This is a quick comparison of Sony's XLRK3M Adapter Kit with both the included ECMXM1 shotgun mic and a Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun mic, along with the compact cameramounted ECMB1M shotgun mic. Both take advantage of the A7R IV digital audio interface through the hot shoe.

For this comparison, both Sony units are set to digital, and the audio levels are set to auto. For offcamera testing, the Sony and Sennheiser shotguns are placed between 1 and 1.5 feet (0.3 and 0.5 meters) from me. For oncamera testing, distances include 6 feet (1.8 meters) and 3 feet (0.91 meters).

I didn't do any audio processing of any kind for this video apart from cloning single channel audio to both right and left channels. Otherwise, audio is straight out of the camera.

0:00 Intro
1:02 XLRK3M Adapter with Sony ECMXM1 Shotgun (Off Camera)
1:41 XLRK3M Adapter with Sony ECMXM1 Shotgun (On Camera)
2:03 ECMB1M Shotgun at 6 Feet (1.83 Meters) Away
2:41 ECMB1M Shotgun at 3 Feet (0.91 Meters) Away
3:14 ECMB1M Shotgun Hand Held
3:29 XLRK3M Adapter with Sennheiser MKH416 (Off Camera)