I'm wondering if there are other choices besides the
Rode Stereo Videomic.

It just has to have the essentially the same features
as the Rode SVM: stereo, hotshoe mount, minijack output.
The Rode SVM has a street price of about USD$245.
However, my budget permits me to spend up to $500,
so I was wondering if there's anything "better" than the SVM.

Thanks! :)

I'm wondering if there are other choices besides the
Rode Stereo Videomic.
Thanks! :)

If you're up for something a little bulkier than the Rode, I took the advice of folks on this foum and went for the Audio Technica AT822 (and 825) stereo x-y microphone. I can easily tell when I'm using that microphone as compared to the internal mic of the Sony VX2000 or Z1U. It has an "open" sound and a wide-area pickup.

You'll need to buy a separate shockmount.

I have to question why you'd want to put a stereo mic on a camera.
A mic on a camera is never going to be a good idea, a stereo one even less so. Most on camera mics are hypercardiods (not quite the same as shotguns, more shortguns) and normally only used for capturing dialogue in which case stereo isn't needed or desirable. Slight movement of the camera / subject will cause the stereo image to wander which will be rather disturbing for the listener.

While I agree with shifts in the stereo image, I've found that an on-board stereo mic (AT822 or AT825) suits my needs perfectly for indoor action sports, specifically martial arts fighting that moves around an area of 20'x20' or 20'x30'. The microphone *has* to be mounted on the camera as there is only one operator. I tried a wide-pattern mono microphone, but the stereo immersion is so much better. No one has complained about a shifting stereo image, which I think is less of an issue with that x-y stereo microphone due to its wide area pickup.

I wouldn't pick on stereo microphones more than mono mics when camera-mounted. It's just as easy for your signal to very with the position of a shotgun.