Video Camera advice please.

🙂 I was wondering whether anyone could offer some advice please.
I am using a Digital 8 tape camera at the moment http://www.sony.co.uk/product/sdh-digital-8/dcr-trv250e [i need one to allow me to play my old Standard 8,Hi 8 and Digital 8 tapes] but it is beginning to show its age.The connections for the dv cables in the camera are very dodgy now so i may have to get them repaired so i can still use and transfer the tapes in the future onto DVD.
Can anyone give me advice on the new breed of video cameras, pro’s and cons.
Are digital memory cards/discs reliable enough.
I guess the advantage of tape is that you always have the master tape for future use,once you’ve wiped the memory card,thats it gone.
All i want is optical zoom,options to have manually shutter speeds,manual exposure.
Many thanks, oh i guess up to about £500 🙂