Sennheiser
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
EDITOR’S CHOICE
A Sound Choice With their easy-to-use design belying professional quality, Sennheiser XS Lav mics have been rightly rewarded in this year’s Photography News Awards
IF YOU’RE LOOKING to get into filmmaking, shooting video has plenty of similarities with stills – composition, exposure and focus are central to both. However, recording great audio is a more alien concept to even the most seasoned of image makers. There’s simply no real equivalent in photography, and yet sound is a massive part of documentary or dramatic storytelling.
That’s why, as well as good audio technique, you need the right sound equipment. Video can be shot on stills lenses, but sound recording means investing in microphones and other gear that wouldn’t have been necessary before. Step forward audio specialist Sennheiser, and the company’s XS Lav mics, available in a neat range of affordable kits. Built on decades of precision engineering, delivering pro-quality results, XS Lav Mobile mics just picked up the coveted Editor’s Choice award in the best video accessory category of this year’s Photography News Awards. Here’s why. First, starting at only £43, it makes a big difference for very little outlay. Lav mics – lapel, tie or clip mics, if you prefer – are attached close to the speaker’s mouth, so speech is recorded clearly while background noise is reduced. Compare it to the built-in mics on a camera and you will certainly hear the difference. The basic XS Lav Mobile kit connects to your camera, phone or
MIC UP You don’t want to spoil great visual content with muffled, indistinct sound. Sennheiser XS Lav mics are great value, delivering audio with crisp clarity – well worth the investment
“Sennheiser XS Lavmicswork brilliantly and offer great value. The fact they’re available invarious kitsmeans it’s easier for aspiring videographers to
vlogging or interviewing. The clamp can swivel from landscape to portrait format, and the tripod’s ball head may be locked with the push of a button to ensure perfect framing. As for the tabletop legs, it’s possible to stand the camera up for a static view, or close the legs and use them as a grip in order to record handheld. Whichever combination you choose, you’ll be set up for pro-quality audio in an instant.
an audio recorder via a 3.5mm plug – but if you have a device with a USB-C port, there’s a separate kit for that. What’s more, it needs no power of its own, so it’s a case of plug in and play. The cable is 2m long, so that you can hide it away from view (ie under the clothing). The XS Lav USB-C also comes in a Mobile Kit, with smartphone clamp and Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod – the perfect combo for
SPECS › Prices XS Lav Mobile, £43. Also available: XS Lav USB-C, £52; and XS Lav USB-C Mobile Kit, £99 › Connector 3.5mm TRRS gold- plated plug or USB-C connector › Frequency response 50-18,000Hz › Polar pattern Omnidirectional
pick the right one for them”
› Cable length 2m › Diameter 10.5mm › Weight 19g
sennheiser.com
Will Cheung, editor, Photography News
34 Photography News | Issue 96
photographynews.co.uk
Powered by FlippingBook