I would recommend getting an HV30 instead. I was doing some testing the other day when I had a PD170 at my house and I compared the two, and the HV30 looked better, even when in SD mode.
thanks for the advice... how did the HX30 hold up an night? Also, i shoot weddings and as lame as it sounds... People respond better to a big expensive looking camera. Even though i know the HV20/30 are top of the line...