Which external microphone works best with Sony mirrorless cameras?

Question

I just got my first real camera which is a Sony a6400 and honestly Im a bit overwhelmed with everything. I tried taking some videos of my nieces birthday party last weekend and the picture looked amazing but the sound was just... it sounded like everyone was under a blanket or something and there was this weird hissing sound in the background too. I realized the built in mic is probably not enough for what I want to do especially if there is any wind outside. I have a big family wedding coming up in about two weeks in New Jersey and I really want to capture the speeches and some of the dancing without it sounding like total garbage but I'm worried I'll buy the wrong thing. Ive been looking online but there are so many options like those fuzzy things you put on top or the little ones that clip to shirts and I have no idea what actually plugs into the Sony port. I dont want to spend more than maybe 150 bucks because the camera was already a lot for me and I still need to buy a memory card. Is there a specific brand or model that is easy to just plug in and it works right away without me having to change a bunch of menus? Im really scared of buying something that needs its own batteries or complicated settings because I'll definitely forget to turn it on or something. Which external microphone works best for a Sony mirrorless camera for a beginner?

KernelKnight · Accepted Answer

Adding my two cents here because audio can be so stressful when starting out. You might want to consider staying within the Sony ecosystem since their hot shoe is actually pretty smart. It simplifies things a lot.

Sony ECM-G1 Ultracompact Camera-Mount Analog Microphone is basically the definition of plug-and-play. Since it uses the Multi-Interface shoe, it pulls power and sends audio right through the camera mount. No messy cables to snag and no batteries to forget.

Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Shotgun Microphone is another awesome budget pick. Its super lightweight and the included wind cover is actually decent for those outdoor NJ ceremonies. Be careful with your volume levels tho. I would suggest checking your audio meters on the screen to make sure they arent hitting the very end of the bar. You got this, just take it slow...

loveever · Answer

Just catching up on this. One quick thing tho, how close are you gonna be to the people talking? Distance is a huge deal... if you're within 10 feet, the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+On-Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional On-Camera Microphone has worked really well for me.

No batteries needed

Built-in wind protection

Super compact Tbh it handles that annoying background hiss way better than the camera mic ever could.

MatrixMonk · Answer

If you want absolute reliability for a wedding, be careful with using external cables. They can easily get loose or create static if you bump them while filming the dancing. I would suggest looking at the Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone because it plugs directly into that hot shoe on top of your a6400. It doesnt need a battery or a cable, so there is literally zero chance of forgetting to turn it on or having a cord unplug halfway through a speech. Since it is a stereo mic, it will actually capture the music and the atmosphere of the reception much better than a mono shotgun mic would. One thing to watch out for tho... the a6400 doesnt have the newest digital audio interface, so make sure your internal gain settings are set around level 10-12 so you dont clip during loud music. If you really want a shotgun style for the speeches specifically, the Rode VideoMic GO II Lightweight On-Camera Shotgun Microphone is a very solid backup. It is powered by the camera, but honestly, for a big family event where things get hectic, the Sony-branded ones are just safer because they lock into the camera body and use the internal pins for a cleaner connection.