I would not jump in and buy anything yet. Your situation is calling for rental equipment first. I would get a few paid gigs and rent a few different cameras to find one that works best for you. There are many factors to consider. What will you edit with? I assume you’ll want to shoot in HD most of the time. Can your computer handle the HD footage? The camera is not the only thing you will need to think about. You should have a good tripod, backup battery, camera case, & extra media are a few of the essential items to have. Then there are mics that are important too(lav mic and shotgun mic) & even a lightkit can be a must. I would rent just the things you need for each job you get. Then, just buy the essentials when ready. And then, if you decide it is beneficial to buy other stuff, you’ll have kwowledge of what you need.
Personally, I like the Panasonic P2 cameras. The HPX170 is a nice little camera you can get for around $4000US. But then, I would suggest buying another P2 media card – 64gig is about $1000. It comes with a 16gig card.
There are alot of factors to think about. These are just a few to things to consider. Good luck!
James