I see what you guys mean about the screens for tree arms, to a degree anyways. We don't use tree arms ourselves, but use shoulder mounts, so I don't have that experience.

I think lungbuster gave the good advice...starting out pick up a smaller pro-sumer and go with it. A GL-2, Sony VX2000 or 2100, or similar. Those you can pick up for say 12-1500 used with a warantee from B&H Photo and will be more than fine. All the talk about upgrading, best audio, etc is all great technical talk, but certainly not necessary. Just look at the tv shows out there and you will see that many of those shows are not paying much attention to top quality on the video and audio, LOL. Like Mr. Primos says...it ain't Hollywood.

We stay with those type cams for our bowfishing because they give us the needed mobility and light weight for filming out of the boat all day/night, and we have spit out some outstanding video (if I do say so myself...).

BTW, we will have a GL-2 for sale in a month or so.