We just got a Sony HVR-FX1 last week. I really wanted the Z1U but the wife nixed it and admittedly with all the accessories it was over our budget.
I'm shooting a classical concert tonight for a friend. I have absolutely no experience with this camcorder so I'll shoot mainly on automatic.
I do know that once you have this camcorder setup properly manual is really the best way to shoot.
When we got the camcorder we bought a very pricey DVD called "Vortex Media
DVD: Hands On - A Complete Guide to the HVR-ZIU and HDR-FX1 Camcorders"
For someone like myself who is totally unfamiliar with this camera this pricey DVD is worth every penny!!
Many things that are not in the manual or not clearly explained in the manual are gone over in detail in the DVD.
I haven't seen any of the brief footage we already shot with this camera played back except for playback in the camcorders' own lcd screen.
However after tonight's shoot I'll hook up the camcorder to my BenQ 8720 to see how it looks on the big screen. I have a feeling though I'am going to be very impressed!!
The camcorder has a very nice feel to it and I look foward to using it.
I'll report back here in a day or two about my shooting experience tonight.

Any there any other Sony HDR-FX1/HVR-Z1U Users out there?

My wife goofed. She thought the concert was last night. After dragging all our equipment there we were told that it is NEXT Monday!

Oh well. I'll report my experiences with the camera next week.

Well if anyone cares the shoot went well. Since the camera is so new to me I just had it shoot everything in auto mode and it came out quite well.

However I'am having a difficult time capturing and editing the 1080i footage on my hard drive. I think I will have to change software.

Use manual focus and exposure. Set sound quality to 16 bit. Take a monopod.

Was looking at possibly purchasing this camera but WOW what a price difference across the web! One internet side sells for $999.99 and another for $2999.00. Quaxtros, how have you been getting along with the camera?