RodeVideoMic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mounting, Black

Great product! I have used this mic since spring/summer of 2010 and each time I wonder if it will handle a situation and it continues to amaze me. The Rode VideoMic was able to deliver and pickup the sounds of a Qui Gong Master performing an exercise/lesson/demo while outside and having me stand about 25-30ft away while clicking his fingers behind and on his head with crisp, distinctive sound when played back. I couldn't believe it captured the sound which now makes me wonder, what would the audio have been like using the DeadCat for the wind reduction. That is next on my wish list for sure.This little unit was also put through a test when video recording a friends wedding and the minister turned off the sound system on me and I was left to record only the sound that was being presented without a direct connect. That was in a balcony, around 100ft away. It did a fair job, well more than I could have asked for and I'm not sure another mic would have even performed that good. A simple run through SoundBooth after for cleanup and the audio would go from fair to very acceptable. An event to remember to say the least.The battery life lasts more than I could ask for. I used only "two" 9 volt batteries and changed one out after 115 hours because I didn't want to be caught needing to change them during an event even though the light turns yellow. I'm still on the second battery and after a minimum total between the two batteries of 230 hours of video/audio recording since I received my Rode Mic this really adds ease of mind during any event.Fit and finish are nice. I don't mind if things are made from plastic as long as the material is really sturdy. This unit is. I have it in my backpack all the time and aside from the action of travels, it gets removed from the mic bracket constantly without issue or seemingly any wear and tear. I will touch on this more below. I really like the fact that Rode gives you about 4-6 extra "bands" for the shock mount. My only slight issue is that the mic can bounce around somewhat easy because of the bands but it does take away any noise issue one would get without them so it's acceptable.Now a few findings...I know this will very by skill and what equipment is used by an individual(s) so a quick list of what this is used with. I'm using the Rode with a Canon HF-S21 and a "L" bracket attached to the bottom of the camera and mounted with a Manfrotto 701 video head and 055CXPRO3 tripod legs. Very good setup however I found out that any bump to the camera (of course) and the legs gets picked up by the mic as well. I mean as simple as my headphone wire hitting a tripod leg while panning (live and learn). I think I will also be adding some tripod leg wraps of foam to play it safe in the future but the tripod really isn't made directly for video. It's for a camera and I know that the legs for a video tripod are different but you do with what you have on hand and learn from that. If the mic had any faults, it is that it can pick everything up so keep that in mind.To get back to the above wear and tear, I question how well the cold shoe mount threads will hold up under a ton of tightening and loosening (and I don't mean over twisting/tightening them) but it also has a 10 year warranty so for now, I won't really loose sleep over it. Of wear and tear, an included soft or optional hard case would be something nice offered by Rode to keep the mic in great shape. Other than that I can only question one last thing and that is the on/off switch. While it is sturdy, will it triumph on the longevity? Only time will tell.I highly recommend this mic for video and even for a Pod/Video Cast if need be.

I purchased this item 2 months ago and it was labeled as "used" with box damage. For that they offered $40 off. However, when I received it, there was absolutely no damage to the box or the product inside. What a relief.I work in nightclubs and record events using a Nikon D5100 DLSR. We not only take pictures, but we also record HD footage of car shows, concerts, nightclubs and various events to showcase on our entertainment website. As you can imagine, it's always extremely noisy and crowded. Sometimes it's standing room only at these events. For some time, I've only taken pictures because I know I wouldn't be able to pick up any audio if someone wants to say something or give a shout-out. I've missed a lot of great opportunities to get shout outs from celebrities endorsing my company because I couldn't hear (record) what they were saying.I've been looking into boom mics and lapel options, cordless handhelds, etc. But those set ups require a staff, a mixing board to plug into, plus a recording device and additional power in most cases, whether you need a power outlet or have to carry around more batteries. It's just a lot to lug around in a nightclub or worse, outside. I needed something that was compact and easy to use, yet could deliver the sound quality I needed. Plus the audio is recorded along with the video, so no headache syncing the sound in post-production.This device operates on a 9V battery, which is the oddest part. I had to go BUY some 9V batteries, but as long as you have a spare available in your bag, you're good to go!I saw this device on another videographer's camera. He recorded me speaking (giving a shout out) at the event, but he didn't have to get very close to me. I had no idea if he was able to hear me or not. Obviously, I had no knowledge of directional mics or the Rode Videomic prior to. Once he published his video, and I saw how clearly he recorded my voice over all the noise around us and without having to put the mic to my face or my having to yell, I knew that I had to get one.So, as I said, I got a great price on this product and decided to try it out. Since I've been able to use it in the extremely noisy environments that I work in without having to have a staff following me, dragging cords, worrying about so much additional equipment, and it has made a huge difference in what I am able to do.. and offer to my clients.This product truly has helped take my business to another level without a huge investment.I couldn't be happier with this product, and would recommend it to anyone that needs a compact, space-saving solution that won't cost you a lot of money.