More Bunker, a few other birds, a video and a Mic Question..

[coastalconn]

My morning started a lot like yesterday morning. This Osprey came cruising over a house and directly over me. Finally caught an Osprey dropping his bunker being chased by a gull. Caught the thief (although not a great image) . As the sun was getting low I headed to the marshes and saw a few Great Blue Heron for the first time in many months.. I decided to try video, so I headed to my favorite nest.. The wind noise is horrible as I was using the on camera mic. Does anyone know of an inexpensive DSLR mic and a way to get rid of the wind sound? Comments welcome..

1
Fill Thy Frame with Osprey 2 by krisinct- Thanks for 2! Million + views!, on Flickr

2
Osprey Dropping Bunker 7/22 by krisinct- Thanks for 2! Million + views!, on Flickr

3
Thief! Seagull with bunker stolen from Osprey by krisinct- Thanks for 2! Million + views!, on Flickr

4
Great Blue Heron in flight 7/22 by krisinct- Thanks for 2! Million + views!, on Flickr

5 Common Tern I think..
Tern in Flight 7/22 by krisinct- Thanks for 2! Million + views!, on Flickr

6 The Video..

 

[runnah]

Need a windscreen. There are the foam ones that are good for light wind and the ones that look like dead cars that can handle stronger wind.

Ride makes great dslr shotgun mics. Princely but good quality. You are going to want something with directional capabilities if your intent is to capture bird noises.

 

[runnah]

I use this one
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744768-REG/Rode_VIDEOMIC_PRO_VideoMic_Pro_Compact_Shotgun.html

 

[coastalconn]

I use this one
Rode VideoMic Pro Compact Shotgun Microphone VIDEOMIC PRO B&H

Yikes! Sticker shock... I know ye get what ye pays for, lol.. I probably won't use it very often. I saw some wind things on ebay that looked like a combo of a dead cat and a feather duster... I figured I need something that was unidirectional.. I don't think I need super hi-fi for Osprey chirps, lol...

 

[runnah]

Yikes! Sticker shock... I know ye get what ye pays for, lol.. I probably won't use it very often. I saw some wind things on ebay that looked like a combo of a dead cat and a feather duster... I figured I need something that was unidirectional.. I don't think I need super hi-fi for Osprey chirps, lol...

How about this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/984901-REG/polsen_scl_1075_cam_mnt_condensor_shotgun.html

And windscreen: check the sizes
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ica_AT8134_Shotgun_Microphone_Windscreen.html

Or dead rabbit/kitten
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...at_go_artificial_fur_windshield_videomic.html

 

[coastalconn]

Or dead rabbit/kitten
Rode DeadCat GO Artificial Fur Wind Shield DEADCAT GO B&H Photo

OMG they actually call it deadcat! That's just not right.. George might think it is dinner and pounce on it, lol!

 

[matthewo]

Last two have some magical light there. Very nice Shots

I started a video setup but rarely use it. I was waiting to get a manfrotto hd504 fluid head and 535 cf sticks, but its a lot of money.

I think the biggest help is the swivi viewfinder loupe to aid with focusing. I have a follow focus I rigged to work with my big lens but rarely use it. Here is a photo of the little setup



This brings me into your mic question. Parabolic dish and $500+ shotgun mics are what the hardcore nature videographers are going to use. It's asking too much of any shotgun mic by itself. even expensive super sensitive to capture much at a distance unless it relatively loud. Mostly wildlife videographers just use music and no audio cause its really hard to get good quality audio.

The other big issue is the terrible preamps on dslr cameras. In my setup I'm using a vidpro $100 cheap shotgun phantom power xlr mic kit. But I am using an irig pre. It is actually a cheap $30 i-device preamp that gives similar phantom power and similar results to $300+ huge beach audio and juicedlink preamps, in a simple cheap and small package.

The rode mics are decent and actually very good on video cameras cause they have decent preamps but the hiss and noise will kill you directly plugging it into a dslr without an external recorder or pre amp, not to mention you will be jacking up the signal to get your far away sounds and rasing the noise floor. That's where the cleaner high voltage pre amp helps.

 

[BillM]

I'd vote for the feather duster Kris, a dead cat on your camera would just be weird. You probably get enough strange looks with the fish suit on anyways LOL


But love shot #2, almost looks like he's trying to catch a flying fish !!!