I am going to buy a camcorder this weekend. The choices are a new HF100 at $625 vs a refurb Hv20 at $569. I am going to use it for vacations, a wedding and just daily whatever. I would like to be able to edit the videos a bit( quick cuts, soundtrack, basic effects, etc) and burn them to some kind of a disk that can play in full HD on my PS3. I have never done anything like that so the easier the editing the better. I am going to pick up a quad core PC as well. Any input is greatly appreciated!!!

For me, it's a no brainer - HF100.
I don't like the idea of refurbished item for delicate electronics, as you never know what it has been through. Especially when we are talking about the complex tape mechanism for the HV20. Seriously, once you experience the joy of using a tapeless camcorder, you will never go back.

Yeah I am leaning towards the HF100. Is there a real world difference in image quality between the two? I really want something that is going to blow me away in terms of image when I plug it into my TV!

[QUOTE=mintchris;14583992]Yeah I am leaning towards the HF100. Is there a real world difference in image quality between the two?

Nope. I had both the HF100 and HV30. Shooting with both side by side and played back through a video switcher there was almost no difference. The HF100 tended to be a tad sharper -- a GOOD thing! Plus no tape noise and direct file access over linear tape is very nice.

Thats what I wanted to hear! Well i am set on the HF100 then. What about editing? Is it as complicated as it seems by all the posts here? I just want to do basic editing and effects and burn to disc without losing quality. What is the best and simplest program everyone seems to use?

I would go with the HF100 too. I just bought one. It arrived yesterday. Haven't had a chance to do anything with it.

If the refurb were say $400, it might be worth the risk, but to save less than $100, it's not worth it.