Boom mics are great for shooting interviews on the go, but they typically have to be held by a dedicated sound person who stands beside the videographer. The MicroBOOM pole is different in that it mounts right to the camera, allowing just one person to do everything.
Designed for use with smartphone rigs, camcorders, DSLRs, ENG (electronic news gathering) cameras, cine cameras or pretty much anything else that shoots video, the MicroBOOM is made by Chicago-based manufacturer Zacuto. Some of the company's other products have included a gunstock-style DSLR brace, a stand-alone LCD screen for DSLRs, and a pro-level viewfinder for smartphones.
The MicroBOOM is basically a telescoping carbon fiber pole with an internally routed audio cable running in one end and out the other. It can be extended from 14 to 35 inches (356 to 889 mm) and set at whatever angle works best.
The whole thing is claimed to tip the scales at just 6 oz (170 g), not counting the user-supplied microphone. Any make or model of the latter should work, as long as it has a 3.5-mm connector and weighs no more than 60 g (2 oz) – ideally, the mic should tip the scales at around 40 g (1.4 oz).
It should be noted that the MicroBOOM is quick-release-mounted to the camera via a user-supplied NATO-type rail. If your camera isn't NATO-compatible, Zacuto will supply a coldshoe-to-NATO adapter.
The MicroBOOM is now available for preorder via the Zacuto website, priced at US$125 until Feb. 14th – after that, the price will increase to $165. You can see it in use, in the video below.
Source: Zacuto