Recommended budget microphones for Sony ZV-E10 vlogging setups?

Question

been using the zve10 for a solid year now for my travel channel and while the internal mic is actually okay for what it is the background noise in busy streets is just killing my audio lately. I tried the little wind muff it comes with but its still picking up way too much hiss and I feel like the preamps are struggleing when I try to boost it in post. ive used a few older rodemics on my old dslrs back in the day but those feel way too bulky for this tiny body. im looking to upgrade but I really dont want to spend more than like 100 or maybe 120 bucks since I just dropped a bunch on a new sigma lens and my budget is pretty tight this month.

here is what im looking for:

super compact because I use a small cage and want to keep the weight down

no batteries if possible I always forget to turn them off and end up with dead audio mid-shoot

good wind rejection since I vlog outside in windy areas mostly

something that doesnt block the flip out screen because thats a dealbreaker for me

I looked at the video micro but I heard the v2 is better? or should I just bite the bullet and get one of those digital ones that uses the hot shoe pins so I dont have to deal with cables at all... just worried about the price tag on those proprietary sony branded ones. has anyone found a sweet spot for this specific camera that doesnt break the bank?

FlowingRiver · Accepted Answer

I've been through the ringer with audio gear over the years, and honestly, the ZV-E10 preamps aren't the best when you start cranking them. I remember shooting a street food vlog in Tokyo and my old mic battery died halfway through... I didn't realize until I got home that three hours of footage was just silence. Absolute nightmare. Since then, I've strictly used passive mics that pull power from the jack. In my experience, the Rode VideoMicro II Ultra-compact Supercardioid Shotgun Microphone is exactly what you need. It's way better than the V1 because the mount is actually solid now. If you want to spend a tiny bit more to lose the cables entirely, look at the Sony ECM-G1 Large-Diameter Capsule Vlog Microphone.

No batteries means you literally never have to worry about dead audio again.

They are both short enough that the wind muff wont show up in your shot if you're using a wide lens like that Sigma.

Neither one blocks the flip screen, which I know is a huge deal for vlogging. Tbh, I'd lean toward the Sony ECM-G1 Large-Diameter Capsule Vlog Microphone for your specific camera. Since it uses the digital shoe, you get a much cleaner signal than using the 3.5mm jack, and it basically becomes part of the camera body. It's super light and the background noise rejection is surprisingly decent for such a tiny thing. It fits right in that budget too if you catch it on sale.

Francisharie · Answer

Basically I found an amazing solution for total reliability! To avoid any cable failure, you should definitely check out the Sony ECM-G1 Vlogging Microphone since it uses the MI shoe for cable-free audio. Its so safe! Essential tips for your workflow:

Use the Sony Support site to check firmware

Enable the Low Cut Filter in-camera This setup is fantastic for peace of mind!

TeriPn · Answer

Just catching up on this thread. Ive spent way too much time lately trying to find the perfect mic for my ZV-E10 because I hate how big most shotgun mics look on such a tiny camera. Last fall I was doing a shoot at a really windy pier in San Francisco and the internal audio was just... well it was a mess. I ended up grabing the Rode VideoMicro II Ultracompact On-camera Microphone for about 75 or 80 bucks and honestly its exactly what you need. It uses plug-in power from the camera so you never have to worry about a dead battery ruining a take, and the new shock mount is way more durable than those old flimsy ones that used to snap in my bag. Another solid choice is 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 which is usually around 90 dollars. I actually prefer this for hiking or busy streets because the wind protection is built into the housing, so you dont have a massive fuzzy deadcat getting in the way of your Sigma lens or dipping into the frame. I remember my old mic fur would always show up in the corner of my wide shots, but this one is so low profile it stays out of sight. Just be careful with the cable routing so it doesnt block your screen when you flip it out... I usually just loop it around the cage and its fine. Both are decent options that wont eat up your whole lens budget.