I'm currently split between the cameras right now, from what I know:

HC1

Pros:
Extensive manual control
Mic in
good low light
reliable sony on camera power supply
S-video

Cons:
rare (I'm very limited in buying options and my budget is very low)
bottom-loading

HC7

Pros:
higher effective pixels than HC3
top-loading
Mic in
HDMI
reliable on camera power supply
S-video

Cons:
small
noisy CMOS chip (from photo samples posted by Jeremy Ashley)
control wheel (assumed bad manual control)

HV20

Pros:
2070k effective pixels
24p
HQ Canon CMOS sensor
HDMI 1.3(?)

Cons:
on camera power supply most likely to burn out if power is still being fed after battery charge is complete (Very unreliable, my Optura 20 had to be fixed 3 times due to this.)
control wheel
mini-sd cards (so tiny you can lose it very easily)
no S-video out (my widescreen tv from 1996ish uses S-video, I don't use my HDTV 100% of the time)

If someone has more details, please post it.

I just ordered an HC7 from B&H. Im going to shoot with this for a month or so, and if I dont like it, Im going to sell it and pick up a HV20. These cameras have good resell value. Buy one, use it for a while, if you dont like it sell it for a minimal loss and buy something else!

-burk

So, can someone make a decision for me on which one?

So, can someone make a decision for me on which one?


I think thats something you need to do for yourself. You've listed the pros and cons of each. Apply that to your own personal needs, and make a decision.

Don't forget that Pana and JVC each have a new cam that fits into this same catagory. They are due out the same time as the HV20.

Well, I would've gotten the HC1, but it's out of stock and I'm VERY limited in my buying options.

The HC7 seemed promising, but the noisy sensor and the lack of decent manual control didn't do it for me

And the HV20's power supply is the exact same supply as ALL canon camcorders and is very unreliable, but I'm forced to possibly get it cause there's no HC1 equivalents out there.

So If I had the chance, I would've gone for an HC1 but right now, I can't. and the A1's TOTALLY out of my price range.

I've also heard from salesmen that "Manual control is a thing of the past." which is NOT true.

HC1 is not good in low light. HC7 is supposed to be better according to the lux rating.

Here is a thread that compared the HV20 to the HC7 and for the reasons that I mentioned, it is indeed a very hard choice.
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=86068

If you don’t mind having a hard drive based camcorder then the JVC HD7 should be considered because it has HC1/GS400 type manual controls. That is a camcorder that I have an interest in because I have owned an HC1 since the first week of August 2005 and as I mentioned, it’s the only camcorder that compares to it.

Although it received a price drop by 100 dollars to 1700 dollars, I predict that JVC may lower it by 100 dollars again. It seems a bit pricy compared to the other camcorders, but to me it’s well worth when you consider the features.