Honestly, you should definitely stick with the MI shoe to keep the signal digital and noise-free. I highly recommend the Sony ECM-M1 Compact Shotgun Microphone since it has 8 pickup modes and no cables to block your screen. It handles the 24-bit digital audio interface perfectly. If thats too pricey, the Sony ECM-G1 Ultracompact Vlogger Microphone is a solid, lightweight alternative for outdoor use.

Saw this earlier but just now responding. From an experienced standpoint, you really want something with physical switches on the unit itself. Relying on the camera menu for audio levels is a risk I dont like taking when I'm out in the field, as it is way too easy to clip your audio by accident. The Sony ECM-B10 Digital Shotgun Microphone is probably your best bet for the ZV-E10 II. It has a manual gain dial and a physical low-cut filter on the back which is huge for cutting out that wind noise and low-end room rumble you mentioned. Ngl, the digital connection is great, but I always worry about the MI shoe pins getting dirty during travel. If you want a more traditional backup, the Rode VideoMic GO II Lightweight Shotgun Microphone is extremely reliable and light. Just use a short, high-quality cable and it wont mess with your flip screen. Safety first with your audio levels, always.

Bookmarked, thanks!

Adding my two cents here... honestly, if you are worried about reliability and cost, you cant go wrong with the Rode VideoMic GO II. It doesnt use batteries, so you never have to worry about it dying during a long shoot, which is a huge peace of mind factor for me. Its super lightweight and the audio quality is way better than the internal mic for the price. If you really want to avoid a bulky setup but keep it budget-friendly, look at the Sennheiser+MKE+200&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200. Its tiny, has a built-in wind protection cage, and fits the ZV-E10 II perfectly without getting in the way of the flip-out screen. Both of these are much cheaper than the high-end Sony digital mics but still deliver very clean, professional sound. Just make sure to use the included deadcat if you are vlogging in high wind tho.

Yep, this is the way

Helpful thread 👍

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