Looking a purchasing my first camcorder and im tossing up between a new HMC40 or a used XHA1. Because i live in PAL country, the cost of a new HMC41 with xlr adapter will cost about the same as a used XHA1. I've been reading most the forums and i just cant seem to make a decision. I like the tapeless feature of the HMC but the A1 still comes across as a much more professional camera. What would be the best way to go?

For what application?

I use both in multicam event shoots. If low light and good autofocus are important, go with the XHA1. The HMC40 is great when there is enough light & tapeless recording is the way to go now. My favorite is the HMC150.

Buy a used HMC40 from ebay, the lowest one I saw on ebay is $1400.

XHA1 produce excellence images and good for low light, but it is quite troublesome to carry tape instead of memory card, not to mention the amount of time it takes to transfer hours of footage to computer.

However, HMC40 does not have a wide angle and the image quality is quite bad in low light situation.

HDSLR is the future, even through the image quality is no match to either HMC40 or XHA1, but it allows maximum mobility and produce excellence image quality in minimum lighting.

Should add that I use a Datavideo DN60 to record XHA1video to CF media rather than tape.