The Professional's Source
800.606.6969 / 212.444.6615
Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone
- Price: $199.95
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # SEMKE400
- Mfr# MKE400
Product Highlights
- Coiled 1/8" (3.5mm) Mini TRS Connector
- Integrated Shock Mount
- All Metal Construction
- Single AAA Battery Powered
Remember the Essentials
Batteries are required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase batteries for this item.
The Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Shotgun Microphone is a professional audio solution for handheld consumer video cameras and larger video cameras alike. The integrated shockmount conveniently mounts the MKE 400 onto any camera accessory shoe while effectively suppressing handling and vibration noise.
Switchable sensitivity aids in capturing long and short distances, resulting in pristine detailed audio and low noise. Additional features include all metal construction and up to 300 hours of operation on a single AAA alkaline battery. The MKE 400 offers a simple solution to achieving high quality audio and is well suited for consumer and professional video applications.
- Switchable Sensitivity
- The MKE 400 features switchable sensitivity for optimum results when capturing long and short distances.
- Integrated Shockmount
- Easily mounted onto any accessory shoe, the integrated shockmount effectively suppresses handling and vibration noise.
- Efficient Battery Operation
- The MKE 400 is powered up to 300 hours on a single AAA alkaline battery.
- Durable All Metal Construction
- The all metal construction provides a durable, rugged frame for rigorous professional and consumer operation.
| Transducer | Electret Condenser |
| Polar Pattern | Supercardioid / Lobar |
| Frequency Response |
40Hz to 20kHz
80Hz to 20kHz with windscreen |
| Dynamic Range (Typical) | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Maximum Input Sound Level |
126dB vol. in - position
118dB vol. in + position |
| Power Requirements | 1.5V AAA Battery (300 hours) |
| Output Impedance | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Output Connectors | 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS Mini Plug |
| Pad | None |
| Low Frequency Roll-Off | None |
| Dimensions | 5.12 x 0.82 x 2.44" (130 x 21 x 62mm) (LxDxH) |
| Weight | 2.1 oz (60 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 143 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
91%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (125)
- Great sound quality (81)
- Easy to use (77)
- Simple use (51)
- Durable (48)
Cons
- Noisy (13)
- Flimsy (10)
Best Uses
- Professional (43)
- Productivity (30)
- Presentations (24)
- Shooting indoors (19)
- Shooting outdoors (16)
- How long have you owned it:
A month or less
One-to-three months
60%
(3 reviews)
Three-to-six months
More than six months
- Reviewer Profile:
- Tech savvy (77), Gearhead (24), Technically challenged (9), Aspiring film maker (6), Film professional (6)
- Primary use:
- Business (70), Personal (47)
Most Liked Positive Review
a new standard for DV + documentary
the first thing you notice when you pull it out of the box (well packed, by the way) is the size. I thought, there's no way i'll get usable audio out of it...Read complete review
the first thing you notice when you pull it out of the box (well packed, by the way) is the size. I thought, there's no way i'll get usable audio out of it but i have several years of experience with the me66 and know sennheisers usually find a way. i contract locally and professionally, and because of my work i prefer pro quality even at family gatherings and miniDV documentary style shoots.
lets get to the + and -
+sound quality is great- rejects any camera noise that my other mics pic up, including the self mic
+so small...light but still sturdy. i tried the rode and nearly got carpal. now one of my arms is bigger than the other.
+made in EUROPE, german engineering
+cable is high quality, boot is secure
+warranty rocks
+the sound again, is so much better-- i really didn't think it would make that big of a difference until i finally upgraded away from the built in mic. the other brands were still an upgrade, but this was a true upgrade to quality and PROFESSIONAL results
- i would have liked a hardshell case
i would buy again if stolen and i don't do a shoot without it
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Maybe a better choice for the 5D Mark II
If you're thinking of getting this mic because you think it's better than the built in mic on the 5D Mark II, you might want to think again. It won't pick up focusing and ...Read complete review
If you're thinking of getting this mic because you think it's better than the built in mic on the 5D Mark II, you might want to think again. It won't pick up focusing and IS noises as much as the built in mic does, but the quality isn't as great as I'd hoped from the other comments. Here is a comparison of the built in mic, this Sennheiser, and the Rode stereo videomic[@]
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 143 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Backup Audio
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
shoot video in hdslr
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- Sound
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Sound quality could of been better.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
- DSLR
- Interview
- Long Range
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Used both on my Nikon D800 and MacBook Pro. On the D800 it helps eliminate the autofocus noise the internal mic picks up. With a mini-TRS extension and a tripod, you can attach this to your laptop and setup a quick interview or capture some superior nat sound for a production.
Doesn't come with any accessories. Should atleast come with the TRS to XLR adapter.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- Fragile
Best Uses
- Interviews
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I use this with my Canon 7D for sit-down interviews and the sound is great. the only drawback is that the mic plate etc. are all plastic and I am extremely careful with it as it seems sort of fragile in that way. Definitely buy a good case for this!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
First this mic is incredibly light and fits well on my Panasonic HC-X900M . The problem is that for this price, you expect an good upgrade from your on-board mic .. you just don't i made indoor and outdoor films of my family during the holidays and it's completly useless it adds a lot of noise in the recording .. What a waste . i returned this mic for a full refund i will need to look to have better sound.. not recommendedTested on my panasonic HC-X900M and a Canon 7D
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
A must have for audio on all dslrs. A great quality product.
- Primary use:
- Business
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I do documentary, so I set up my gear as mobile as possible, but also need great quality. This shotgun mic gives great audio result in a tiny package!
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- I Wish It Used Aa Battery
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I use it with my DSLR doing video for various projects mainly music documentaries. Really enjoy it.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I purchased this mic for use with a Canon 5D Mark II since the built-in mic is marginal, at best. Simple to use and produces great audio.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Mildly increased sound quality from an onboard microphone on a T3i. Wasn't too impressed by the "Shock mount" (two pieces of rubber) as they seemed like they could rip off if the mic where handled incorrectly. Overall Meh.
Pros
- Can purchase XLR adapter
- Easy To Use
- Has and - volume switch
- Has wind filter
- Lightweight
- Small--fits suitcase well
Cons
- Not a true XLR mic
- Sounds a little tinny
Best Uses
- General use for hobby
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I just compared it to the microphones on a point-and-shoot, the Nikon P7100. The camera's sound was pretty good and I expected my old MKE-400 would be a lot better. It sounded a little tinny, like someone talking on the telephone, compared to the camera's sound. I turned on the wind filter and the MKE sounded better, although a tiny bit muffled. It picked up lots of external noise, like the air conditioner duct behind and above it, so I put it on the "minus" volume and that seemed to help. It didn't matter if the camera's sound menu was set to Auto or High. It sounded the same both times. It is also not as good as the microphones on my Canon S100 that I would trust in any video recording session (I have Windcutter muffs stuck to those miss for about a 75% improvement). So, if you are dropping $, it should at least be better than the auto-gain mics on a point-and-shoot.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Kids' events
- Outside
- Personal
- Weddings
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
The sound is great and I love that there are two setttings. Another good feature that my old camera mic didn't have is that it uses AAA batteries which are so easy to come by. It's still suspectable to wind but it isn't too bad. I've used it outdoors and indoor events and sometimes it's been noisy and/or windy and it's still worked well. It's REALLY lightweight and attaches easily using the SSA-III AIS Shoe Adapter for Sony Camcorders by Pearstone. My camera is a Sony HDR-CX560V HD 64GB FLASH CAMCORDER. My only problem is that I forget to turn it off and wear down the battery or I forget to turn it on and when it's not on and plugged into the mic jack on the camera---no sound is recorded. However I think this is true with any of these external cameras. This camera is perfect if you want something small and shotgun. I've been using it for 6 months and no problems. I rarely have to change the battery if I remember to turn it off when I put it in the camera bag.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- Flimsy
Best Uses
- Den
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
This item is essential when recording video on HDSLR cameras. Perfect size and sound quality. It really needs the windmuff accessory.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
its small and lightweight. It's a a little noisy.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Productivity
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
We use this in our HS video production class - it works well for our uses around school. The shotgun options really help shooting in busy areas
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I recently purchased the Sennheiser Camera Shotgun Microphone for recording audios during our ghost hunting episode/documentaries, the audios are extremely clear which helps during editing in post-production. I will definitely be purchasing others for our other camcorders/cameras.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
- Short pickup range
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I tried this mic based on the reviews and the fact that I use Sennheiser's portable lave system and that works great.
Well, this mic is better than the built-in camera mic but that's about it. It doesn't pick up very well when the subject is across the room and the off-axis cancellation isn't that great.
It almost sounds like a cardioid instead of a shoutgun. Hopefully the RODE videomic pro will be better.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Interviews
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
very compact directional mic for mini RC plug-in. Great shotgun mic for use with compact camera when you need more directional sound. Use it if you are interviewing some one, use the built in mic if you want full room sound.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Bought this for use on my D5 MkII mostly to keep down the wind noise. Easy to use and change batteries. Small size looks good in scale with the camera but audio did not test so well. Several tests recording audio with camera and even with editing did not sound as good as the on-board mike. Will return this one. Probably is a better choice than this for a D5 Mk II mike.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
- Productivity
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I've only used this mic a few times. I love its small size and how easily it fits on my Canon XA-10 camera. The sound quality is overmodulated on the videos I've done so far but that might be operator error as I'm kind of new to the set-up. Overall, I would recommend it.
- Primary use:
- Business
Batteries & Power
Show more >Required item:
- Price: $1.49
- Price: $14.50
Wind Protection
Show more >
- Price: $9.95
Boompoles
Show more >
- Price: $121.50
Stands & Support
Show more >
- Price: $34.95
Mounting
Show more >
- Price: $24.90
WHY SHOP AT B&H
Make your online shopping trip personal with our online Live Chat representatives. You can easily reach an in-house expert while browsing our site for your shopping needs. We have the most highly-trained staff in the industry who are pros in their fields, and their professional expertise will help you get the most from your purchase.
Place your domestic order with us for shipment via any UPS, FedEx Economy, or FedEx Priority shipping methods by 4 PM ET Monday through Thursday or 11 AM ET Friday and your order will be shipped that day. Visit our Shipping Delivery Times page for further details. Delivery times are subject to payment verification.
We appreciate your purchase from us, and we understand that sometimes the products you buy don't turn out to be the right choice for you. We guarantee your peace of mind with our 30-day return policy. With no standard restocking fee and few restrictions, you'll enjoy a return process as easy as shopping with us. Please visit our Return Policy page for further details.
We've made iPhone and Android mobile apps available for your service and shopping convenience. Use filtered search to find and purchase almost any item we sell and ship worldwide. Download product manuals and guides for many popular items. See high-resolution product images in close-up detail. Manage wishlists and view order history. Visit our Mobile Apps page to download.
See sample Newsletter
Help
Company Information
B&H Resources
