I need Help buying a mini-DV Camcorder…?

I have been tring to research buying a new camcorder but the more I look the more confused I get. This is for home videos, nothing fancy just my kids, holidays and vacations.

Things that are important: Mini-DV, Compact, good video and sound quality, light for low light, Firewire connection, battery life. Also quality brand, my old Sony camcorder is 7 years old and I don't plan buying another one after this for another 7 years.

Things that are not: still pics( I have a great camera for that), fancy settings (I don't know how to use them anyway)

Brands I have been looking at are Canon, Panasonic and Sony.

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