Top recommended external microphones for Canon EOS 90D video setups?

Question

So Ive been shooting on my Canon 90D for about two years now mainly doing landscape stuff but I recently started taking on some interview gigs for a local non profit and man the audio is just killing me. I thought the internal mic would be okay for scratch but even my old Rode VideoMicro is picking up way too much hiss when I try to boost the levels in post. I know the 90D pre-amps arent exactly world class but I was hoping for a cleaner signal than this.

Im looking to drop maybe $250 or $300 max on a proper setup before a big shoot next month. Need something that can handle:

decent wind rejection because we're shooting near the coast

something that doesnt require me to crank the camera gain to 100

ideally battery powered so it doesnt drain the 90D battery as fast

I was looking at the VideoMic Pro+ or maybe something from Deity like the V-Mic D3 Pro since I heard it has better gain control on the actual mic. Does anyone here use a 90D for pro-ish video? What are you guys plugging into it to keep the noise floor low? I really dont want to have to lug around a separate Zoom recorder if I can help it just want to keep the rig light and simple...

Eleanor · Accepted Answer

I've been using the 90D for a while and honestly, the Rode VideoMic Pro+ Shotgun Microphone was the safest bet for me. It works well since the built-in preamp lets me keep camera gain very low.

Rode VideoMic Pro+ Shotgun Microphone: Extremely reliable, I'm happy with the auto-power feature.

Deity V-Mic D3 Pro Super-cardioid Mic: Great gain dial but the Rode feels more consistent... I'm satisfied with the Rode because it's predictable.

brooklynbornbred · Answer

Honestly I had a pretty rough time trying to get clean audio on my 90D too. I tried some of the big names and was pretty disappointed with how much hiss stayed in the background even with decent mics. I ended up returning a few things before landing on the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+400+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone. Its usually cheaper than the Pro+ and weirdly enough I found the build quality way better for windy coastal shoots. The technical side is what matters tho... you gotta use the +20dB gain switch on the mic itself. If you leave the camera gain anywhere near the middle its gonna sound like garbage. With the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+I+keep+my+90D+gain+s&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser I keep my 90D gain set to like 1 or 2 clicks from the absolute bottom and it sounds way cleaner than my old setup. TL;DR: Save some cash and get the <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= Sennheiser+MKE+400+Shotgun+Microphone&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=2222&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone instead of the more expensive stuff. Use the +20dB boost and keep the camera gain at zero to kill the hiss.

Aubrey Elizabeth West · Answer

Honestly, the pre-amp situation on the 90D is just miserable to deal with. I went through the exact same thing trying to shoot documentary-style stuff outdoors and its just exhausting. No matter how much you try to fix it in post, that underlying hiss from the cameras hardware just eats away at the clarity. It makes you feel like youre fighting the gear instead of actually filming... such a headache. Since you want to avoid an external recorder but need clean files, you might want to look at the Shure VP83F LensHopper Shotgun Microphone. Its battery-powered using AAs and has its own dedicated gain control on a little digital screen. The real pro tip here is that this specific model has a built-in microSD slot. Even though youre plugging it into the 90D, it records a high-quality backup file internally at the same time. This solves the 90D noise floor issue because if the camera audio still sounds like trash due to the cables or pre-amps, you just sync the mics internal recording in one click later. For your coastal shoots, definitely budget for the Shure A83-FUR Windjammer. The standard foam is okay for a light breeze, but ocean winds will clip your audio instantly without a proper furry cover. Keeping the camera gain at like 2 or 3 and letting the Shure do the heavy lifting is basically the only way to get usable results without carrying a separate bag of gear.