I have seen a number of A1 owners comment on how shockingly close the HV10/HV20 can be to the A1 in picture quality. Of course you'll get a more consistent result with the A1 if you know what you're doing. But don't forget there are manual controls on the HV20 too....just not nearly as many. But when you see the picture quality of the HV20, you'll be stunned.

I for one think it produces a superior HD picture to my Sony FX7.

You are correct Chris. There is more manual control than many people think on the HV20.

I know how much manual control there is. It's just that it is less that the A1 and the H1. I don't care if the FX1 or HC1 or whatever has less amd this is closer to those controls or better. From where I am standing the HV20 is missing key manual controls that I need. Does it do ok when using as a handycam? Probably, but in a professional shooting environmet do you really want to be "messin' around" with trying to figure out what exposure setting is going to equal no gain when you should be focusing on getting the shot right? I like my HV20 but the workarounds are a distraction from shooting. I will stick with the right tool for the right job.

Maybe this has been mentioned but a key manual control that makes a difference in every day shooting is the switchable ND filters on the A1 allow shutter speeds that gives video fluidity.

That helps make my point exactly. These cameras are tools but essentially the individual features could be viewed as tools too. Iris, shutter,focus, ND filters, gain and zoom are all components they we combine to achieve a certain look. Different combinations of these get us the looks we want. We are used to using these in whatever setup we desire. With the HV20 certain ones are tied to the others without our being able to seperate them. We are finding workarounds but again...these are workarounds.

I see it like a carpenter who has 5 tools to do a job but he can only select 3 of them but when he chooses the 3 he wants the other 2 still get used on his project, just he doesn't get to choose how, a computer determines it. Sometimes he says, "hey...that came out alright!" Other times the computer doesn't choose well and a jackhammer gets used where a chisel should have been.

Again. I love the HV20 for what it is. I am trying to get people to have realistic expectations. It takes some darn nice video in a lot of situations. But if you find yourself in one of the ones where it doesn't....you will find it hard to take control of the camera and overcome the problems. At least it won't be nearly as easy as with an A1.

Eric, if you already own a Canon DSLR camera then you'll feel pretty quick at home with the A1.
I own a Canon 10D and most of the manual stuff on the A1 looked familiar to me. There's of course alot of extra's you get because it's video (but for that there's dvinfo and the presets you can use).
My point is that if you want to be in control (like I was when I first went for the 10D (for photo) and later the A1 (for video)), go for the A1. I was not sure what to choose, but I'm very glad I went for the A1.

Thanks Jeremy, I think that is where my mind set has been at. right now I am compiling a list of the accessories ill need and even am picking some of them up. I can only justify an HV20 as a SECOND camera quite easily but not as a primary or first camera!