Only one word of advise: Research, research, research. If you find a model off a wbesite or at Best Buy that looks good, jot down the maker and model number and search reviews online and check YouTube for samples of it's video quality. The main things to watch for, ease of control, zoom quality, mic quality (especially things like wind reduction), and how many manual adjustments like white balance you can make. Also, make sure it has a mic jack in case you want to improve microphone quality with a shotgun or clip-on microphone, and if you're looking for that make sure it has the ability to attach an added mic because it's not always a given. I cant recommend a good model as my own camera was a last-year model even when I bought it, let alone a year and a half later, but what model is good for you will depend on what you'll need it for, so you'll have to do the leg work yourself.