Well gents, I went ahead and asked for an FX7. Got it from Ritzcamera for a sweet deal. Free overnight shipping, 2-year warranty for the price of a 1-year warranty and no tax.
Thanks a lot guys!

I don't think you will regret this. I have an FX7 too, and love it. You can connect a beachtech box if you want or record audio on a separate flashrecorder, if it needs to be extra good. If you over time want to record video to flash as well you can get the firestire FSH200 that connects to the firewire and records to CF cards.

/Ulf

If you go for HDV consider the quality of the tapes and what they might cost. We have used Digital8 followed by DV mini tape cameras for many years using Sony, TDK, JVC and I think Maxell brands, with the occasional brief dropout. When we switched to HDV with the Sony HDR-HC7 I was disappointed that there was typically at least one dropout per tape, and because of the MPEG2 encoding with the rather long GOP, dropouts may last for a second or more. They weren't serious with the travel material that we shot or I might have tried out the expensive HDV rated tapes. We have now gone for a hard disk recording camera (Sony HDR-XR520) so it is no longer an issue.

Anyone else have dropout problems with HDV tape?

Maybe I'm being too simple here, but what about a Canon HV30? I've got two of them--shoot in HDV, it looks awesome. Load it with a wide angle lens and a RODE Videomic and it's a killer camera for a lot less than the others mentioned here. You don't want to lock yourself in to a camera for the next 5-10 years, so don't break the bank on this one--is my opinion. The HV30s are incredible for what they do and what they cost. I've put both of mine through the ringer over the last 6 months and they're champs. Quality is stunning and ease of use can't be beat.

How would you guys compare Canon HFS 10 to HV30?

Hv30+RODE+WA lens - my kit exactly and it is fantastic!

> Maybe I'm being too simple here, but what about a Canon HV30?

Well... the OP asked for a good "prosumer" camera and the HV30 is a consumer camera so it's not what he was looking for. The Sony HDR-FX7 is in an entirely different class than the Canon HV30. With the HV30 you don't get very many manual controls and even the ones you do get are buried deep in menus that you can't get to, instead of being buttons on the outside of the camera where they belong like the FX7. Also the FX7 has built-in ND filters, independent zoom and focus rings, which the HV30 doesn't even have. The list goes on. It's a totally different experience.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the HV30 doesn't take great pictures. So does my Sony HDR-CX12 (which is in the same price class). I just wouldn't show up to a gig with my CX12 instead of my Z1U and expect to get the same quality shoot. You just don't have the needed control with a consumer camera. You definitely get what you pay for by buying a $2000 prosumer camera vs a $700 consumer camera.

~jr

I am sure by now that you are happy at taking the plunge and going for the FX7 and would be interested to hera of your experience in using it.
Some of the responses seemed to miss the point that the FX7 is a 3 chip CMOS camera, whereas their suggestions seemed to 'focus' on single chip cameras. In my opinion 3 chips is superior to single chip. Most of my work so far with both the FX7 and FX1 have been to shoot in HD but create SD DVDs. Main reason being that most people here in UK still don't have Blu-Ray players so the exercise would be rather wasted. Maybe the next year or so will see a change to that here. By the way I use Sony ME miniDV tapes rather than the more expensive HD miniDV, with excellent results. I always keep the original tape and only, very rarely, re-use a tape thus retainin the originally HD footage.
A worthwhile investment would be the NPF970 battery - I have had a quick glance at some US websites and it appears you can get the battery very cheaply.

Good luck and shooting with your FX7.

I have the FX1 which is larger than the FX7, but it uses CCDs rather than CMOS. It's an excellent camera and with total manual control (that was invaluable when shooting my brother in law's wedding recently).

I also have the HV20. It's a great cam, but the quality pales in comparison with the FX1 in my opinion. I ran some tests with them side by side, and without a doubt the FX1 can reproduce fine detail with greater clarity.

Get a good off-camera microphone too. I like Rode - the video mic is fantastic.

I'll be shooting a documentary next year using both the FX1 and HV20. HV20 will be for those awkward shots in confined spaces.

I like Rode - the video mic is fantastic

I like rode too, have several of them :-)

/Ulf