Camcorder troubles

[Agent Orange 615]

Well I'm in the market for my first digital camcorder. I already do a lot of digital editing at school, working with expensive cameras, like the XL1 and stuff. I need one for little hobby work in the 500$ range. Cheaper would be nicer but i dont mind spending the extra money.
so far I've had my eyes on the Canon Optura series. the 10 and 20. I also caught wind of the panasonic pv-gs 120. Thats about 550 online but it has 3ccd's and supposedly very good. Any input to help me along?

 

[MScrip]

I found the Canon Elura 70 for about the same price as the Optura 20. The Elura 70 is a new model this year. It's a little smaller than the Optura 20, too.

I've been looking at the Elura 70 and the Optura 40... and dreaming about the GL2 and XL1s

I've used the Optura 200 and it's great. So I can imagine that the newer Canons will be great too. I like Canon for consumer cameras all the way up to semi-pro cameras.

I do digital video editing and small documentary type films. What software do you use at school? I've been using Pinnacle Studio... but I desparately need to step up to Premiere, Vegas... or even Avid !