I'm planning on filming some man-on-the-street style interviews, and
i'd like to use the talk show host technique of holding a big mic
towards people when they talk.

So, this will be outdoors. Wind is a factor. There will be lots of
background noise, which I want to pick up, but of course I need to
clearly hear the interviewees talking.

I also don't want to have to shove the mic right into people's faces
to hear them. I'd like to hold the mic, 50cm (2 feet) away from
people.

Any mic recommendations? (in the $100-200 range)

Also a technical question: I'm going to record the audio with the DV
camera. There is a 3.5mm stereo-mic input, but with one mic I'm going
to be mono. I did a test with a cheap mic, and I got sound, but I got
tons of crackles and pops when the plug moved in the 3.5mm socket, and
the sound was about 80% in the left channel. Not great. How do i get
better quality mono-stereo?

any advice appreciated!

-saf