Mitchell Robinson :
Sorry for my late reply too 😛
Well i really cant help you here as I have had little experience with the lower, entry level, cameras. I can however, recommend you brands like JVC and Sony for this price range. I would have a look at all the competitions cameras, find their equivalents (In your price range) and do a comparison. Also. You might want to prioritize things like mic ports and hot shoe mounts as these things allow for expansion/upgrades in the future.
*Some time later*
I found one after comparing all the basic stats. Panasonic offers a great camcorder called the HC-V750M. It gets outshined by the others in zoom length and "other features" like water proof and "tough". But all those are gimmics. What really matters is that the camera at its widest is 29mm focal length which is the perfect focal length for video IMO. It also has a modest sensor with 6.8 Megapixels when recording 1080p. Also it also records at a higher than normal bit rate (28mbps) which means you will get great detail. and to top it off it has mic input and a hotshoe mount for future upgrades (like an external mic). They are selling online for just under $650USD.
But be sure to look around and compare models. Remembering what you will be using it for and choosing in accordance.
Once again,so sorry for the late reply! lol
Thanks a lot for researching and helping out

Just took a look at the HC-V750M and was actually suprisingly impressed,for a handycam it looks great! Might consider getting that but I've been looking at either a Canon eos 70d and a Nikon d7000 on Amazon priced at around $600 refurbished which is great! Unfortunately the Canon (the one I wanted most
🙁 ) doesn't ship to Ireland from the American Amazon site
🙁 so I've been considering the nikon d7000. What do you think of this camera?