I have used the a1 for the past mounth now, and WOW, it is great. The cam has a picture quality of cameras twice it's price.
For what you what to do with it is what the camera was made to do. I have seen some of it's footage on the discovery HD theater an I kid you not it looks just like the larger 30,000 cams.
This is the best cam in the line up of v1u,JVC 110u,z1u,dvx100, and maybe in some cases the hvx200.
You will not be dissapointed with this great cam.
So far, it has served me well!
Kyle