I'm minoring in video arts and my first true video class is next semester so I need to buy a camera. For school I will have to make short films and all that, but outside of school I film the usual skiing, biking, climbing, trips, and whatever else I get myself into. This is my first high quality video camera and I don't know much about them. I've looked at canon (XF100/XF105), panasonic (AG-AC130A) and sony. I'm looking for an all around good camera that I will be able to work with for many years as I go through school. If it comes down to the canon I might just buy the XF105. No camera has really stood out to me so I'm guessing it will come down to personal preference.