Digital Camcorder

I am looking to buy a nice digital video camera and want to spend around 700+.

I was looking at thishttp//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E0E6YC/sr=1-8/qid=1150005909/ref=sr_1_8/102-7653684-4287317?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=photo[]http//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E0E6YC/sr=1-8/qid=1150005909/ref=sr_1_8/102-7653684-4287317?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=photo

but it got bad reviews. Anyone know any other good camcorders in this price range?

You looking for something for amateur movie making? or just for video taping family functions?

I am just going to use it for when I go on vacation, so pretty much family stuff. I would also like it to be small, if possible.

I'm a big fan of the Sony MiniDV Handycams. I have the DCR-HC40. The best video quality I've seen from a single-CCD camcorder, and a few reviews I've read concur. The current version of this model is the DCR-HC42, which adds a docking station now. Not sure I like the dock approach, but the camera itself should be pretty much the same as what I have. And it's quite a bit less than $700 too.

Canon camcorders are nice too, but I give Sony the edge (only in camcorders though -- in still cameras, Canon thoroughly beats Sony).