Best Shotgun Microphones
Updated How we research
Rode VideoMic NTG Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone, Black
Rode's VideoMic NTG is a camera-mount shotgun mic in black, a directional on-camera option for video podcasts and interviews.
Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Microphone, Wired, for Video Cameras, Low Cut Filter
Sennheiser's MKE600 is a wired shotgun mic with a low cut filter, a pro-grade choice for video cameras and boom poles.
Shotgun microphones are built to hear one thing clearly: whatever you point them at. Their tight, highly directional pickup makes them a favorite for video creators, filmmakers, and anyone recording dialogue where the mic needs to stay out of frame. Mount one on a boom or camera and it locks onto the voice while pushing surrounding noise to the background. For creators blending podcasting with video, a shotgun mic offers flexibility a desk mic cannot match. You capture natural, focused audio from a comfortable distance, keeping your setup clean on camera. In this guide we cover the shotgun mics that deliver crisp dialogue and reliable rejection, from run-and-gun options to serious production picks.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Rode VideoMic NTG Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone, Black. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:RODE VideoMicro II Ultra-Compact On-Camera Shotgun Microphone. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Microphone, Wired, for Video Cameras, Low Cut Filter. Build and materials score of 10/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Feature-rich:RODE VideoMic Pro+ Premium On-Camera Shotgun Microphone with High-Pass Filter. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Rode VideoMic NTG Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone, Black8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Microphone, Wired, for Video Cameras, Low Cut Filter8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.RODE VideoMic Pro+ Premium On-Camera Shotgun Microphone with High-Pass Filter8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Rode VideoMic Pro R Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone, Black8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.RODE VideoMicro II Ultra-Compact On-Camera Shotgun Microphone8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Deity V-Mic D4 Duo Dual Capsule Cardioid Camera-Mount Shotgun Mic with Rycote Shockmount8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Rode VideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mounting, Black7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Rode VideoMic Me Compact TRRS Cardioid Mini-Shotgun Microphone for Smartphones7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Rode's VideoMic NTG is a camera-mount shotgun mic in black, a directional on-camera option for video podcasts and interviews.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Directional shotgun pickup focuses on the subject in front of the camera
- + Camera-mount design sits on a cold shoe for quick run-and-gun setups
- + Rode build and sound suit creators upgrading from built-in camera audio
- - Needs to stay fairly close to the speaker, distance adds room sound fast
- - On-camera placement cannot match a lav or desk mic for seated podcasts
#2Sennheiser's MKE600 is a wired shotgun mic with a low cut filter, a pro-grade choice for video cameras and boom poles.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 10/10 · Value 8/10
- + Tight shotgun pattern isolates dialogue well on boom poles and cameras
- + Low cut filter removes wind and handling rumble at the source
- + Sennheiser build quality suits professional and long-term video work
- - Uses XLR, so many consumer cameras need an adapter or recorder
- - Larger size is awkward on small cameras compared with compact shotguns
#3The RODE VideoMic Pro+ is a premium on-camera shotgun mic with a high-pass filter, aimed at serious video creators.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + High-pass filter cuts rumble from traffic, air conditioning and handling
- + Premium Rode build and shock mounting cope well with daily shoots
- + Onboard controls let you adjust sound at the camera instead of in edit
- - Higher price than simpler on-camera shotguns aimed at casual vloggers
- - Larger body adds weight to small gimbals and compact camera rigs
#4The Rode VideoMic Pro R is a black camera-mount shotgun mic, a proven step up from built-in camera audio for vloggers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Shotgun design narrows pickup toward the subject and away from the crew
- + Camera-mount design clips on quickly, so setup between shots stays fast
- + Compact size balances well on mirrorless and DSLR camera rigs
- - Older model, so newer Rode shotguns offer more features for similar money
- - Camera distance limits voice clarity compared with a mic near the mouth
#5RODE's VideoMicro II is an ultra-compact on-camera shotgun mic, a lightweight upgrade for phones and small cameras.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Ultra-compact size barely adds weight to phones, gimbals and small cameras
- + Directional pickup gives clearer voice than built-in camera microphones
- + Simple setup with no controls suits beginners filming on the go
- - Tiny capsule is less refined than full-size shotgun microphones
- - No onboard gain or filter controls, so adjustments happen on the camera
#6Deity's V-Mic D4 Duo is a dual-capsule cardioid camera shotgun with a Rycote shockmount, recording forward and behind at once.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dual capsules capture the presenter and the camera operator at the same time
- + Rycote shockmount helps isolate the mic from camera handling noise
- + Useful for vlog-style interviews where the person filming also asks questions
- - Dual pickup captures more ambience than a single forward shotgun
- - Less common brand, so replacement parts are harder to find in stores
#7Rode's original VideoMic with Rycote Lyre shock mounting is a black camera-mount shotgun mic for affordable on-camera sound.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Rycote Lyre mount absorbs bumps and handling noise while filming
- + Directional pickup keeps focus on the person in front of the lens
- + Established Rode design is a dependable step up from camera audio
- - Larger and bulkier than newer compact on-camera shotguns
- - Runs on its own battery, so spares are needed for longer shoot days
#8The Rode VideoMic Me is a compact TRRS cardioid mini-shotgun for smartphones, turning a phone into a better interview recorder.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + TRRS connector plugs straight into phones with a headphone jack
- + Cardioid mini-shotgun focuses on voices in front of the phone camera
- + Tiny, pocketable mic suits mobile creators and quick social clips
- - Modern phones without a headphone jack need an adapter to connect it
- - Phone-distance recording still captures more room than a lavalier would
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Needs to stay fairly close to the speaker, distance adds room sound fast (Rode VideoMic NTG Camera-Mount Shotgun...)
- Uses XLR, so many consumer cameras need an adapter or recorder (Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Microphone, Wired,...)
- Higher price than simpler on-camera shotguns aimed at casual vloggers (RODE VideoMic Pro+ Premium On-Camera Shotgun...)
- Older model, so newer Rode shotguns offer more features for similar money (Rode VideoMic Pro R Camera-Mount Shotgun...)
- Tiny capsule is less refined than full-size shotgun microphones (RODE VideoMicro II Ultra-Compact On-Camera...)
- Dual pickup captures more ambience than a single forward shotgun (Deity V-Mic D4 Duo Dual Capsule Cardioid...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among shotgun microphones?
Rode VideoMic NTG Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone, Black is our top overall pick. Rode's VideoMic NTG is a camera-mount shotgun mic in black, a directional on-camera option for video podcasts and interviews. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Microphone, Wired, for Video Cameras, Low Cut Filter is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Sennheiser's MKE600 is a wired shotgun mic with a low cut filter, a pro-grade choice for video cameras and boom poles.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Podcast Gear Hub independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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