Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone
- Price: $199.95
- GBP 127.66
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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 119 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
95%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (105)
- Great sound quality (71)
- Easy to use (56)
- Simple use (51)
- Durable (46)
Cons
- Flimsy (9)
- Noisy (4)
Best Uses
- Professional (39)
- Productivity (27)
- Presentations (23)
- 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 (62), Gearhead (23), Technically challenged (8), Aspiring film maker (6), Film professional (6)
- Primary use:
- Business (58), Personal (38)
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 119 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
This mic is TINY!!! It is not even 1/4th the size of my RODE VideoMic.
Plus, not picking up a lot of wiggle noises from the shock mount means more RUN AND GUN filmmaking.
It runs on one tiny little AAA battery.
Love it!!!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Great Sound Quality
- Long Lasting
Cons
- Flimsy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Unless you are spending around $2000 dollars on a camcorder, you are likely to be getting a surface mounted camera mike that gets all sorts of extraneous noise that is not coming from your picture subject. if your camcorder has a stereo mini microphone jack, This microphone really changes the sound quality of your recording and is well worth the price
Pros: Small footprint compared to the Rode camera mikes; this is especially important if you are using wide-angle lenses or want to film without calling attention to yourself. Long battery life. Good sound. Functional shock absorber.
Cons: Hard to tell if it's on. Foam windscreen easily pulls off the conical shaped mike and is not easy to replace thru Sennheiser or anywhere else if lost. Umbillical cord is in the way on cameras with a small distance between the accessory shoe and the mike jack.
Overall this is a great purchase for b-roll cameras or home video cameras where the sound is awful using the built in mike.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Good and small MIC.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I've owned this mic about 2 years and put it atop my small Canon HV30 HD cam for use as a go-anywhere b-roll cam. It may seem expensive to newcomers for such a small mic, but the audio is very good and clean. I believe it is a good value. They've used these little mics on small cams for a few broadcast reality shows, according to a guy I know who works for an internet audio store. Audio from this mic is crisp and clean. The mic itself is well-built, not a flimsy piece of plastic. It picks up distant audio well enough and does a good job rejecting off-axis sounds. Not as good as a $500 12" shotgun, mind you, but perfectly acceptable for on-cam audio in tight situations and significantly better than any on-cam built-in mic.
Size and durability wise, the web images of this mic make it appear larger than it is. They should put a dollar bill next to it (it would be about 3/5ths of a dollar's length). I use a fury which does a good job cutting stong wind noise. From a durability standpoint, I've carried this thing in remote locations in China and other places, mic always stays on the cam. In and out of a backpack with other items. It's held up well. I think the shock mount is an intelligent compromize between isolating a cam's vibrations and motor noise while keeping the overall package compact. Based upon my experience, one would have to be abusive to rip the shock mount. That being said, it probably wouldn't take much abuse if one was inclined to do so, it's not built to pick your cam up with, or twist around. But the same could be said for my larger Sony's on-cam mic holder too. The battery seems to last forever.
Overall, if you want to improve your on-cam audio this is a quality little mic that produces audio far greater than it's tiny size would seem.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Nice compact size. Can be mounted on most cameras. Clear sound.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
This an very small and high quality mike built in Germany. Sound is good for on camera uses. Good for casual use but should not be used in pro applications. You will need a off camera shotgun microphone.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Great little mic for run and gun audio solutions, b roll footage, and solid reference audio for later sync with external audio from a zoom, etc. Get the optional dead cat windscreen and you won't regret!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I bought it for my Canon 5D MKII and used it for over 2 months. Day and night compared to the built in mic. All the camera noises from built in mic went away, sound quality is very good. My only reservation is the price. It might be too pricey for lower end cameras, but it is great for my 5D MKII. Will never record another video without it
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Big performance
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Small size
- Wind cut filter
Cons
- Shock mount seems flimsy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I used Sennheiser mics many years ago with great success, and I am very pleased with this current version of a top quality, short shotgun.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
- No power light
Best Uses
- DSLR Video
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
For good on-the-fly sound for your dslr, this is really the way to go. This helps get WAY better sound than just the built in microphone. Even when working with a complete crew, my sound mixers usually ask me to use this on-camera just in case.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I was surprised at how good this mic sounded. Purchased specifically for Canon 5d, I was expecting serviceable reference track audio. I was thrilled that the mic gives nice clean audio. It's by no means on par with a [$] shotgun mic but it gets the job done and has become my audio solution for smaller shoots.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Flimsy shockmount
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Im not going to sit here and write an entire review on this mic, theyre all over the net. Ill just hit on a few items that caught me off guard when we received our shipment of MKE400's. First we are using these mics in extreme conditions, hence the need for compact stereo mics. Anyways.... the overall size was a lot smaller than I imagined. Even after reading reviews, specs, and looking at a ton of photos... the mic still surprised me with its compact size. The second thing that I immediately noticed was the flimsy shockmount used to dampen sounds coming from the camera. With one day on my camera the mount was ripped and mic out of commission. Like I said though, we put these camera systems through the ringer on a daily basis.
Overall great compact mic with an amazing boost in audio quality over the internal mic. Great for crisp clear ambient sound and much nicer than having to run a designated audio recorder and mics.
Buy it.... you'll love it!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Flimsy
- Unreliable
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I bought this mic about a year ago and my first impression was that it was a great improvement from the internal mic on my 5D MKII. I use my 5D to mostly shoot weddings and what I can tell you is that this mic is not made for run and gun type of shoots. After using it on about 4 or 5 weddings a small piece of plastic broke off that helps keep the rubber shock absorbers in place, leaving the mic flopping about a little. I managed to order a new part from Sennheizer but since then I've had situations where I don't get any audio at all or intermitten audio with static. I'm not sure what's broken on it now but it's defintely not made to last.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I use this mic for when i film bands playing live shows. Its metal construction is nice to have because it gives me peace of mind when its getting thrown around. Overall this mic is outstanding for price and perfect for its uses. I have yet to find any Cons with this mic.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
- Smaller than expected
Best Uses
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Well Constructed, but smaller than expected.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Nice small compact size
Cons
- Needs subminiture adapter
Best Uses
- Camcorder on camera mic
- DSLR on camera mic
- Presentations
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
Good microphone. I especially like its small size to be used on DSLR cameras. The angled plug is appreciated, but I wish it came with an adapter to convert hte end into the tiny stereo plug used on cameras like the Panasonic GH2.
Its nice to have a high-pass (wind bass) roll-off filter built in and for those people familiar with Sennheiser mics will be comfortablew in the operation of this one. Things such as the battery check and the tonal frequency will remind you of the K-6 series. Price may seem a little high, but as always, you get what you pay for, and rest assured, you get very good Sennhsiser audio quality. Buy a Rycote fuzzy windshield for much better outside pewrformance.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
- Noisy
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
This was great for capturing audio right to my DSLR. If I could change anything about it would be a light to let me know it's on so I don't forget to turn it on or off.
- 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:
Perfect mic to add great sound to a DSLR ( in my case a Nikon D7000). I added the wind cover and XLR adapter so it would connect to the Beachtek DXA unit and it works great.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Great Sound Quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
I film outdoor hunts and I was wanting a shotugn mic for my secondary camera that I use for second angles and when traveling and such. This little baby will "talk the talk" for sure. Awesome mic and I love it. This mic completes my setup with my backup camera to go along with my big camera.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound Quality
- Lightweight
- Long Lasting
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Productivity
- Professional
Comments about Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone:
i carry my mke 400 everywhere, literally, from whale watching to glacier summit. use it mostly with canon 7D. works perfectly in quiet environments and very good in windy situations with MZW 400 attached.remember to turn it off and always bring extra AAA batteries.ambient sound recorded with mke 400: [...]
- Primary use:
- Business
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Batteries & Power
Required item:
- Price: $2.49
- GBP 1.59
-
- Original: $13.99
- Save: $1.40
- Price: $12.59
- GBP 8.04
Wind Protection
- Price: $9.95
- GBP 6.35
Boompoles
- Price: $121.50
- GBP 77.57
Stands & Support
-
- Original: $34.95
- Save: $3.49
- Price: $31.46
- GBP 20.09
Mounting
-
- Original: $19.95
- Save: $1.99
- Price: $17.96
- GBP 11.47
What's in the Box
- MKE 400 with 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS Mini Cable and Shockmount
- AAA Alkaline Battery
- Windscreen
- 2 Year Warranty
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