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I would not recommend getting the FX7 because tapes are a hassle and the camcorder is getting fairly old. It doesn't record full hd (1080i vs 1080p). If you have your mind set on a camcorder under 1500 then I would try to pick up a Panasonic P2 camcorder (HPX-170, HVX-200A) or a Panasonic HMC-150. You can probably find one of those used to fit your budget.
Another good route to take is the DSLR path. You can pick up a good DSLR body for around even $400 used up to however expensive you want to go. With these however you will need to purchase more accessories and lenses, but it is a great path to go down because you can also use the body for photos. If you want a more professional body you could go with the Canon 7D or 5D Mark 3, but if you would like cheaper body so you can purchase more lenses, etc. you could go with a Canon t3i/t4i/60d/70d.
Lastly, you could get a m43 camera. Either the Panasonic GH2 or GH3 are the best cameras in this category. The nice part about these is the fact that you can adapt virtually any lens to them (vintage, etc.) and you can hack them to get stunning bitrates/quality that you cannot get with the canons as well.
Anyways just my two cents.
HMC 150 (Remember this uses SD Cards-little loss of quality but saves you a lotttt on storage)
HPX 170 (Uses P2 Cards instead of SD Cards which cost a lot more)
You would still need to buy P2 cards with the second option which cost a lot, although I know some people are willing to pay for them for the extra quality the HPX gives
