Need a recommendation for a HD movie camera

[1KW]

Every few years something new comes out and makes old technology well... obsolete. I started out 20 years ago with a VHS video camera, 2 years later mini SVHS, 3 years later digitial video tape at 500 lines resolution. When my kids were young the video camera was always out for spur of the moment interviews etc. I have transferred everything over to DVD but have the original tapes as backup. I have not shot a video in over a year and my wife reminded me that the kids are still teenagers so get out the video camera. My video camera has 2 dead batteries and while I could just replace them, I was thinking it might time to go HD. My budget is around 1 grand, any recommendations. I want something with a decent zoom but not too big. I was thinking of trading in my nikon D300 for the D300s which does video but the autofocus I have read is not very good ie it is slow. On the other hand a digital slr with video would make it so I only have to carry one camera.

[b3n]

.