Hey! Looking for a good external mic for my Canon 90D. Mostly shooting video of nature/wildlife. Budget around $300. What's the best bang for my buck?
Rode VideoMic Pro+ here. Had mine 4 years, still happy. Works well for nature; no complaints!
Consider mic preamps, too! Rode VideoMic Pro+ is popular, but its self-noise (14 dBA) can be noticeable in quiet nature scenes. Something to research!
Rode VideoMicro is surprisingly good for the price. Save the rest for better glass, trust me!
Before jumping on Rode, consider Deity. Market research shows they're aggressively targeting Rode's market share with comparable performance at slightly lower price points. Over the years, I've seen Deity's value proposition steadily improve. Worth comparing specs sheet to sheet; might save you ~$50 long-term.
Rode VideoMic Pro+. Secure mounting is key; dropping your 90D is a costly safety hazard.
Skip the mic, honestly. I had issues. For $300, DIY sound dampening in your car gets you cleaner audio *in camera* than a Rode mic tacked on.
Heads up: Rode mics are popular, but I'd suggest testing one first. I bought a VideoMic Pro in 2019; plastic mount cracked after 2 years. Check build quality carefully!