Shure VP83F Camera-Mount Mic/Recorder

The VP83F LensHopper pairs a camera-mount condenser shotgun microphone with an integrated flash recorder, so a DSLR or HD camcorder shoot can also capture a clean, isolated backup track. The supercardioid/lobar capsule stays tightly focused on the subject and rejects off-axis noise, and its output can feed the camera while the built-in recorder logs 24-bit/48 kHz WAV audio straight to a microSD card, free of the camera's preamp limits.

A backlit LCD, five-position joystick, and one-button recording put level and transport control right on the mic, with 60 dB of gain adjustment in single-dB steps and a 3.5 mm headphone output for monitoring on set. The Rycote Lyre shock mount isolates the capsule from handling noise, the all-metal body takes field abuse, and a detachable coiled cable with a gold-plated 3.5 mm connector links it to the camera. It runs up to 10 hours on two AA batteries.