What's the right shotgun mic for You? Sennheiser MKH 416 VS Rode NTG8

This is my brief review of the Sennheiser MKH416 VS Rode NTG8. Both are fantastic shotgun / riffle mics. Rode is a tad more flat in my experience and requires some EQ tuning (for my voice anyway) where the MKH416 is just perfect without any manipulations. I must admit any time I try to improve things and then listen back side by side I still prefer the raw sound that comes from it.

Where the Rode NTG8 shines is the pickup pattern at close distances - it's supper narrow. Also the mic comes with 10 year warranty. In my experience Rode are amazing at their warranty fulfilment (and it is also attached to the mic so you can buy a used one and still have the warranty with it). You can pick them up fairly inexpensive too.
I personally would not buy a used MKH416 though - the mics have been manufactured for so long - you might be picking up some ancient relic from the 80's with half degraded electrical components and god know how much abuse.

All in all I feel like I am repeating myself but that is the truth - both are just brilliant shotgun mics and if you can get hold of used NTG8 (they are quite rare mind) - you might be in for a bargain of the century 👌

#mkh416 #ntg8 #shotgunmic #sennheiser #rode #fieldrecordings #voiceover .

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Gear I use / recommend:

Cameras:
Panasonic S52x
Panasonic S5
Panasonic GH6
Sony a74
Sony a7s3
Blackmagic BMPCC6K
Blackmagic BMPCC4K


Lenses:

Spherical:
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Sigma 40mm f/1.4
Sigma 35mm f/1.4
Sigma 20mm f/1.4
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8
Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sport & Contemporary
Panasonic 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikon-17-55mm f/2.8
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Zeiss Jena Vintage Set
Laowa 100mm 2xMacro
Laowa 15mm f/4 Macro

Anamorphic:
Sirui Mars 24mm T2.9
Sirui Mars 35mm T2
Sirui Mars 50mm T2
Sirui Mars 75mm T2


Microphones:
Sennheiser MKH416
AudioTechnika BP4025
MicBooster Clippies
Rode NT1
Shure SM7B


Field Recorders:
Zoom F3
Zoom F6
Zoom H1n


Headphones / Speakers for Mastering:
Beyerdynamic Dt990Pro
Beyerdynamic Dt770Pro
Personus Eris E5
Adam Audio A7X


Studio Lights:
Amaran 60X
Amaran 100X Bi-Color COB LED
Various Rechargeable LED Video Pocket Lights


Workstations / Laptops:
Mac Mini M2
MacBook Pro M2Pro
MacBook Air M2


Photo / Video Editing Monitor:
BenQ PD2700U


Recommended Accessories:
PolarPro VND Peter McKinnon
Promise filter
National Geographic Carbon Fibre Tripod
Innorel RT90C Carbon Fibre Tripod
Innorel N52 Ball Head
Manfrotto 504X Fluid Head
DF DIGITALFOTO Micolive Blimp with Dead Cat
Anker Battery Bank
Scarlet 212 2i2
Elgato HDMI to USB Dongle
Calibrite ColorChecker
Mogami Cables
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