Need Help With Camera

Try the Sony TRV series.

Its not great, but I've gotten pretty good results with a Canon Optura Pi. They go on eBay for 2-5 hundred used. It can film in 16:9, has a progressive scan feature and many accessories have been manufactured for it.

The under $600 market is tough. The Canon ZR series is in that range. They're ok, but suffer in low light.

Make sure you get a camera with an external mic jack because the built in mics stink and you'll want to get a decent shotgun mic (Azden makes some ok inexpensive mics). Also, look for manual exposure controls. Auto exposure will work 60% of the time, but will screw you for arty shots.

If you can find a few more bucks the Panasonic GS70 is a 3 chip alternative at around $800.

Scott