Re: Budget Shotguns for Nature Recording

["Walter Knapp" waltknapp]

Posted by: "Julian Baldwin"

> If you are looking for something in the budget price range why not keep a=
n
> eye open for a Sennheiser MKH 816 or the earlier 815?

I have a pair of the MKH-816, in the phantom power version. They are
somewhat better than the MKH-416, but both are older MKH technology and
are not as good as the MKH-60 & 70. Sensitivity is not near as high,
self noise is higher (but still good).  They still probably beat most
shotguns out there. The MKH-816 is much longer than the newer shotguns,
but no more directional than a 70. They are very nice mics.

The price of the MKH-816 on ebay is quite variable. Some go for new
price, occasional ones go very cheap, and every thing in between. There
are still occasional ones that are new old stock. It's preferable to
avoid the T powered ones in favor of the phantom power ones.

Walt