I guess in part it depends on your budget. Bernina is an excellent but extremelly expensive machine. I have a Bernina 630 because the person that gave it to me got it and hated it. She stored it in a closet until she gave it to me. She got herself the Pfaff. They are both very good machines, but I would go with the one where I can get serviced easier.

I have a Bernina 730...it has a metal casing..is reliable..top quality. I love my machine.

I too had a choice on which machine to get between a Bernina 830 and the Babylock Elisimo. I chose the Babylock because it was top-of-the-line, easy to learn and a couple of thousand less than th Bernina. My sewing center only sells these two brands because they are the best. If you haven't looked into a Babylock (which you should)and you have narrowed your search down to just the two, I would reccommend the Bernina.

Well, I did it, went & bought a Pfaff Creative Vision 5.5 today. I knew I wouldn't be satisfied until I got one, so I did it. I've been wanting one for about a year. It will primarily be an embroidery machine. I also got the big dream hoop, which looks like a monster compared to the jumbo hoop on my Bernina 830. Now all I have to do is learn to use the Creative Vision machine. Its similar to the 830 yet very different. I'll learn it, I just hope I don't get the two machines mixed up when using it.
Cathy

I have the new CV 5.5 and love it. I traded in my 2144. This machine does so much more!! I have only had it a few weeks,so still learning, but have been told it much more user friendly. You will love it!!!

I just finished the first, hopefully of many, on the CV. I had to remove a red plastic shipping piece to get the embroidery unit to move freely (Duh-no one told me it needed to be removed). Anyway, now it works like a dream. It doesn't auto thread itself or clip jump threads like my Bernina 830 does, but the 830 doesn't have the huge dream hoop or show color sequences or give plain English messages like the CV does. They both have their own advantages & disadvantages. They compensate & compliment each other. I believe I'll be happy with the CV once I learn how to operate it.

CathyS/Willowwind

The 830 does show color sequences...?

Not really, at least not in the way the CV does-which I like better. The 830 shows the current color, but you have to scroll through the list to see all the colors, one at a time. The CV shows the whole sequence at once, then highlights the current color. That's one feature that sold me on the machine.

Cathy

I have Berninas. Love both of mine. One I use for piecing, and the other one I have set up for embroidery. I have never had a Phaff to compare. I would sew on them and see which one you like the best. And also consider if you have a dealer close to do regular cleaning on your machine.