The 'look' can come more from your lighting.

However, a camera for under 2000, I'd look around for a cheap Canon XL2. I'd bet everyone will disagree with me, tell you to get a DVX 100a, but I have faith in the lower cost Canons. The Canon has much more versatility.

As Dave said, getting great looking video is more about the
lighting than the camera. You can great looking video with an
inexpensive camera if you learn to light well.

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

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

In the around $1,000 - $1,500 range there are currently only 5:

The JVC GZ-HD7 is an excellent starter camera that records to a
60GB HDD. It has manual controls, a mic input and an excellent
focus ring which is surprisingly rare on small cameras.

The JVC GZ-MG505 is also in the $800 range. It has a mic input and
records to a 30GB HHD, but the MPEG-2 video is highly compressed
making editing a real frustration.

The Panasonic PV-GS400 is terrific 3CCD cameras. Unfortunatly,
it?s hard to find and that?s too bad. It?s a great little camera.

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

I like the new JVC GZ-HD7. I?ve seen these on line for as little
as $1,200. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a huge difference and
full manual controls is important. Three 1/5? 16:9 progressive
scan CCD?s are pretty impressive for a camera in this price
range. It records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive.

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. And it?s so small the handling
is difficult.

The Sony HDR-SR12 has a mic input and a good sized 120GB HDD. It
uses a 1/3? CMOS chip and like the Canon is really small. The mic
cable kept getting in my way.

The next price range is in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. Time to get
serious. A camera in this range should have is XLR mic inputs
and, of course, manual controls. The bigger the CCD?s the better.
There are about a dozen cameras in this range but not one of them
has XLR inputs. The four I like:

The Panasonic AG-DVC60 is the only shoulder mounted cameras in
this price range. Controls are more consumer oriented. Movie-Like
mode inferior to true progressive imaging; no built-in XLR
ports but it has the essentials.

The Canon Gl2 is in my opinion the best in this price range. Still
no XLR inputs and the "frame mode" is inferior, but this is a
really nice camera for the price.

The Sony DCR-VX2100 really gives the GL-1 a run for the money.
It?s really small so no XLR inputs, but it does have a headphone
jack.

The Sony DCR-TRV950 is a terrific camera with all the essentials.
Again, no XLR input.

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

How about:

1. Below $800.....

2. Mini DV

3. Preferably 3CCD

4. Great for extensive editing

High-def, of course.

Not really a "beginner camera", but something i can make my shorts on.

Any suggestions?

I've seen the JVC GZ-HD3 in that range

But any camera in that range is better then no camera. You can still
learn about lighting, recording sound, working with actors and crew
and scheduling with a SD camera in that price range.

Definately looking at the $2000 to $3000 range I think. Does the lack of XLR on those models you listed not severley limit the camera?

Als, I am unable to borrow or try out the models you listed.. What advice would you give me in choosing one based on little knowledge?

Thanks for your help so far