Best Microphone for Sony a7iii: The Honest Picks 2021

Though video capturing is not the number one priority of photo cameras, many offer stellar performance in that department. Thanks to their excellent image sensors the video recordings have excellent quality but it is the audio that drags in down. It is especially true for Sony A7iii.

With the 24.2 Megapixel image sensor, this camera captures excellent frames. But the problem appears when it records audio. Audio quality is not nearly as good as the video. That’s why you should use a microphone if you can to capture videos with your Sony A7iii.

To ease your workload, I have made a shortlist of the best microphone for Sony a7iii. Proceeding forward we will take a deep look at what they offer and how they do it.

Why Do You Need A Microphone With Sony a7iii?

Sony a7iii came to the market in a complex situation. There is no question that it is tough to beat if we count the photo and video quality only. Well, we are not gonna discuss photo quality here. Where you will see lacking is the audio quality when you record video. There is a great chance you will be disappointed if you thought the audio caliber will be as good as the video and photo.

The first complaint many people made is that it has a bad preamp. The preamp is the ability of the microphone to pick up low noise. This means this camera does not excel at picking low noise. It is very bothering especially if you are going to use it for a professional line of work. This camera also struggles when recording the bass. You will need to tweak settings to suit the different environments. Which will get very tiresome very quickly.

So, what to do when the camera you spent thousands of dollars on does not offer the best audio quality? You get a microphone for sony a7riii to solve the problem. As these devices are only built to capture sound, they do it far better than the built-in microphones of the camera. If you want the best audio for your video, external microphones will be a great help in that regard.

Best Microphone For Sony A7iii: The Review

In terms of audio quality, nothing can beat these microphones I’ve reviewed below. Read thoroughly and buy your preferred one.

1. Rode VideoMic Pro On-Camera Shotgun Microphone – Offers The Best Overall Experience

Rode VideoMic Pro+ is a shotgun microphone with excellent sensitivity to sound. It is tough to rival the overall recording quality.

The best thing about this microphone is the two-stage High Pass Filter and High-Frequency Boost. The filter reduces the low noise of the wind, traffic, air conditions, etc. The Frequency Boost enhances frequency for better detail and clarity. When these two features work together that makes it the best microphone for Sony a7iii.

This microphone features 3 stage gain knobs. That means you can adjust the audio quality to match the real-world sound as you see fit. It also has safety channels to tackle when an unexpected spike occurs.

It has a Rycote Lyre suspension system onboard. So, even the heavy shakes won’t be bothering you. The optimized windshield shape blocks out the extra noise wind bring in. The frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz records every bit of sound that humans can hear.

As it is powered by a battery, it won’t be draining power from your camera. This means you keep recording as long as the camera battery does not die out.

2. Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone – Compact Design

This Rode microphone has a very compact design and very lightweight. That is why you can take it with you no matter where you travel.

The body of this microphone is made of aluminum. It not only grants the mic extra toughness but also blocks out a lot of Radio Frequency. The camera mount features a suspension structure made with the thermoplastic. So, the mounting system is very effective at handling unwanted vibration and cable born noise.

The cardioid polar pattern works excellently when coupled with the windshield. The shield blocks out the wind rumbling noise and the polar pattern picks up sound right from the source. It is also very good at avoiding capturing noise from both sides.

The microphones utilize a 3.5mm audio jack. It gives you easy access to all other devices alongside your camera. You will need to get optional cables if you want to use them with a smartphone. The -33dB sensitivity helps it to capture sound to its finest details.

Although it draws a minimal amount of power from the connected device, I still think is a drawback you will have to deal with.

3. ECM-B1M Digital Shotgun Microphone – Popular choice among professionals

Sony ECM-B1M microphone made its place on the list with its robust build and advanced feature like a multi-interface shoe. It also offers a lot of choices to record just the way you want it.

The switchable polar pattern has made it the favorite for professionals. You can switch between super directional, unidirectional, and omnidirectional settings. This feature grants you excellent flexibility no matter what you want to cover.

An interesting feature is that this microphone does not utilize any cable or wireless connection. The base, when connected to the camera does all the work. That means you won’t have to worry about managing cables or wireless interference.

It has eight high-performance microphone units with an advanced algorithm that provides sharp directivity. As a result, this mic can reject all kinds of off-axis sound. Also, the build is quite compact given the advanced feature you will get.

Besides the cable-free connection, this shotgun camera uses mechanical noise suppression. As there are no wireless connections and cable involved there is very little chance of sound degradation. On top of that, you can control features like level control, analog output, and range on the go.

Also Read: My Recommended Top 7 Gimbal for Sony A7iii

4. Sony ECMW1M Wireless Microphone – Popular For Its Wireless Connectivity

This microphone frees you from the potential hassle of cable management. Not only that, it has an excellent range. For these reasons, I have decided to put it on my top list.

Sony ECM-W1M can pick up sound clearly and deliver them to more than three hundred feet away to the camera. And, this feature makes it the best wireless mic for sony a7iii. The credit goes to its crystal clear Bluetooth reception. So, you can easily capture sound from the distance.

It’s two-way communication works very well up to 90ft. This feature allows you to give direction to your subject while offered the choice to capture both voice or only the subject’s voice.

This mic has an option to listen to the live recorded audio. You can connect a headphone to it and check if the sound is at an optimum level. The active interface shoe connector makes sure the sound has minimum effects from the external factors.

Another cool feature is that this mic can record as the centerpiece on a 5.1ch sound system. And, you still have the option to switch to mono or single-mode. As its connection is established by the Bluetooth system, make sure there is minimal interference.

5. ANDYCINE AC-M1 Video Microphone – Very Reliable And Affordable Price

                                                                  

It is nearly unbeatable if reliability and affordability are taken into account. For an affordable price, it covers the basic features very well.

I’d say the aluminum-made body and plug & play design are the best two traits of this microphone. Considering the price, aluminum gives it extra strength to face all kinds of situations. The plug & play feature has improved its ease of use by a lot.

This mic very effectively handles unnecessary noises. Besides the windshield, the stand is designed to minimize vibration. Its furry windshield can tackle the excess noise of the wind, traffic very well.

The high-strength cardioid pointing picks up audio in excellent detail and clarity. Also, it keeps the background noise to a minimum. There is very little scope for complaining about sound quality considering the price point.

With the help of some optional cable if you want you can connect it to your smartphone, GoPro, or DSLR camera too. Its wide range of compatibility will save you some bucks.

Things to Remember When Using Sony A7iii For Capturing Video

Let’s take a look at a few important things to get the most out of your camera. Keep these in mind to have the best video setting for Sony a7iii.

Lens

When filming videos, framing is very important. Not the aspect ratio, but how you are capturing scenes. As lens heavily dictates how much light gets to the sensor, you must choose the right lens. You can capture simple videos with a 35mm or prime lens.

On the other hand, if you are going to film sporting events or wildlife 200mm lens would be the best choice. Once you choose the right lens, consider half of the work is done.

Color

You might notice excessive bleeding of yellow or green all over the frame as seen with most Sony cameras. There is no way to color correct it as it will change the whole frame. That is where the color settings come in.

If you spend a little time tweaking the settings, you will get a rich and vibrant color flavor. As going through so many options can be time-consuming you use a guide such as EOSHD Pro Color 3.0. It has detailed settings for any scenes you want to capture. You will need the settings once, and you will see a noticeable difference between before and after photos.

Accessories

You will also be dependent on the accessories to a great extent. Take every bit of help you can from the accessories like a Sony a7iii tripod, Sony a7iii  flash, microphone, and whatnot. There is also a lot of Sony a7iii accessories in the market. They will help you to focus on the video rather than spending time on placement and other stuff.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Does Sony a7 have a mic input?

Yes, it has a mic input.

Which lens is best for Sony a7iii?

That depends on what you want to capture. For regular use, 16-35mm is good enough.

Is the Sony a7iii a professional camera?

Yes, this camera is used by many professionals.

Is Sony a7iii good for wildlife?

When paired with a high-quality lens, it will produce exceptional results.

Is Sony a7iii good for beginners?

It is unlikely for a beginner to make the best use of all of its functionalities. It is for those beginners who are very serious about their craft.

Bottom Line

If you want the best quality audio when you shoot a video with Sony a7iii, an external microphone is the way to go. Rode VideoMic Pro or Sony ECM-B1M is the best microphone for Sony a7iii in my personal opinion. If you pick any other, I’m confident you will have a great time too