I'm about to make a purchase. Looking at about 200-400. Done good bit of research. I'm looking at Panasonic GS180, Canon MVX460 and a friend has offered to sell me his panasonic mx350B (for 250). I wouldn't normally consider going for a secondhand model but the bigger chip size is a real sway! I'm going to be shooting in low light quite a lot. Any other suggestions? Need DV in/out, AV in would be good too. Mic input and hotshoe attachment would be preferable. Thanks.

[senu]

Originally Posted by neilmk5

I'm about to make a purchase. Looking at about 200-400. Done good bit of research. I'm looking at Panasonic GS180, Canon MVX460 and a friend has offered to sell me his panasonic mx350B (for 250). I wouldn't normally consider going for a secondhand model but the bigger chip size is a real sway! I'm going to be shooting in low light quite a lot. Any other suggestions? Need DV in/out, AV in would be good too. Mic input and hotshoe attachment would be preferable. Thanks.

I think you would need to spend more than £400 to get any of the features you want in a 3 CCD camcorder ( or any for that matter)
I appreciate your wariness with second hand stuff
but
having owned one ( retired due to several brand tapes ruining it tape head)
I can say that the 350B has all those( DVin/out, svideo in out/ av in out Mic input) and even if it only lasts you 12-18 months at that price it is money well spent.It will be hard to replace.Its PQ is brilliant and it has a host of manual features which make it good if you like that type of manual control ( Even my HDV model Sony HC1 has a few less and even then they are more within its touch screen menu system )
It was £1500 at launch although it is a bit old now. It has a very large clear LCD screen which is battery hungry and suffers from the 3 CCD less light sensitive bug but it does have all you list and lots of other manual adjustments which make it more Prosumer rather than consumer model.
It is also less compact than any current model ( not nessesarily a bad thing)

As such,there is nothing wrong with carefully used second hand camcorder especially from a friend. He might even have a spare battery going.
Have a play with it and see
Good luck

Thanks for the reply. I'm unfortunately on a tight budget at least until I finish this project. I'm a photographer so the extra control is definitely a plus.