[andyhay]

Looking at buying a professional DV camera for use in documentaries and other video production use.
Been looking at the Sony PD 170, Sony HDR - FX1, Panasonic AG-DVX100A.
Price range around £2000.

What is the class leading camera at the moment? What can you recommend?

[redsox_mark]

It depends if you want High Def or not... personally I'm a big High Def fan.. and given that the HDV camcorders also can shoot excellent SD, I'd go that way (so not the Sony PD 170, or Panasonic AG-DVX100A).

Technically speaking the Sony HDR - FX1 is not a "professional" camcorder, as it is sold by the consumer division rather than the business division. The Z1 is the professional version of the FX1.. but it is well over £3000.

There is also the new FX7, which is about the same price as the FX1... smaller, lighter, has 3 CMOS vs. 3 CCD for the FX1. The only person I know who has used both thought the FX7 was slightly better overall...

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...CMOS-Chips.htm

FX7 available here for £2200
http://www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showp...hp?prodid=2898

The pro version of the FX7 is the V1... it is slightly cheaper than the Z1, about £3000 with VAT.

So for £2000, either the FX1 or FX7....

[senu]

Im a great fan of Hi Def and Sonys HDV cameras as well ( having used the FX1 ) and High end prosumer ( which the FX1 is ) may be good enough for you. I now own the consumer HC1 but for DV the Vx2100 which is high end prosumer not "Pro"

The actual Image quality from High end prosumer to the more affordable Pro Camcorders is only marginally better but comparisons will always be made,
It is the amount of manual control, very low noise in low light,manual exposure control, ( Iris as well as gain) XLR audio input, manual zoom manual focus, quick access to white balance. audio input levels control, optical Image stabilisation and interchangeable lenses as well as ability to use dvcam in addition to miniDV that separate the Semi Pro from Pro amongst other features
There is no clear demarcation as individual needs may vary

In short you can get Pro result from a Semi pro camcorder ( High end prosumer) and spend the rest on Accessories

If you dont want HD you can always rely on the Canon XL1s or XL2 to give consistently great results and have many of thr Pro features but for HD Canons XL H1 ( £4-5000) is on offer ( It is a bit more than your budget) . They also have the newly released XH G1 and XH A1 which are loaded with Pro features but at a cost.