In this budget, you’ll likely need to accept some trade-offs. For a more cinematic look, a DSLR or mirrorless stills camera with HD video is a sensible direction because the larger sensor can give you shallow depth of field and interchangeable lenses for wide and telephoto shots.

From the answers, the Canon T2i is a strong suggestion if you can stretch above budget. It offers HD video and an external mic input, which is still uncommon on cheaper models. The Nikon D3100 was also mentioned as a possible fit, though also slightly above budget.

If slow motion is a top priority, Casio models were specifically noted as stronger for high-frame-rate capture, but they are not DSLRs and may not meet your other filmmaking needs as well.

A lower-cost alternative mentioned is the Olympus PEN E-PL1, which can do HD video, interchangeable lenses, SDHC storage, and external mic support via adapter, but its battery life and slow-motion capability are weaker.

So the practical advice is: prioritize your must-haves. If external mic input and a cinematic look matter most, look at a used or discounted DSLR/mirrorless option like a T2i-class camera. If slow motion matters most, consider Casio-style high-speed cameras.