Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V

Pros: Image Stabilization is spectacular
Low light recording, top notch
Video quality is great
loaded with great accessories specific to your needs
Has night vision

Cons: Optical zoom is only 12x
Needs a good system to run
Slow motion setting degrades quality

Summary: Go to this link for a look at the video quality you can expect from this camera, all recent videos on this account are using sony hdrxr500v: http://www.youtube.com/Ruffneck101

All-in-all, great camera. All of the people who complain about issues with this camera is only due to lack of knowledge on their part. Become familiar with AVCHD and this camera is a great tool. The image stabilization is phenomenal, the quality is top of the line, also has great video quality at 1080p, and shoots 5.1 dolby digital surround sound. Has many accessories to suit your needs, and once familiar with the menu style, the touch screen menu is easy to navigate, especially with the EASY HANDYCAM setting on the camera. The low light is great for evening shots to reduce pixelation, and nightvision is great for cool effects. I use Adobe After Effects and Sony Vegas Pro 9 with this camera, both programs are perfect for any job with no hassle of configuration. GPS has limitations, but can be handy if you like to travel. Has face detection and zoom-mic as well for easier audio recording. NOTE: this camera is great for travelling and everyday use, if you are looking for near professional quality on different movie productions, then you need to put in at least $3000 for a camera, the fact that the image quality on this camera actually compares to some professional productions just goes to show that this product is not overpriced.