Need recommendation for video camcorder

I have an old Sony DCR TRV8 mini DV standard def camcorder. It has recently been giving me problems. I love the FireWire interface. I generally use it to make home movies and my kids use it to make their music videos. I would like to spend under $500 for a new camcorder. Of course, it must work with FCP X. Any suggestions ?  I realize I won't be getting a pro camera for that price, but I need one that is easy to use decent zoom and decent picture. Keep in mind where I'm coming from (the Sony).
Thanks

Hi Alfredo,
don't let you make you 'monkeys' on these quality-only-with-big-bucks discussion.
for sure, you get a decent quality for $500 - if you keep some simple rules (of photography) in mind.
It's very difficult to recomend types&models, due to different demands ...
Example: I LOVE my Lumix FZ35/38 ($300!) - it lacks a mic-in, no foldable screen, no 'FullHD', handling like a stills-cam (which it is) not like a 'camera' - but for MY needs a superb camera: 26mm (KB) wide-angle, you'll not find on camcorders (perhaps a few) good for indoors, it has a super-zoom (>500mm/KB) good for my soccer movies, it allows manual control for more cinematography needs (aperture, speed, ...), it's small and reliable. And records in 720p good for my 'effects' and is fully compatible with iMovie and FCPX.
For 'camcorder' I lately was pointed to the Panasonic HDC-SD99 ... seems to be a very nice device, and (almost) within your budget
Make a wish list - what do YOU need your camera for?
lots of indoor (e.g. daughter's ballet)? => light sensitivity, big lense, 3 ccd?
lots of 'action' (e.g. skiing) => simple to use, no -zillions of knobs to care for
lots of audio (e.g. music tutorials) => ext. mic-in or additional costs for am audio rec device as H1
lots of 'long lense' (e.g. nature, football, ... ) => avoid 'digital zoom', get a real glass zoom
camcorderinfo.com is an excellent source for technical info and independent tests.
All AVCHD-devices are supported by  FCPX, except the latest models with 1080/50p/60p ... (fingers crossed, Apple updates to AVCHD v2 soon ... FCPX DOES handle these formats, but not straight from camera)
Take super-zoom/bridge cameras into consideration ... somehow, the market for camcorders shrink, the all-in-one-devices, stills with video-ability, is common standard. DSLR is nice to have, but a) $.$$$, and b) not meant for point 'n shoot, in terms of: for real quality such devices need photographer's skills.

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