I need a good camera for not a huge amount of money. I could go to Best Buy or a dealer and ask but all they do is push the camera that is going to make them the most money and besides they really don't know anything about their product. Is there a good camera out there?

Best camera for the money has got to be the Panasonic DVX-100P. You can get one for 2500-3000 dollars, new. And, probably for 1500-2000 used.

A good camera cheap? Well, if your willing to sacrifice age over cash, then an old Canon GL1 camera would do good for around a thousand. probably less if you find one from ebay. But another choice would be the DVX-100, like mentioned earlier. Either would be good.

good choice on not going to best buy! (let's face it, they suck, and the camcorders they have there do as well).

You get what you pay for basically. Try to get your hands on a used Panasonic DVX100a, which should be in the mid 2000 range (if not lower). Don't get a used GL1, trust me, Canon makes terrible heads (at least they did for the GL1) and they get dirty really fast and you'd probably end up having to pay 250 when they break down. Good luck.

Trespasser has some kind of vendetta against Canon. Their heads are fine - no one else has reported problems like he had with his GL1. There are thousands of GL2 users worldwide and it's proven to be an extremely reliable camera.

What price range are you working with? The miniDV cameras under $1000 are pretty terrible for shorts, except the low-end Panasonic 3CCD models which are probably the best you can hope for. If you have $1500-2000, the GL2 and PDX10 are within your reach. Above that you can get a DVX100a, but I would seriously look at how much you are spending on a digital camera that may be outdated if HD prices become cheaper. Also, keep in mind support gear (tripod, mics, adapters, batteries, cases, etc).

lol, I do have a personal vendetta against them because they did make shi**y heads for their GL1s (i've had better experience with the GL2). I was rather shocked (because Canon is a good company) to look on multiple message boards with people complaining about the same "eject tape" problem I had with the GL1.

Thanks peoples. Actually, I have a vendetta agaisnt Canon as well. For my birthday last year, I recieved a Canon ZR80 and when I went to go shoot something with it, the stupid built-in microphone picked up the sound of the overtly loud camera motor running. Then I take it into Best Buy where it was purchased (Not my decision, I hate that place. The only things that I feel safe buying from their are Post-It notes.) and they tell me that I have to send it out instead of getting a refund. Well I send it out, and Canon sends it back having ran a head cleaner through. Then the problem persists, I send it out again and they say that I should use a new tape. What it comes down to is that I have to send it out twice more to get a refund. It's ridiculous. I think the GL-1's are fine though. We shoot stuff on one for broadcast at my school and it works perfectly. However, I think Canon seriously lacks in the customer support end of things. I'm probably going to have to buy a used cam because I'm in high school and near broke. However, I was wondering, is it cheaper to buy from a certified vendor? I see ads on the sides of camera magazines for vendors that look like they sell for a lot less money. Do you have to be an official business with a government tax thingymabob to buy from them? I just want to make movies, I don't want to deal with all this camera crap.

Before I forget, what about the Canon XL series? We shoot on those for broadcast as well but I haven't used one enough to know a lot about it. As friviolous as this sounds, the XL's look much cooler than the GL's do...

The XL series are exceptionally good cameras. On some occasions, it is particularly difficult to get the colors you want, but for the most part produce semi-professional results. You can pick up an XL1 off ebay for around 1500. Good luck in your search. I honestly in all my work recommend the Panasonic AG-DVX100A.