I just got the new Sony ZV-E10 II literally yesterday and im freaking out a bit because I have this huge trip to Japan coming up in like 4 days and i completely forgot to actually sort out my audio situation properly. The built in mic is fine for quiet indoor rooms but I just did a quick test run at the local park and the wind noise was just absolutely terrible even with that little fluffy deadcat thing they give you. I need something that works seamless with the Sony ecosystem because I dont want to be fiddling with cables and menus while im trying to navigate through Tokyo or Kyoto.
Im currently torn between three main choices and my budget is strictly under $300 because the camera body and lenses already blew a massive hole in my wallet lol. I need this to be compact enough to fit in a small sling bag too. Here is what im looking at right now:
My main concern is that the ZV-E10 II is such a small camera that I dont want a massive shotgun mic making it top heavy or awkward to hold on a shooting grip. I mostly do talking head stuff while walking through crowds and some ambient street sounds. Is the Sony digital connection actually worth the premium price just for the lack of wires or should I just go with the Rode and find a way to manage the cable? I seriously need to order this tonight so it gets here by Friday before my flight leaves...
Honestly you should 100% go with the Sony ECM-M1 Shotgun Microphone over the B10! It is right at your $300 budget and that digital MI shoe is absolutely amazing for travel. I used it for a week recently and not having a single cable to snag on my sling bag was a total game changer.