Hi,

Regarding your concerns about this really excellent camcorder, (there aren't better alternatives than this camcorder at this price range, really... even those costing higher than this camcorder don't do better), here are my suggestions:
1) The headphone jack needs to be 'activated' in the touchscreen menu to function. In the setup menu, you can choose between 'AV out' or 'headphone out'. Default setting is 'AV out' so you should change this to 'headphone out' if you want to use a headphone. Dual shot mode (external switch in the `Dual -Video+Photo' position) disables the option to choose the `headphone out' over the default `AV out'. In this case, switch to `Video mode' first (move the external switch to the `video' position) and make the adjustments before switching back to `Dual' position. If the problem still persists, then try with a multitude of other cheap headphone brands. I'm sure one out there will fit just right given that your goal is to just 'hear' the sound of what you are recording and not necessarily to listen to sound in high quality audio.
2) I don't understand what you mean here. The frame settings 60i, 30p or 24p can be set INDEPENDENTLY and can be retained so long as you remain in the `Video mode' (external switch placed in the `Video' position; not in the `Dual-Video+Photo' position). You can choose Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture priority AE or any `Scene settings' and set the frame settings independently. Moving the external switch to the `Dual-Video+Photo' position will disable your frame settings since this switch position is fully automatic. When you move the external switch back to `Video' position, you need to check the frame settings last used by the camcorder when in the `Dual-Video+Photo' switch position. About the frame settings: 60i is the default. 30p is choppy if you pan the camcorder rapidly. However, 30p has double the resolution of 60i and is an excellent choice for video coverage that don't require rapid panning. 30p is actually recorded at 60i but can be reconstructed correctly by most LCD tvs to true high resolution 30p playback. (Resolution difference between 30p frame rate vs. 60i frame rate is visible even on smallish 1080p LCD tvs.) 24p in addition to being even choppier than 30p during panning, also flickers heavily much like analog film movies. I don't recommend 24p unless you really want that 'nostalgic' flickering, `antique' look to your videos (combined with the warm toned `Cinema mode').
3) The camcorder is a full HD camcorder; that is, 1080/60i which doesn't offer the lower resolution 720p or SD video. I don't know why anyone would buy a full featured mid-level (not entry level) HD camcorder if the main use is for `Youtube', `Facebook' or DVD playback only. There are lots of cheaper entry level pseudo-HD camcorders out there with no manual features whatsoever, and even lots more, cheaper HD video capturing devices (some compact digital cameras included) just for that purpose. I can't fault Canon for not including 720p and SD video options like those in the entry level Sony camcorders because I don't really see any need for it considering USB equipped blu-ray players like the Sony BDP S370 can play back AVCHD (*.mts) files directly via USB and the fact that there are lots of free downconverting software out there like 'Quickmedia Converter HD' just for that purpose: downconverting to various online video formats. For me, it's better to capture all videos in 1080p and have no option at all for 720p or SD quality because in the end, you might regret later not capturing the video in a higher resolution in the first place. There is just no way to recover the detail lost because of the 720p or SD setting that you chose when recording. With 1080p all the time and no other options, you can downconvert select videos to SD or 720p for online use or for DVD playback and still have the original high resolution 1080p video when you need it. Recording videos in the lower resolution settings, 720p or SD, (if the camcorder permits it) will only have you regretting later when you change your mind or when you upgrade to a big screen 1080p LCD tv or when you buy a USB equipped BD player like the Sony BDP S370 (which can directly play *.mts, *.mp4, *.mpg, and other HD/SD video and image[*.jpg] files).

Regarding your concern about the file sizes, if you want `Youtube', `Facebook' or DVD video quality only, you can always choose the 'LP mode' which records more than 6hrs of 1080p video in a cheap class 4, 16GB SDHC card. Even at this lowest setting, it still beats SD video in image quality by a mile and the file sizes are even much smaller than when recording directly in `mpeg2' or standard `DVD' format. I therefore don't understand why there should be 'memory space' problems. Unless you shoot MXP all the time with the intended purpose of using the video only for DVD playback or for online use (Facebook, Youtube), then you shouldn't be using MXP at all and you shouldn't be even buying a mid-level, full featured HD camcorder in the first place. Also, there are lots of cheap storage options out there: An external 320GB, 640GB or 1 TB portable hard drive costs very cheap nowadays and they can store several hours of 1080p videos. You just need to store your videos on those portable hard drives for safekeeping. If you have a smallish 32" inch full HD LCD tv, you will not even see dramatic differences in 'LP' mode vs 'MXP' mode video quality so all the more reason why you should choose `LP' mode for video recording (much better quality than DVD/mpeg2 at an even smaller file size.)

4) File corruption is largely due to viruses. With the advent of removable memory like SD cards and USB thumb drives comes the proliferation of 'autorun.inf' viruses which are easily transmitted from one device to another. You should be careful with your SD cards and USB thumb drives. They can get viruses easily from your photoprinting service after you have your photos printed from your memory card, after inserting those memory cards from your infected internet connected PC, from your friend's laptop, etc. You should invest in an anti-virus software like McAfee VirusScan and should lend your memory cards to friends only if you don't have a virus scanner which you can use after a memory card or USB thumb drive has been lent or inserted in another device of questionable infection status.
Now the next major cause of file errors/corruption of data is improper handling or storage of memory cards. Memory cards should be stored in a cool, dry place in a memory card holder, and away from magnetic devices to avoid damage. The third major cause of file errors are defective memory cards (factory defect). If this is the case, you should return the memory card or have it replaced. The fourth likely cause is device problem (the camcorder itself). So before you blame the camcorder and return it, check that you have ruled out the other main likely causes of data corruption.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tip about the headphone jack - I noticed a nasty buzzing sound when I plugged headphones in, and was pleased to find out it went away when I switched from AV to headphone mode (thanks to your posting!).

I'm glad to be of help. :)

I have a very basic question. I have a tv of 720p, can I watch the video with 1080p that this camcorder record? thanks a lot!

If you view your video by connecting this camcorder to your tv then you have 2 options: 1. If you choose to connect using the supplied 'component video' cable (red-green-blue cable) the output will be in HD video.
2. If you choose to connect using the supplied 'stereo-video' cable (red-white-yellow cable), the output will be in 'standard definition' video which can be played by virtually any tv; old or new, LCD, CRT, DLP, Projection, plasma, whatever. Now most newer 720p tvs can handle/downconvert a 1080p signal to 720p so you should try connection #1 first and see if it works with your 720p tv. If not, you can always use connection #2 but the output would be standard definition video.
Some older 720p tv models can have problems displaying a 1080p signal and the screen may flicker, roll or just turn black. In this case, choose option 2. There's also an alternative if you really want to see your camcorder videos in a 720p tv that does not support 1080p: purchasing a blu-ray player that has a USB input and has support for the AVCHD format like the cheap Sony BDP-S370 BD player ($138 in Amazon). You just buy and use an SD card to USB adaptor or an SD card reader and plug the USB end to your BD player (in this case the Sony BDP-S370). Alternatively, you can copy movies from your SD card to your thumb/USB drive using your personal computer and then plug the thumb/USB drive to your BD player. Any method will do. BD players have an option to set the video output. You can choose anywhere from 480i to 720p to 1080p so for your tv, you should choose '720p' output in your BD player settings. In the future, if you upgrade your tv to a 1080p model, then you can change the blu-ray settings to output in 1080p to match the capability of your tv.

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I agree. Given the choice I definitely want SD alongwith HD. I use Free HD converter to convert to SD which is extra work.

I agree. Given the choice I definitely want SD alongwith HD. I use Free HD converter to convert to SD which is extra work.