Hello All,
I'm new to this group.

I build stripper canoe and kayaks (LaughingLoon.com) and I'm working on making instructional videos for my customers.

It has been an ongoing project for a few years. I've been working solo, using a Panasonic PV -GS320 3CCD mini DV camcorder to record.

So, I have to set-up lights and shots, and work on boats at the same time. I have a lot of hours of video shot but I'm not inspired with the results at this point. I've found this very tedious. I have iMovie HD on my Intel Mac to edit and iDVD to output. I've made a few DVDs of other projects and I'm quite happy with those results.

I would really like a Point of View camera, so set-up would be easy and most of all, so I can show people exactly what I'm doing.

I have a Canon PowerShot D10 still camera and I'm blown away at the video it shoots and especially how compensates for light in dark rooms so well.

Since I'm not up-to-date with the features of the new camcorders I don't know if they are all this way. I know they save to SD cards. and they have a MP4 file format. Will this file format give good video quality to DVD output?

I don't know how the video the PowerShot shoots compares with the Panasonic when output to DVD for a televsion.

I've been looking at the Point of View camcorders like the Contour 1080p HD, GoPro HD Hero, Drift HD170, and VIO POV HD.

However, I can't get a good idea of the video quality these cameras offer. Obviously, I don't need a waterproof, bulletproof, camera designed for brake neck sports. I've done searches and read reviews which say the video quality of these cameras is not the best and this leaves me wondering what would work best for me.

I've seen some posts suggesting better video quality with a shape that could be head mounted from something like the Sanyo Xeacti models.

I would be happy if I could get a small camcorder with good video and light compensation, like my PowerShot D10 that I could make a side head mount for.

I already modified an old head lamp system to hold my D10 but found it heavy and I don't care for the view off the top of my head for the mostly 2 to 3' distances I'll be shooting from.

Of course, I'd like to spend as little as possible but I'm willing to go as high as $600 if I must to get a good quality picture.

So I've come to you folks in the hopes your experience can guide me to my best solution.

All the best,
Rhodie