These days I use an Avantone CK-40 stereo condenser with a Marantz PMD-661, recording in mid-side, and dematrixing in post production. Reasonably portable when both are mounted on a mounting bar of my design, on a lightweight tripod.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the recorder with me on the 4th, so I took pics and a few movie shots with my Canon SLR instead. Would’ve been great to record some double-system video, for a change.
Used to have a slew of AKG mics (CK460s, CK414s, and a CK426 stereo) with PCM recorder and later, DATs. All back in the day when I was doing a lot of concert recording and a little broadcasting.
I have a couple of Oktava 319’s that I modified that sound pretty good. One of the reasons I got the Zoom was because I could plug them directly into the back and do four track recordings. But I’ve found that it is just so convenient to take the Zoom anywhere to get just about anything that it’s all I take.
I did have fun once recording my daughter at a coffee shop. I have a Panasonic Lumix GF1 4/3 still camera that also does great 780P video but lousy sound. So I recorded the sound with the Zoom and video with the GF1 and then used Adobe Elements to synch them up. It’s a piece of cake since they are both digital and once you get it right, it is right for the entire length of the video.
I was shocked how easy it was. You literally slide the audio with the mouse until it looks right. I used a transient in the recording that was easy to see and hear.
It’s a lot of fun doing it but for me my end result has very little practical use. It’s just fun.