Sony ECM-G1 Review – Higher Quality Audio With Ease

Unboxing the Sony ECM-G1

While we would like to start the Sony ECM-G1 review with the unboxing, this unit came together with the Sony ZV-1 II as an accessory on its own, so no box, cable, or anything of that sort. What we can tell you however is what you’re expected to get upon purchase, which are:

• Documentations
• 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (for mic out)
• Carrying pouch
• Windscreen
• The Sony ECM-G1 shotgun microphone itself

Specifications

Form Factor	Camera-Mount
Intended Sound Sources	Vocals, Speech/Voice-Over
Sound Field	Mono
Element Type	1 x Electret Condenser 14.6mm capsule
Polar Pattern	Supercardioid
Pad	No
High-Pass Filter	No
Gain Adjustment	No
On-Board Controls	No
Connectivity	1x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Female (on Mic)
Power	Intelligent Hot Shoe (MI Shoe) / Plug-In Power
Color	Black
Mounting Thread Size	Included Mount Has No Threading
Dimensions	50.8 x 27.9 x 48.3 mm, 34g

Microphone Test

I wasn’t expecting much out of this shotgun microphone due to the fact that it looks so small and unassuming. Needless to say I was caught completely off guard by how well it sounded. It manages to capture my voice so much better compared to the Sony ZV-1 II’s built-in microphone, but it also managed to cut down on the room noise significantly. You get a richer vocal quality that you’d get from having a microphone being closer to the subject, but it’s actually a decent distance away.

It’s also worth pointing out that it cuts out audio on the sides pretty well as you can barely hear me compared to when I’m talking to the front. It does capture more from the rear, but I think this was done by design in case there ever was a need for the person behind the camera to chime in, especially for those vlog-style videos. It won’t be as clear compared to the front, but it’s pretty close and easy to deal with in post-production as you just need to make it a little louder if necessary.

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The Good

There are a number of good reasons to consider getting the Sony ECM-G1. For starters, it’s easy to use because it’s just plug-and-play. To be precise, you insert it into the Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe of a Sony camera and you’re good to go. It’s acting almost like a built-in microphone this way, just that you get much better audio, as seen in our microphone test section.

Furthermore, the nature of this microphone means that you have no wires to deal with, meaning less clutter to your overall setup. It’s literally connected to the camera via the MI Shoe, which also means that power is being supplied from the same interface, so you also don’t have to worry about battery life. For as long as your camera has power, you’re good to go.

The Sony ECM-G1 is also a very small shotgun microphone, barely taking up space on the top of your camera. This makes it easy to carry around, especially for run-and-gun setups. In fact, you could even afford to just leave it on the camera and never take it out unless you really want to maximize your camera’s battery life through any means necessary. For me, I’d rather enjoy the convenience.

Lastly, the Sony ECM-G1 comes in a complete package with everything that you need and more. You get all the necessary documentations, a 3.5mm cable, a windscreen, and the microphone itself. There’s even a neat little carrying pouch that comes with it, which is big enough to fit in the Sony ZV-1 II or a similar-sized camera with ease. You don’t have to worry about getting additional accessories with this.

The Bad

Of course, the Sony ECM-G1 does have its share of drawbacks. For starters, you don’t get any form of control for the microphone on its own. What you hear is what you get. If you really want to, then you’ll have to use the 3.5mm cable, but that means you won’t be able to enjoy a truly wireless experience. Unless you’re very picky about audio, it’s honestly fine for me as it sounds great by default, is clearly a big step up from the internal camera microphone, and it’s meant to be simple.

Lastly, the Sony ECM-G1 is not cheap. At the moment, Sony Malaysia is selling it for RM499, though this was slashed down from its original RM599 price. Personally, I feel like this microphone should cost no more than RM400, with RM300 to RM350 being an excellent deal, because one would have more options to consider at that price point. Sure, those other options may not be as convenient but it could give you more control or are better at specific situations. It boils down to your needs and budget at the end of the day.

Sony ECM-G1 Verdict

The Sony ECM-G1 is an excellent shotgun microphone given its compact form and simple nature. It’s a huge upgrade from internal camera microphones and it’s great for vlogging / run-and-gun style shoots. It’s definitely not meant for professional audio but it’s an ideal solution for beginners and creators who don’t want anything complicated. I’d personally wait for a discount or a bundle package deal for better value.

At the end of our Sony ECM-G1 review, I award this shotgun microphone with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Sony Malaysia for sending us this microphone for the purpose of this review.