Honestly the Sony ECM-XM1 Cardioid Condenser is your best bet for that handle. It fits the clamp perfectly without rubber spacers and sounds great for the price.

Ngl, if youre looking for the best bang for your buck, check out the Audio-Technica+AT875R+Line%2FGradient+Shotgun+Microphone&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Audio-Technica AT875R Line/Gradient Shotgun Microphone. Its way shorter than the MKE 600 so it wont peek into your frame on wide lenses, and it fits the FX30 handle like a glove. Just make sure to grab a Rycote 5cm SGM Foam Windscreen too because the stock one is kinda weak for outdoor wind.

Ngl, if youre looking for the best bang for your buck, check out the Audio-Technica+AT875R+Line%2FGradient+Shotgun+Microphone&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Audio-Technica AT875R Line/Gradient Shotgun Microphone. Its way shorter than the MKE 600 so it wont peek into your frame on wide lenses, and it fits the FX30 handle like a glove. Just make sure to grab a Rycote 5cm SGM Foam Windscreen too because the stock one is kinda weak for outdoor wind.

Just saw this thread and thought id chime in since ive spent way too much time looking at frequency response charts for this exact setup lol. I used to run a bigger rig with the MKE 600 but honestly it felt like a baseball bat on top of such a small camera. I eventually swapped over to the Sony ECM-VG1 Electret Condenser Shotgun Microphone and it was a game changer for my travel workflow. Comparing it to the Rode NTG series, the Sony just feels better integrated with the handles preamps and has a much tighter polar pattern for blocking out traffic noise. Quick tips:

• Toggle the Low Cut to 80Hz on the handle whenever youre near cars to kill that sub-bass rumble.
• Watch your battery levels... running +48V phantom power all day definitely drains the FX30 faster than usual.

I totally agree with your approach of sticking to the XLR handle inputs rather than just using the 3.5mm jack. It is just way more reliable for travel work. One small point Id add from my own time in the field is to really consider the physical balance of the rig. If you go with a traditional shotgun, it can make the FX30 feel really front-heavy on that top handle, which puts unnecessary strain on your wrist after a few hours. I always prefer a more centered setup so there is less risk of dropping the kit or putting weird torque on the handle mount. Keeps everything much safer during those long shoots. It is definitely something to think about before you commit to one style or the other.

Honestly, before you drop a few hundred bucks on a new mic, I gotta ask how much of a DIYer are you? Like, are you looking for a setup that works perfectly out of the box, or are you cool with modding some cheaper gear to make it fit that Sony handle better? Also, what is your actual hard budget for the audio rig? Knowing if youre trying to keep it under a hundred bucks or if youre willing to splurge for that pro sound would really help narrow it down. High-end XLR stuff gets pricey fast, but sometimes you can get away with way cheaper gear if youre willing to mess with the mounting yourself.