Extra mic for camcorder without mic jack?

Best MiniDV Camcorder with Mic Input Jack?

• I'm looking for a digital camcorder that has the following features: * mini-DV format * microphone input jack * video light * image stabilization * price in the $300-700 range It seems really hard to find something current that has a microphone input. We are using this for interviews, so the sound quality is important and having a mic input seems to be the best way to cover this base. Thanks for your thoughts and input.

• Answer:

  Any gain to the quality of the interview provided by the ext mic will be lost if you use an on-camera light and electronic IS. A light on the camera is bad for two reasons. first it will give the interviewee the "deer in the headlights" look, not very complimentary. Second it will draw so much power off the battery that it will limit your shooting time between battery charges to a few minutes. Get a plug in floor lamp from Wal-mart or a campers lantern if you are mobile. The way to stabilize the camera is with a tripod, then you can walk away from the camera and be able to hold that ext mic you feel is so important. Unless you are interviewing professional media types, they won't be comfortable holding a mic.