I used to ask pros about microphones. They would tell me to get such and such mic, that is was just basic, but it would do in a pinch. These "basic" mics the pros recommended usually cost in the neighborhood of $4000.00. That's a lot of basic.
I hasten to say my favorite mic for ed. vids is a $3000.00 neumann shotgun--excellent. But I've also gotten ribbon mics and others MUCH less expensive that yielded great results.
When I asked a few pros about moving from my PD-150/Vx2000 cams to HD they all discouraged it, saying you couldn't get anything worth anything for less than seven or eight thousand.
Well, this was not Adam's advise---as a passionate amateur cam lover he wrote the difference was remarkable and that he'd never go back shooing SD.
So, I decided to take his advise over the pros I had talked to, just like I had (due to $$$ necessity) disregard the audio pros on mics.
Well, I'll have to say I'm really impressed with the results I've gotten on both my A1U and this recently acquired FX-1, and, like Adam, I can't see going back to SD, even though I love my PD-150 and VX--and really know how to use them to get the best from them.
I think it's amazing what technology has enabled the lone individual to do. I know technology is big business--but i believe it has benefitted the "little" guy and enabled him to realize his creativity.
When you get advise you always have to consider the source, and professionals in any discipline have narrowed things down to a very small field of personal acceptability--and it's often very hard for them to get out of that mind-set and consider the non-pros real needs, concerns and expectations.
I think it's always good to remember this whenever you ask a pro.
Anyway, thanks for Adam for his encouragement. My opinion, for what it's worth; if you're on the fence about HD--jump off on to the HD side--you won't be sorry.
bill

Thanks for the shout out, Bill. The technology really is amazing and getting better -- and more affordable -- all the time. We have tools available to us that even Spielberg didn't have not too many years ago.

High-level pros live in a different world from most of us, but when you see "No Reservations" being shot with V1s and "Deadliest Catch" shot with Z1s (they've recently moved to Z7s, I think), you know anything is possible and pro-level tools have really moved down to the rest of us.

Happy shooting!

__________________
Adam
Proud owner of 8, no, 7, no, wait, now NINE Sony HDV cams. Checking into rehab next week.
"There are no experimental failures. There's only more data."

I don't think it could be said any better!
All it needs is an Amen!
bill
PS shot my last ed vid on youtube with the fx1--at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWK_umoDpwA