On-camera microphones will almost always pick up some noise-lower quality microphones will not only pick up the typical camera movement noises, but the camera operator's hand-movements or breathing patterns. And the sound quality of the setting itself may be muffled. If you want a top-notch video, you might want to consider dubbing it with audio effects-from simple voice-overs or music clips to special effects created on your computer. Likewise, you may want to output the audio sample to your computer to edit the quality of the sound or to add special effects.
Therefore, your digital audio input/output connections are an important feature on your camcorder. Most camcorders have 2 audio plugs, which allows you to have a microphone attached to the camera AND another one (preferably wireless) with you subject some distance away from the camcorder. This allows you to pick up what's happening in the immediate area yet still hear your subject's voice at a good distance away. For even better sound quality, you might consider a model that has 4 audio jacks-allowing for audio coverage at several spots in the area all at once.
