Reddit mentions of Neewer 14.37 inch Photography Camera Camcorder Uni-Directional System Condenser Shotgun Interview MIC Microphone for Canon Nikon Sony Olympus Pentax Panasonic and Other HDSLRs DV Camcoders

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008CCQI72/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1397501620&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

As a zero-budget filmmaker, this is my favorite mic for the money. It's a good upgrader's mic, as it comes with support for both headphone style input (for DSLRs) and XLR input (for pro cams). The quality is awesome and low hiss. You can not beat it for the price.

Here's a video I made with the mic (forgive the lack of focus in the image.)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quf0LkrI8mY

Thanks! The mic is this one, and I actually found it in a thread on here not long ago. Someone recommended it as a surprising alternative to something a lot more expensive.

I picked up a Canon T3i about a month ago for $400, also after hearing suggestions on here, and I've slowly been accessorizing.

I never use autofocus with my video. I guess it does negate the AF-tracking, but I'm too picky in my shots I want complete control. I have a decent follow focus that I use which makes staying in focus really easy and silent. Or use one of the newer lenses with the silent wave motor. As for a shotgun mic, I use a lot of Neewer stuff whenever I don't want something really high end, but I know will work. So something like this mic would work well. I have a similar one.

http://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-Photography-Camcorder-Uni-Directional-Microphone/dp/B008CCQI72/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406119895&sr=8-2&keywords=shotgun+mic