"best" is too subjective. There really is no "best" camera.

If you can find the Panasonic PV-GS300 then that's your best bet. All other cameras in your price range are limited. You won't have a mic input - so you'll be stick with the on camera mic or buying a separate recorder. You won't have many manual controls - so you'll have to use automatic. Fine for birthday parties and family picnics, not so good for making movies. And you'll be stuck with one, small CCD so you won't have much control in post.

But any camera is better than no camera. Get what ever camera you can afford and start making movies right away. There is so much more to making a movie than what camera you use. The more time you spend on learning prep, production and post, the better you will get.

Check out:
JVC GZ-MC500
Sony DCR-PC1000
Sony DCR-HC90
JVC GZ-MG70U

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I'm aware that it's a very subjective question, but I'm such a newb to camcorders that I needed some idea of what to get.

I've always had a crappy JVC miniDV camcorder, and I really need an "upgrade".

I just put up an auction for my digital camera that should return at least 500 bucks, so I think I may shoot for closer to professional quality. I've seen that alot of the professional camcorders are around 2-5,000, but are there any worth checking out around 1,000?

There are three thing that are VERY important when getting a camera:

Three CCD?s - also called ?chips?
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.

In the around $1,000 range there are currently only 3:
The JVC GR-X5 is a terrific starter camera with manual controls and a mic input.

The Panasonic PV-GS300 or PV-GS500 is a nice camera 3CCD camera. It has manual settings and a mic input.

Sony DCR-HC1000 is very similar to the Panasonic cameras. If you?re more comfortable with Sony, this is the camera for you.

Close is the Canon HV20. It records in HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input and manual controls of white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7? CMOS sensor rather than 3 CCD?s. For me the jury is still out on the CMOS. I don't like them.

Thanks for all the help, but I was looking at the prices, and all of those cameras are 3-600 dollars on the net. I'm willing to spend up to probably 1100 even. Not that price is the determining factor, but I just don't want to find myself needing a different camera in a few months after buying a new one.

Do you have any opinions on the Panasonic DV Proline AG-DVC7?

I saw that it was decently priced.

I did a "test drive" with that camera in 2003 so it's been a while. I remember liking the "pro" feel of the shoulder mount design and the lens was nice. It has a mic input and manual controls but only 1 CCD and no manual white balance so that makes it less desireable as a production camera.