and if it does, can we therefore look forward to a plethora of cheap, hardly used equipment in 2 to 3 years time :-}

i wrote somewhere regarding amortising $7k+ cameras within the 18 month new model cycle. ok, they're not the old $25k+ sp rigs, but if you want to make a serious living, then cameras should be working to pay themselves off well before upgrading - and i don't see that happening looking at the budgets being offered for 'low-end' production, weddings, etc., i'm not talking hobbyists, nor part-timers with other main income streams, but the usual nose to the grindstone producers / cameramen.

i'm all for free credit, no repayments, et al. but from what i've seen so far, it's the carrot on the stick. good for sony, good for the finance companies, but perhaps the beginning of a never ending treadmill of 'catch-up' for the buyer....

hey, what do i care. i've got my v1, paid for up front, as with all my equipment by simply earning enough and by selling my old equipment (just in time to make it worth something - though i do have a couple of low-band decks lying around somewhere)

leslie