Hello folks!
No doubt you get squillions of emails looking for advice and obviously you cannot tell people what gear to purchase etc...However, when one is in a real predictament and having sleepless nights over it, I reckon I need to bend a few ears! Its quite simple, I'm a relatively newcomer to the world of video-ing, editing and absolutely love it, having just sold my DVDcam, I'm now wanting bigger and better things! I've been reading and re-reading all the reviews, tearing my hair out in fact and I'm down to two choices, the JVC HDD505 & the Sony HDR-HC3...but how on earth do I make this final choice?!? I spend most of my time using my cam for travel stories, scenery and sunsets an' all that sort of thing...soooo...what is the right choice for me?? I use Ulead Video 10+ and Adobe Elements 2.0....I think I'm turning into a dithering wreck! Your opinion and advice will be very gratefully received! regards...

[redsox_mark]

I would either get the Sony HC3, or if you really prefer a HDD based model, wait for the Sony SR1 which is due to come out next month.

The reason being: while the JVC MG505 is a nice camcorder, it is standard def, while the HC3 and SR1 are high-def. You get nearly 4 times the resolution with high-def. Even if you don’t have a high-def screen today, it is clearly the future.. so why buy an SD camcorder now? Other than money or course, but the MG505 is similar in cost to an HC3.