and i still havent picked a mic for my sony zve10. i looked at the rode videomic go ii and the sony ecm-b10 but i keep getting mixed signals. some say the sony digital shoe is a lifesaver for no cables but others say the rode has better natural sound for vlogging. i really dont want to mess this up and have terrible audio for my whole vacation.

budget: under $250

use case: street vlogging/crowded areas

needs to be small enough for a handheld setup

is the sony digital shoe really that much better or should i go with a third party mic and just deal with the wires? i feel like i'm running out of time to order...

DataDrake · Accepted Answer

Stumbled on this while looking for travel gear. Are you mostly gonna be talking directly into the camera or do you want to capture the ambiance too? Tokyo is loud, so you might want to consider the Sony ECM-W2BT Wireless Microphone System. It clips to your shirt so your voice stays clear even in crowds. Just be careful with the wind outdoors tho, make sure you use the included windscreen.

ArcticVoyager · Answer

Regarding what #2 said about ambiance, unfortunately wires are a nightmare. I had issues with snagging, so get the Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone because it captures wider sound via the shoe.

SilentForgeX · Answer

tbh i went through this exact same panic before my last trip and ended up with the Sony ECM-B10 Compact Shotgun Microphone. i am honestly so satisfied with it. Since you are using a ZV-E10, that digital shoe is a total lifesaver because you dont have to worry about a cable getting loose or forgetting to hit the power button on the mic. It draws power straight from the body so its basically foolproof for a vacation. For street vlogging in crowded spots like Tokyo, you really want fewer points of failure. The Rode VideoMic GO II Lightweight Directional Microphone is a classic, but dealing with wires in a crowd is just asking for trouble. i have had no complaints with the Sony audio quality. It might sound a tiny bit more processed than the Rode, but it is super reliable and clear enough for any vlog. its worth the peace of mind for sure.