Audio Issues and Boom Mics

Searching for a professional-sounding boom mic at a price that doesn't make my husband's left eye twitch was a bit of a chore. I bought an Audio Technica ATR-55 for 100 bucks, which took 3 and a half months to arrive and was replaced by a ATR-6550 model (which always seems to be on sale for 60 bucks) I've since learned that it is best to do online ordering from B and H Photo...they saved my bacon by delivering within 4 days.

ATR-6550
The hyper-cardioid setting (for distance) makes recording sound like it's going on in a bathroom. The regular cardioid pick-up pattern also has a slight mechanical sound (even when pulled far away from the camera mechanism...I was 4 feet away and still heard noise). The connector is mini which plugged right into the camera without a problem but the coiled cord was kind of strange and I made me keep wondering if the connection would stay-put. It was still better than using the camera's built-in mic which always picks up camera and shuffle noise and I would recommend it to secondary schools introducing students to the world of live shooting and recording. It is powered as is usual with boom mics, by a double A battery.

AT-897
Because the company I bought the ATR-6550 from was so late in delivering, I decided to buy an Audio Technica AT-897. It performed much better and cost about 250 bucks. There is no mechanical noise when held on a boom and it has a nice warm and clear sound in the regular pick-up pattern. The hyper-cardioid pattern does introduce more room noise and sounds a bit hollow. The connector is XLR. It is powered as is usual with boom mics, by a double A battery. On the standard pick-up pattern setting, this mic sounds professional and is at the right price.