I have been using an old samsung miniDV camcorder to shoot video. I make indie films. I just wrote a large script for my summer project and i need a better camcorder. I dont want to spend over 500 bucks. Can you give me some suggestions. Thanks.

Hi~ there.
Why don't you check Samsung new camcorder firstly?
SC-HMX10A High Definition Camcorder comes out, and it may cost about $599~799.
It is bulit-in Flash memory HD-camcorder (optical x10) and not bad features.

For more information, just check the review ; futurelooks.com

I hope you will get best one.

I am looking for a standard def. camcorder. I dont think my PC can handle editing HD video.

Why not, a regular PC is fine for editing any HD video. The rendering time may be long(like 10hours), but if you are not in a hurry , just leave it on overnight. My five year old PC seems to handle the tasks fine.

How about the Sony Handycam 4HDR-SR5 ? or Panasonic HDC-SD9

If your looking at the SD9, you'd probably be better off spending a little more and getting the SR11. Even perhaps the SR10 (which I've heard NO ONE speak about now that I think about it)

I am looking for something under 600 bucks.

With an older computer - you can edit HDV files just fine. Look for a Canon HV20 on close-out somewhere - there are someplaces getting rid of them for $600 - $650. You aren't likely to find a deal like Sears ($275), but watch out for psuedo-deals (Best Buy is liquidating them for $919 in my area). If you spend some time looking, you will can probably find an HV20 for around $650 *just make sure its a reputable seller* - and that would be a great camera for a film/video project. The newer HD camcorders us AVCHD and you WILL need a faster computer to even view your files, let alone edit.