Sennheiser MKH-416
Sennheiser MKH-416 Short Shotgun Microphone
The Industry-Standard Shotgun – The most recognizable mic in film and television, used on productions worldwide for over 40 years
RF Condenser Design – Radio-frequency transducer principle makes it exceptionally resistant to humidity, fog, and damp locations
Supercardioid/Lobar Pattern – Tight, forgiving pickup with high consistency off-axis and a warm, present low-mid character
About the Sennheiser MKH-416:
Rent the Sennheiser MKH-416 in Los Angeles from F22 Studios. The MKH-416 is the short shotgun microphone that defined the sound of film and television dialog, designed for narrative production, documentary and ENG work, commercial voiceover, exterior boom work in unpredictable weather, and any production that wants the classic broadcast dialog sound straight out of the box.
What sets the MKH-416 apart is its RF (radio frequency) condenser design. Where conventional condenser capsules can fail or become noisy in high humidity, the MKH-416’s low-impedance RF transducer principle shrugs off moisture — fog, rain-adjacent exteriors, damp basements, and coastal shoots that would sideline other mics. That reliability, combined with rugged all-metal construction, is why the same MKH-416 bodies stay in rental inventories for decades.
Sonically, the MKH-416 delivers a supercardioid/lobar pickup pattern with excellent feedback rejection and a presence lift that helps dialog sit forward in a mix with minimal EQ. Frequency response spans 40 Hz to 20 kHz, and the mic handles high SPL without strain. Its forgiving off-axis behavior is a practical advantage for boom operators: small aiming errors don’t produce the harsh coloration that less refined shotguns exhibit, which matters on long dialog days and moving masters.
The MKH-416 measures roughly 10 inches long and weighs about 175 grams, so it balances well on any boom pole and rigs easily on camera. It runs on standard 48V phantom power from any mixer, recorder, or camera preamp.
Practical use cases include narrative dialog on a boom, run-and-gun documentary and news, interview work where the mic stays out of frame, voiceover and ADR, and exterior shooting in weather that rules out other condensers. Pairs naturally with our Zoom and Sound Devices recorders, any of our boom poles, and the Lectrosonics LR/LT wireless systems. Available now for rental at F22 Studios in Burbank, serving productions across greater Los Angeles.
INCLUDES
1 – Sennheiser MKH-416 Shotgun Microphone
1 – Shock Mount
1 – Foam Windscreen
1 – Mic Clip
1 – Storage Case