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Electronics · Top 10

Top 10 Shotgun Microphones for Video in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Nov 2026 · 4 min read
Rode NTG5
Direct answer

The Rode NTG5 is the best shotgun microphone for video, at 76 g with 10 dB SPL equivalent noise. The Deity S-Mic 2 ($359.00) is #2 and the Sennheiser MKH 416 is #3; the Audio-Technica AT875R at $189.00 is the lowest published price.

At a glance

#PickPickup patternBest for
1Rode NTG5SupercardioidBoom work with the lowest published self-noise
2Deity S-Mic 2SupercardioidA film-set XLR shotgun under $400
3Sennheiser MKH 416Supercardioid, LobarOutdoor broadcast and film booming
4DPA 2017Supercardioid at 1 kHzRugged, humid or cold shoots
5Sennheiser MKE 600Supercardioid, LobarCamera or boom use with phantom or battery power
6Rode VideoMic NTGSupercardioidOn-camera, phone and USB recording in one mic
7Sony ECM-B1MSuper-directional, unidirectional or omnidirectional (selectable)Sony cameras with the Multi Interface Shoe
8Audio-Technica AT897Line + gradientA short shotgun that runs on a battery or phantom power
9Audio-Technica AT875RLine + gradientThe lowest published price on this list
10Deity V-Mic D3 ProSupercardioidPhones and DSLRs with a stepless gain knob

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Rode NTG5
Best value
Audio-Technica AT875R
Best XLR under $400
Deity S-Mic 2
Best on-camera
Rode VideoMic NTG
Best for rough weather
DPA 2017

The ranking

1

Rode NTG5

Rode NTG5
Answrs VerdictThe best shotgun for video.
Pickup pattern: SupercardioidPrice: $569 (Location Recording Kit)Weight: 76 gEquivalent noise: 10 dB SPL (A-weighted)

The Rode NTG5 is a supercardioid shotgun at 76 g with 10 dB SPL equivalent noise, sold as a Location Recording Kit at $569.

Go ifBoom work with the lowest published self-noise
Skip ifYou want a mic that mounts on the camera shoe
Why #1 over #2: Its 10 dB SPL noise figure is below the S-Mic 2’s 12 dB.
2

Deity S-Mic 2

Deity S-Mic 2
Answrs VerdictThe best-value XLR shotgun.
Pickup pattern: SupercardioidPrice: $359.00Weight: 198 gEquivalent noise: 12 dB A-weighted

The Deity S-Mic 2 is a supercardioid XLR shotgun at 198 g with 12 dB A-weighted equivalent noise, priced at $359.00.

Go ifA film-set XLR shotgun under $400
Skip ifYou want the lightest mic
Why #2 over #3: Its 12 dB noise figure is under the MKH 416’s 13 dB(A) at a lower price.
3

Sennheiser MKH 416

Sennheiser MKH 416
Answrs VerdictThe classic broadcast short shotgun.
Pickup pattern: Supercardioid, LobarPrice: $1,049.00 (list $1,229.00)Weight: 175 gEquivalent noise: 13 dB(A)

The Sennheiser MKH 416 weighs 175 g with 13 dB(A) equivalent noise; Full Compass lists it at $1,049.00 against a $1,229.00 list price.

Go ifOutdoor broadcast and film booming
Skip ifYou need a budget mic
Why #3 over #4: Its 13 dB(A) noise matches the DPA 2017’s typical 13 dB(A) at 175 g versus 115 g.
4

DPA 2017

DPA 2017
Answrs VerdictThe toughest shotgun on the list.
Pickup pattern: Supercardioid at 1 kHzPrice: $1095 MSRP, excl. local VATWeight: 115 gEquivalent noise: Typ. 13 dB(A)

The DPA 2017 weighs 115 g with typical 13 dB(A) equivalent noise and lists at $1095 MSRP, excluding local VAT.

Go ifRugged, humid or cold shoots
Skip ifPrice matters most
Why #4 over #5: Its 115 g is lighter than the MKE 600’s 128 g, with lower noise than the MKE 600’s 15 dB(A).
5

Sennheiser MKE 600

Sennheiser MKE 600
Answrs VerdictThe all-round camera shotgun.
Pickup pattern: Supercardioid, LobarPrice: $349.00Weight: 128 gEquivalent noise: 15 dB(A) with P48

The Sennheiser MKE 600 weighs 128 g with 15 dB(A) noise on phantom power and costs $349.00; it can also run on battery power.

Go ifCamera or boom use with phantom or battery power
Skip ifYou need the lowest self-noise
Why #5 over #6: It runs on phantom power or battery, unlike the AT875R’s phantom-power-only design.
6

Rode VideoMic NTG

Rode VideoMic NTG
Answrs VerdictThe versatile on-camera mic.
Pickup pattern: SupercardioidPrice: $259Weight: 94 gEquivalent noise: 15 dB SPL (A-weighted)

The Rode VideoMic NTG weighs 94 g with 15 dB SPL equivalent noise and costs $259.

Go ifOn-camera, phone and USB recording in one mic
Skip ifYou want an XLR output
Why #6 over #7: Its $259 price is lower than the Sony ECM-B1M’s $339.99.
7

Sony ECM-B1M

Sony ECM-B1M
Answrs VerdictThe Sony-shoe digital shotgun.
Pickup pattern: Super-directional, unidirectional or omnidirectional (selectable)Price: $339.99Weight: 77.3 gIntrinsic noise: 14 dB SPL or less

The Sony ECM-B1M weighs 77.3 g with 14 dB SPL or less intrinsic noise and is priced at $339.99; it has three selectable pickup patterns.

Go ifSony cameras with the Multi Interface Shoe
Skip ifYou shoot on another camera brand
Why #7 over #8: Its 77.3 g is lighter than the AT897’s 145 g.
8

Audio-Technica AT897

Audio-Technica AT897
Answrs VerdictThe battery-or-phantom pick.
Pickup pattern: Line + gradientPrice: $269.00Weight: 145 gPower: Battery or phantom power

The Audio-Technica AT897 weighs 145 g, is priced at $269.00 and operates on battery or phantom power.

Go ifA short shotgun that runs on a battery or phantom power
Skip ifYou want the lowest weight
Why #8 over #9: It runs on a battery, which the AT875R’s phantom-power-only design does not.
9

Audio-Technica AT875R

Audio-Technica AT875R
Answrs VerdictThe budget pick.
Pickup pattern: Line + gradientPrice: $189.00Weight: 80 gPower: Phantom power only

The Audio-Technica AT875R weighs 80 g, is priced at $189.00 and operates on phantom power only.

Go ifThe lowest published price on this list
Skip ifYour camera has no phantom power
Why #9 over #10: Its $189.00 price is the lowest on the list, where the D3 Pro’s price is not published.
10

Deity V-Mic D3 Pro

Deity V-Mic D3 Pro
Answrs VerdictThe gain-knob on-camera mic.
Pickup pattern: SupercardioidPrice: Not publishedSignal-to-noise ratio: 84 dBBattery: 51-hour rechargeable

The Deity V-Mic D3 Pro has an 84 dB signal-to-noise ratio and a 51-hour rechargeable battery; Deity publishes no price on its page.

Go ifPhones and DSLRs with a stepless gain knob
Skip ifYou need a published price

How we ranked these

We ranked each mic on published self-noise where the maker states it, then on weight and published price. Prices come from the maker or a major retailer; where none is published we say so. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best shotgun microphone for video?

The Rode NTG5: a supercardioid mic at 76 g with 10 dB SPL equivalent noise, $569 as the Location Recording Kit.

What is the cheapest shotgun microphone on this list?

The Audio-Technica AT875R, at $189.00 on its official page; it runs on phantom power only.

Which shotgun microphone can run on a battery?

The Sennheiser MKE 600 can be powered by phantom power or battery, and the Audio-Technica AT897 operates on battery or phantom power.

Which mic on this list is the lightest?

The Rode NTG5 at 76 g; the Sony ECM-B1M is 77.3 g and the Audio-Technica AT875R is 80 g.

Weight (as published) at a glance

Rode NTG576 g
Sony ECM-B1M77.3 g
Audio-Technica AT875R80 g
Rode VideoMic NTG94 g
DPA 2017115 g
Sennheiser MKE 600128 g
Audio-Technica AT897145 g
Sennheiser MKH 416175 g
Deity S-Mic 2198 g
Weight (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.

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