ATR 55(25) Versus AT897
 

I'm buying some video equipment for making a few short films, maybe my first feature, who knows...
I want to know if there's a real big difference between ATR55 and AT897 (that worth the 250US$ on the 897) and which is best, using a zoom H4 external recorder, using a beachtek adapter for my hdv camera or using what? I'm on somewhat small budget, so, my whole cash for sound is something like 600US$.

Thank you very much, Luiz Murillo

I think you'll be much happier with the AT897. Pickup pattern, color, noise . . it's an all-around better mic.

I know, it's sort of obvious that the AT897 costs 200 bucks more, because it's better, but in a scale from 0 to 100, where's ATR55 and where's AT897?
Does anybody know anything about Rode Videomic(the one with the shockmount) seems a bargain, but it's all about quality, right?

I have an ATR55, I just replaced it with a bigger better mic...I've got audio sample on my website, if you're considering the more expensive mic as an option, get it! The ATR55 does a great job if you have absolutely no possibilities of RF interference. The sound reproduction is really quite good for a $50 mic. As soon as you add an electronic device running off of wall power, your post time goes up exponentially scrubbing audio.

Spend the money on the microphone, save it elsewhere.

Again, it's a tough question, as so much about mic selection is subjective. For the sake of conversation, I'd put 0 as a Radio Shack cardioid mic, and 100 as a Schoeps CMC641 (which seems to be Hollywood standard at the moment). The ATR55 I'd put at 20, and the AT897 at, say, 40.

I don't mean to sound disparaging . . I own two AT897s. Compared to more expensive mics, they're unsatisfying, but for the price, they're very good. They'll give you a much better SNR than the R55s. Also, I've found that some people really like their bassy sound . . makes them feel like it's been sort of mastered already!