Panasonic AG-HMC70 vs. Sony HVR-HD1000 vs. Sony HDR-FX7

I've got around $2000 to spend on a new camera, and I've narrowed it down to three: the Panasonic AG-HMC70, the Sony HVR-HD1000, and the Sony HDR-FX7.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459129-REG/Sony_HDRFX7_HDR_FX7_3CMOS_HDV_1080i.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...70U_AG_HMC70U_Shoulder_Mounted_Camcorder.html

I like the HMC70 because it's got XLR inputs (which the other two don't have) and because it records to an SD card rather than Mini DV. The HD1000 and FX7 have manual focus rings, though, which the HMC70 lacks -- a big selling point for me. The HD1000 also has a bigger sensor.

So is the sound quality of an XLR mic worth sacrificing the manual focus? It just looks like the HMC70 is a consumer camera in a large, unwieldy case. I'm also not too fond of shoulder-mounted cameras. The FX7 is gorgeous (the footage I found on Vimeo is amazing -- oh, the color!) and I'd buy it in a moment if it weren't for the lack of XLR inputs. Can non-XLR mics like the Rode Stereo Videomic compare to XLR mics in terms of sound? Sound is important to me -- it's a documentary.

If anyone has alternative cameras less than around $2000 to suggest, great!
 
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I say for the Sony FX7. Three chips are going to out perform the other two cameras with only one chip. I'd love it if it had XLR inputs, but you can get a cable that will adapt pro mic for the mini-plug.

Remember to save back some money for a case and spare batteries.

Scott
 
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