are there any HD camcorders with manual control under $1500?

I mean:
- Shutter Speed
- Gain
- White Balance
- Aperture

all controllable independently...

Closest bet is probably a used Sony HC1. Short answer though is probably 'no'. Right now anyway.

And HC3 has actually supplanted the HC1, if I am not mistaken. So new, that moves you to the A1U, from Sony, which is pro version of the HC1.