Just unpacked and shot an hour of test video with a Canon HF100 camera. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-HF100-Definition-Camcorder-Stabilized/dp/B00114162K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1212027502&sr=8-1 Just dropped another $50, to $650.00.
I'm very happy so far. I think this is a stellar vlogging/documentary camera. Jacket pocket sized, but takes mics, headphones, and has manual everything, 24p, 30p, 60i and different sized batteries. The video assist light will actually show a face in darkness for those interviews that just will not wait for light. The onboard mic is pretty damn good, being front mounted below the lens. And there's mic levels on screen if you want for external or internal. $70 got me a 16GB card and reader. Very fast download to Mac. Waiting for a copy of FC Express to come so I can edit. The HF10 is black and has on board 16GB card, but people like the HF100 for much less money, and same basic camera. I'll post a demo tape I did, complete with beaver, turkey, and duck sightings in the wild's of New Hampshire on a pond. I'm using a monopod and it's very helpful since the cam is so small. Played off the card to an HD TV using component cables, it looks like a DVD. And the 12x zoom is really nice for nature stuff. The still photos are pretty good, say like a Canon SD 5MP. If I had to complain, I'd say the AWB is a little off sometimes and I'd rather have more video assist LEDs then a flash for stills.
