ECM-B1M

I have purchased Rode and Deity shotgun mics before (as well as countless lav mics and a few wireless kits) - this is the nicest microphone I have purchased to date. The elimination of the 3.5MM wire is very helpful when you have the pop-out screen go to the same side as the mic input. Another (uncelebrated) feature is the control panel on the back - saving you from having to do anything in the menu section (the audio controls are generally buried 10-13 screens into Sony's old menu structure). My videos sound great, this thing is very easy to use. I hear that due to the chip shortage, sony is pausing production on this mic, which is a shame. I hope they bring it back or release a better version. I will agree with many other reviewers - it is expensive. You can probably get an equal quality rode mic for cheaper, but you don't get the hot shoe wireless connection and I really like that. You also don't get the controls that save you from going into the menu... that might be my favorite aspect of this thing. It also has a noise cancel feature and it does work. It cut out heating system noises and even my dog stomping around upstairs (which other mics did pick up).

Quite pleased with the results out of the box. The ECM-B1M couldn't be simpler to use. Just stick it on the A7R4, select digital, your coverage area and sensitivity depending on distance. No batteries to fail, cables to lose or camera settings to fiddle with -- the camera automatically senses the microphone on A7R4. Voice audio is Job One for shotgun mikes and at 8-10 feet with 0 db setting, the voices were sparkling clear with solid db levels. Compared with my Rode VideoMic Pro, the Sony is far more convenient on the A7R4, more compact and much sturdier, performs analog to digital conversion within the mic, and sounds better to my ears out of the box. I have not tried the Sony dead cat, which is included along with a carrying case that holds only the microphone. The ECM-B1M is pricey, but really convenient for on-camera audio.

The strongest point about this microphone is the strong noise cancellation algorithm. If you want usable audio in sometimes-noisy environments and don't have the time/desire to post-process, this will do it. That said, I wish this had a bi-directional mode. A stereo/mono switch in the omni-directional mode would be nice too (would want both; mono omni-directional is surprising useful in the middle of a group). 24-bit would be nice too. I would push people towards the Deity D4 Duo for an on-camera microphone if they are editing their videos and can take the few minutes to sort through two audio tracks. It's cheaper with "good enough" audio quality, and the bi-directional mode is very useful for vlogging or other unpredictable/improv situations. Some other reviews have complained about handling noise in the shock mount; my unit has none. It's possible this is a QC thing and that you would be able to return/exchange your way to a good unit. Note that given the price (above all other on-camera microphones), this also competes against Sony's own XLR-K3M, which is a little more bulky and expensive but has 24-bit recording and can be used with other XLR microphones.

I'm a freelance videographer and mostly do weddings and small bussines promos. I use Sony a7iii and imagine this, my mic jack died on me. Manufacturer warranty expired. The only option was to send it to California (I live in Illinois) to get it fixed for about $300-400 and 2 weeks time frame. Then I found THIS! Hot shoe connection and no cables, genius! Used it ever since. Sound quality is great. The only issue is when you record while moving around you will get a clicking noise because of the mount. Otherwise love the product

Still exploring these, but so far they function as advertised, sound quality is good. All the controls work as advertised.

No complaints. Easy to use once you learn the controls on the device which are convenient for on the go changes. I used it out in the field while filming shore birds and I swear the quality coming through the mic was better than my own ears lol. It does a great job of minimizing other sounds besides your target.

Use for blogging and events , Took a little bit of time to learn how to use. Very easy! Sounds good for the cost.

PROS: The ECM-B1M is an excellent sounding microphone that checks almost every box for a quality shotgun microphone. The super directional mode works very well at blocking out excess and ambient noise around the talent and being able to switch into omni directional is great when turning the camera around for vlogging or showcasing products. Also the fact that this microphone can just connect via hot shoe makes it all the better. I did a comparison between the audio quality of this microphone vs Rode VideoMic NTG vs Deity Duo... and I found the Sony to be the best all around in the super directional mode. CONS: The built-in shock mount allows the microphone to move around a bit to absorb shock when vlogging or moving during video capture. While excellent in appearance, there is a major defect in this design that transfers noise directly into the microphone with casual use. Contrary to what some suspect, this doesn't just happen when the camera shakes excessively to make the edges of the shock mount hit the mic. This happened in all of my tests with just minimal shaking and movement due to something internal that transfers low bumping noises. Unfortunately this CON is enough to give me constant anxiety when moving around with this mic because I feel like I have to baby my camera all the more to prevent any vibration or movement. To me, this completely defeats the purpose of such an otherwise amazing shotgun microphone. I ended up returning this unit despite how much I loved the convenience and sound quality.

Buttons on the back are too sensitive you might mess up your settings after placing in the bag

You have to use low cut filter to avoid handling noise. Without filter you can’t touch the camera. Tiny movement gets into the audio. Sound quality is really good but you have to use filter or don’t touch the camera. Also the price is too high for what it is ! Still keeping it though