Looking for pro video cam... need some help

[RockWood610]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum here, and some what new to this video thing. I have been editing home movies and doing DVD projects for family and friends and for a hobby since 2004. I would like to step it up a notch and purchase a good pro video digital camera and do productions for local companies and weddings, ect, and the real reason why I want one is to get together with a couple of film friends that are going to collage with film related courses and do some short movies for online veiwing. And sit down interviews for projects of my own.

For editing, I originaly started out with Pinnacle Studio 8/9, and then jumped into Sony Vegas 7 for video editing, and I am about to upgrade to Vegas 8. I also have decent gear for home recording with audio. (Solid PC for all my uploading, video capturing, and editing, with a new PC being built for a major power upgrade.) I have condensor mics, instrument mics, monitors for mixing/mastering audio, Waves Diamond VST plugins for mastering and effects on audio, and currently I have a presonus firewire audio interface that records good clean mic signals.

Basicaly, a Semi pro steup good for my hobbies. The only thing I am lacking besides the advanced knowledge in video editing with Vegas is a good camera. I have been using mini DV consumer cameras forever, and now want a prosumer one.

Recently, Sony released what they call an entry level pro camera with 1080i HD DV recording. It is the Sony HVR-HD1000U. I have been doing research on this, and because it is a new product, its a little hard to get details. I did find a youtube user who has it and uploaded some videos on it. I would like a good quality camera with HD support since the technology is going that way, but I am reading a lot that this camera is nothing more but a consumer cam in a pro body. I was looking at it mainly for the entry pro quality and the really decent price tage (about $1,620.00 after taxes/shipping at B&H Video)

Before this camera, I was really eye-balling the Canon XL2 and Canon GL2. I like the idea of being able to have (or in the GL2's case) add XLR inputs. 3 CCD chips are also always nice, but the Sony model I was looking at is hyping up the 1 CMOS chip for HD. Can anyone shed some light on witch way I should go? I'd like to go HD, but I don't wanna spend any amount of money on something that isn't going to give me the pro look I would like to start getting into.

I am mostly torn with the HD or SD, but really like some of the Cannon SD cams over the one Sony cam I listed.. The Sony is cheap in price and is HD. The Canon's cost more, but have better zoom lenses, better features over all, XLR inputs, and more pro features but is only SD. Can someone please help me?? I am on a budget, but will be willing to wait and spend a few extra hundred on a camera if it will be more worth it....

New, and need some help!

John

[Big Chupa]

Here's a site that does thorough reviews - it helped me make my decision. www.camcorderinfo.com