Well that site often has useful articles and signing up isn't much trouble (only have to do it once). If you're not in the market for a camera then this article isn't of interest. However here is as far as I'm going to do the work: a variety of studio and outdoors tests were conducted by side by side comparison of Canon's HL X1, JVC's GY-HD100, Panasonic's AG-HVX200, and Sony's HVR-Z1. Resolution, colour, dynamic range, motion artifacts, noise.

Adam Milt: "Sony HVR-Z1: It has the cleanest image, but was otherwise undistinguished. It is however the cheapest of the bunch, superb optical stabilization, and arguably the best servo zoom available.

Which one would I pick? I want the ergonomics and tonal scale rendering of the JVC along with the sharpness and image processing of the Canon, combined with the frame-rate and format flexibility, intraframe recording, and color of the Panasonic, and the low-cost, low-noise, optical stabilization, and international compatibility of the Sony. And I want better glass than any of them had. No camera wins hands-down. None of them lose.
Different tools for different needs.
Remember, talent trumps technology every time."

Thanks, Serena for posting this.

Very interesting article from good, unbiased sources. I think the portion you quote above reinforces my impression that it's either worth waiting for the next generation of these cameras, or to make the jump to something like the PDW-350 XDCAM.