The Nikon D7000 is Nikon's newest DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera. It offers 16.2 Megapixel resolution (4928x3262 pixels) and a number of high quality features, but it's most distinctive feature is it's ability to maintain continuous auto-focus while shooting full-motion HD (1080p) video at 24 frames per second. While it sports the sort of features we've come to expect from a high-end Nikon DSLR, including compatibility with Nikon interchangeable lenses, GPS geotaging, and other accessories, it has one major issue that, thankfully, is pretty easy to address.
You need an external mic for the D7000. If you don't use one, then the D7000's 24 FPS, HD video, and it's tremendous continuous auto-focus feature might surprise you with the sounds of the lens's auto-focusing servo motors on your recordings. Never fear, external microphones are available, and Nikon has equipped the D7000 with an industry standard, 3.5mm (1/8th inch) audio in jack. Besides, if you want audio that is high quality enough to match the video produced by the D7000, then you're probably going to want to use an external microphone anyway. So, here's a few options that will give you high-grade sound to match the high-grade video one can shoot with the Nikon D7000.
First up is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone. Shotgun microphones pick up the sounds that come, more of less, from what you point them at, and this Sennheiser is sensitive enough to give you a high quality recording. It has a frequency response range of 40Hz - 20 kHz, meaning it does a fine job with low, middle, and high frequency sounds. One distinctive feature of this microphone is it's integral shock mounting. While it has a standard hot-shoe mounting where it meets the D7000's body, in between the microphone and the camera is an area designed to reduce the possibility of any noises caused by handling the camera (or noisy auto-focusing lens servos) being picked up on your recording. It has a wired plug that fits into the 3.5mm jack. It's a nice design, runs for 300 hours on a AAA battery, and it's currently available from Amazon.com for $199.95.
The Rode VideoMic Video Condenser Microphone is another option for D7000 users who are committed to clean sound. It's also a shotgun mic, and includes a high-pass filter function for the reduction of low-frequency noise. While it's somewhat less expensive than the Sennheiser, it sports comparable frequency response range (40Hz - 20kHz), and comparable features, including a noise reducing shock mounting. It fits to the shoe of the D7000, and a wire plugs into the 3.5mm jack. It is powered by it's own 9 volt battery. The Rode VideoMic Video Condenser Microphone is available at Amazon.com for $149.00.
If you're looking for a slightly less expensive option that still does the job, then you might want to consider the Stereo Video Shotgun Microphone from Audioque. It's sensitive, has a very respectable frequency range (30Hz - 18kHz), and comes with two settings that allow you to choose how the mic picks up sound. The first setting picks up sound within a 90 degree arc, and the second gives you a bit wider range, picking up sound within a 120 degree arc. This unit fits to the shoe mounting of the D7000, and plugs into the 3.5mm jack, like the others, but it lacks the shock mounting found on the more expensive models. The price difference is pretty significant. This microphone costs only $89.95 and is available from Amazon.com.
The Nikon D7000 is a fine piece of gear, and the continuous auto-focusing, 1080p HD video is one of it's strongest features. The fact that you're going to need an external microphone shouldn't be taken as a lack of consideration on the part of the camera's designers or lack of design savvy on the part of Nikon. Microphones that are integrated into the body of a camera will pick up camera noises. This is one reason that anybody who wants decent sound on their recordings uses an external microphone. Additional benefits include a better frequency response range, better wind protection, and reduction of camera handling noise. Enjoy your Nikon D7000's auto-focusing HD video, and enjoy the high-quality sound you get out of the external microphone that you get to record audio of similarly high quality.