Late to the party but if you are heading to Japan soon, seriously consider the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+200+Directional+Camera+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Directional Camera Microphone. It has a built-in windshield that is actually decent and the shock mount is super robust. I dropped mine on a stone path in Kyoto last year and it didnt even skip a beat.

• The MKE 200 is built like a tank.
• If you really want to save cash, check out the Comica CVM-VM10II Shotgun Video Microphone. It is basically a budget workhorse. Just be careful with the cables. I once lost audio for an entire afternoon because the TRS cable got snagged on my backpack strap. Whatever you choose, buy a spare patch cable before you fly out. Japan is expensive if you have to hunt for gear in a camera shop last minute.

> need a compact mic asap Honestly, ditch those and grab the Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Supercardioid Directional Microphone. It is way better for travel. Just make sure your deadcat is secure!

Honestly, I had some real frustrations with the ZV-1 internal audio too. It picks up way too much wind even with a fluffy windscreen. I tried the Rode VideoMicro II Ultracompact Directional On-Camera Microphone for a while, but honestly, it was not as good as expected for travel. Unfortunately, the mounting bracket felt a bit flimsy for my taste, and I had issues with the signal dropping when I was moving around quickly. Compared to that, the Sony ECM-G1 Compact Vlogging Microphone is much better integrated for your specific camera. It pulls power directly from the multi-interface shoe, so no cables hanging around to get snagged on your clothes, which is a lifesaver when you are rushing through crowds in Japan. It is pricey, but the stability and the wind performance are honestly worth the extra cash if you want to avoid headaches on your trip. One quick tip for your trip: always double-check your audio levels in the camera settings before you start recording. I learned the hard way that letting the camera handle auto-gain can sometimes result in way too much background hiss when you are in busy areas. Set it manually if you can. Also, keep the deadcat on at all times, even indoors, just in case.