Eric Lagerlof

Are you looking for film or video cameras? If video, the Sony EX-1 is probably the best bang-for-buck at your price range. The EX-1 is acceptable as at least a b-cam by just about anybody in broadcast from what I understand, and has become a standard for the pro/industrial market. ( Although, if you also need to use that budget for a good fluid head tripod, other choices might have to be made.)