Which microphone is best for run-and-gun shooting on Sony a6700?

Question

Ive been shooting travel videos for over five years now, mostly using an FX3 with the XLR handle, but I just grabbed the Sony a6700 for a lighter run-and-gun setup for an upcoming street documentary project in Chicago next week. I thought it would be simple but the audio is driving me absolutely insane.

My logic was to just throw my old Rode VideoMicro on there, but the preamps on this body feel super noisy compared to what I am used to, and the hiss is unbearable. So I was thinking about upgrading to the Rode VideoMic NTG for the safety channel and better gain control. But then I started looking at the Sony ECM-B10 because it uses the digital MI shoe and bypasses the internal preamps entirely.

The problem is I am hearing mixed things about the B10 handling wind noise when you are moving fast, and since my budget is capped at 250 dollars for this last-minute gear buy, I really cant afford to make the wrong choice here. Has anyone actually compared these two on the a6700 for fast-paced street shooting? I need something reliable that doesnt pick up every gust of wind but still gives me clean dialogue without a massive deadcat blocking the screen...

Gabrielemace · Accepted Answer

@Reply #2 - good point! That preamp noise is basically unusable for pro work. I actually went with the Sony ECM-G1 Compact MI Shoe Microphone for my a6700. It's way cheaper than the B10, digital so no preamp hiss, and compact enough that it doesnt block the screen. Honestly, for the price, it's a steal and handles street noise surprisingly well without needing a massive deadcat.

JeremyhiC · Answer

I ran into this exact issue shooting in windy downtown conditions last year with a similar compact setup, and man, you really have to be careful with how those digital shoe mics handle gusts. Before deciding, are you mostly trying to isolate a single person talking right in front of the camera, or do you need to capture the wider street ambiance too?