After some initial research on the Apex 175 shotgun microphone I decided to purchase a unit to use with my JVC GY DV300 camcorder. I chose this mic over the Azden SGM 1X because it can be powered by phantom and it had comparable specs.
However, after some initial tests, the mic seems to generate alot of self noise especially in the super cardoid position. (It can be switched between cardoid and super cardoid).
I ran two sets of tests. One test right to tape and the other via 1394 directly into my computer. Both results were the same. Even with the volume gain control at 40%, the self noise is present and excessive in my opinion. I've used other shotgun's in the past and do not recall this amount of low level hiss.
Is this common with shotgun mics? Does anyone else have experience with this mic and hear the same problem? Should I consider the Azden instead?

Thanks.

From memory, I remember that the Apex is a little noise while in the super cardioid mode. I think it puts out a much hotter/higher signal in cardioid mode.

I think the AT835b is about the same ballpark in terms of self-noise. But my memory is fuzzy here... the AT835b may be better (it's probably better, because Apex is some cheap knock-off stuff).

2- Some specs aren't very useful. Manufacturers tend to fudge, and they don't always measure the important things like off-axis coloration, amount of rejection, and it doesn't tell you the tone of the microphone's sound.

3- The Azden isn't really that great of a mic? I remember hearing a clip of an Azden shotgun and it has significantly less detail than the Sennheiser ME66 (which probably isn't as good as the cheaper AT897). Less detail does kind of hide imperfections in the audio, which may kind of be desireable (like shooting SD instead of HD).