So far, and I am a long way from being an expert, I am happy with my sound choices.
Starting with the little Zoom H1n and Neewer and Boya mini shotgun mics, I found three, mighty for the money performers (the mistakenly purchased Rode Videomic micro helped bare this out, so I guess not all perfect choices).
I guess I could have stopped there with decent options for candid interviews and general shooting. Directionality is covered, as is wide area coverage and as these little dynamos have shown, they can within reason, get the job done.
The Zoom H5 lifted my interfacing options and added a bit of grunt, but as was, the H1n probably was enough.
The true strength of the H5 was opened with the purchase of the SSH-6 mid/side shotgun capsule, which, as long as you own an H5/6/8 is a great value, mid-pro shotgun with controllable left/right pickup.
So far each purchase, researched as they were, have been based only on reviews and heresay, but have been good choices and are relevant to my needs. A few top end sound techs recommend lower noise amps for genuine field recording (Zoom F6), but there are plenty of serious pros from many fields, who are more than happy with the H5 or similar, especially with the XY5 and SSH-6 capsules.
The next step, possibly one too far, but I am sure I will use them, are a pair of Lewitt 040 Match pencil condenser mics, which again, seem to be class leaders. Budget but well liked XLR cables have not let them down and the H5 offers good control for them from up to 20 metres away, so balance and relevance are well intact.
I have options, probably too many, but options.
Some repetition, but also depth, several problem solving paths and apart from XLR cables, it all fits in two small cases, brackets and all.
To fix possible issues I have not covered yet, I grabbed an excellent Boya LAV. These are good, cheap and reliable, but 20mtr cable connected. The H1n can be used as a separate recorder, making it effectively cordless.
So, what could be around the corner that may trip up a new recordist, especially when they are also trying to get the video side right?
Big choirs, bands, school concerts can hopefully all be handled by the H5 with SSH-6 and the condensers placed to suit. There is also the possibilty of interfacing with the schools sound gear. This is all a bit speculative, but I have no bar to reach, just turn up and don’t mess up. I am aiming to surprise, but should probably just be aiming to succeed, so having several otions and backups gives me confidence.
Group discussions, debates and team talks will be either handled by the H5 X/Y or the condensers used as left right side overheads/desk tops. I guess a pro outfit would run a mass of LAV’s, but that is above my pay grade and for my level of output, totally over the top (we have people).
Musical recitals, are surely the province of the condensers and SSH-6 or X/Y alone depending on instrument or ensemble. The Lewitts rate very highly for drum overhead and acoustic guitar mics, so why fight it.
Running around stuff will be either the H1n for area sound or as pre-amp for a mini shotgun. I have toyed with a better shotgun, but the SSH-6 is that unless size is an issue, then the minis are prefferred anyway. The reality is, distance to subject is the main quality consideration and plenty of good reviews have the little Neewer and the Boya/Movo neck and neck with many dearer mics if used well. It seems to be more of a matter of taste than of sheer quality.
The Boya and its dead kitten are great in the wind, the Neewer not as much, but the Neewer has argue-ably nicer, more open sound and better range for booming.
If I need better reach, I have options.