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Hi, I'm looking for a shotgun mic for film dialogue recording. I have my eyes on Audio Technica AT897 and Rode NTG-2, because of the price, and because they're battery powered. What do you think, which one is the best, or you know any other at that price that is better?
Thanks!

Hi, these reviews might help.

http://www.pana3ccduser.com/article.php?filename=Review-of-the-Audio-Technica-AT897-Short-Shotgun-M

http://www.pana3ccduser.com/article.php?filename=Review-of-the-R%C3%98DE-NTG-2-Short-Shotgun-Microphone

While I have never tried the AT897, I use the NTG-2 quite a bit for many of the recordings I've posted here. If you search for "ntg-2" you will find quite a few.
I will add that when I did purchase the NTG-2 I compared it to some AT mic (I don't remember which) and I liked the sound more. It could have been that I was in Australia (where Rode is made) at the time that affected my judgement. I am just a hobbyist so feel free to laugh at my bad choices.

Since I intend to use the mic with a boom, and not mounted on a camera, maybe a longer mic is a better option, because of its more effective off-axis sounds rejection, don't you agree? I'm thinking about an AT8035...

I recently recorded for 2 short films using a Beyerdynamic MCE 84. It works on both phantom power and single 1.5V AA battery (though I only used phantom). It's not a shotgun, but a cardioid mic. Especially since you use it on a boom, you might want that, know the framing and keep the mic just outside it. Most I've ever done for film was recorded this way. It's not always very easy to keep the source on-mic when you operate the boom, with a shotgun you'll probably have to be more accurate. For very wide shots the shotgun has more use, imo.

THE shotgun mic for many in the broadcast industry remains the Sennheiser MKH 416. It is the sole survivor of the older MKH 4xx series for a reason. I swear by an MKH 60 for sensitivity and low self noise reasons. I also have a Rode NTG-2 which compared to the MKH 60 is an excellent mike but the MKH is much more detailed and sharp. Supporters of the 416 will retort that this is exactly why they don't like the "newer" MKH 60 and will qoute it as "cold". Well...

Rode have the NTG 3 out now which has exactly the same specs as the MKH 416.

--Peter

pcaeldries
THE shotgun mic for many in the broadcast industry remains the Sennheiser MKH 416. It is the sole survivor of the older MKH 4xx series for a reason. I swear by an MKH 60 for sensitivity and low self noise reasons. I also have a Rode NTG-2 which compared to the MKH 60 is an excellent mike but the MKH is much more detailed and sharp. Supporters of the 416 will retort that this is exactly why they don't like the "newer" MKH 60 and will qoute it as "cold". Well...

Rode have the NTG 3 out now which has exactly the same specs as the MKH 416.

--Peter

+1 to his one. i am a 416 fan myself.

The MKH 416 must be a great mic, but unfortunately I can't afford it... I have $300 to spend on the mic...

pcaeldries

Rode have the NTG 3 out now which has exactly the same specs as the MKH 416.

--Peter

I didn't know this NTG3 existed, but it looks terrific judging from the specs. A really good quiet shotgun mic at less than 1000, great! Not that I'm unhappy about Sennheiser, but ... go, Rode, go!

D