I noticed on the Sony websites that their Handycam microphones that you use on cameras withought mic sockets (HC3) are all listed as old products. I have also noticed that they have been listed as discontinued on several websites.

Does anyone know if Sony is going to release new versions of the mics or have they just screwed people over even more by not only providing no mic socket, but now getting rid of the sony-only mics!!!?????

Don't know anything about the Sony mics, but you can buy a tiny little adapter cube for just $20 that clips into the Sony hotshoe and has a stereo mic-in minisocket. It's called the VMCK100 and you can buy it at B&H Photo. Then you can use any microphone you want.

Do it now, as Sony has officially discontinued this item, presumably because they don't want competition for the HC7, which features a mic-in socket on the camera body.