I'm wanting to start filming what's a good HD camcorder that's not super expensive to get started with?

Wanting to spend in between $400-600

Check out the Canon HG-10 and the HV-30. I think it's the HV-30 that uses memory cards, so people here recommend it over the HG-10 because of that.

Awesome thanks, what software do you use for editing?

Sony Vegas because other programs won't edit the AVCHD files that my HG-10 uses. Not sure if windows movie maker will work for you, I think it will, since I can watch the video clips in Windows Media Player.

I bought the Canon HV-30, it only uses mini SD cards for images and uses HD tapes for recording...the quality of the recording looks great on my HDTV, but my computer crashed and I haven't been able to see how well the editing software it came with works. Does anyone have any comments about how good the editing software that it comes with is, or another type of editing program that they would suggest?

Also what type of water proof housing would you recommend?

the new adobe premiere cs4 works with native AVCHD editing <BR> <BR>As for a housing, check out EPIC camera housings. BHPhotovideo.com sells them

Is the Adobe Premiere Elements 4 and Photoshop Elements 6 what you're talking about? <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/530216-REG/Adobe_29180386_Premiere_Elements_4_and.html#featur es" target="_blank">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/530216-REG/Adobe_29180386_Premiere_Elements_4_and.html#featur es</a>

Will that support my type of camcorder anyway?

???

Premiere elements 7 supports AVCHD editing.