Reccomendations for a video camera for a beginner?

[Davey]

Well, here it is. Post-Christmas boxing day blowout spree goes by and I've managed to keep a coin in my pocket. I've been looking around for a video camera, preferably something with a screen so I won't have to hold it to my eye when filming, seeing as I may need to film from awkward angles or down low in positions that wouldn't allow me to use the eyepiece. I'd need something tough, because for some reason everything I own gets roughed up no matter how much I try to baby it, so I wouldn't want anything that would fall apart quickly. I don't expect it to stand up to water. I've got a budget of about 400 Canadian, so I'd need to get the most bang for what little buck I can push up.

Problem is I just don't know where to start, or much about video cameras in general. Anyone got some advice on this?