Great camera while it was on the market...

I bought this camera in December 2004. I love it. I had planned on purchasing the Panasonic that was this camera's direct competition at the time until I went to the store and actually picked up both and held them in my hands. The Panasonic felt like a cheaply made plastic toy. This one feels like a well-built, solid, quality camera. It takes beautiful video - sharp, crisp, clear, colorful - and it's very simple to use. It also has a unique twist-handle design that makes the camera comfortable in any position.