[jlames]

Not really. What you need is experience and a chance. Let's take the JVC 100HD for example. If you go to dvxuser.com or dvinfo.net, you'll find a number of people who are selling their 100s so they can afford 250s for pennies on the dollar. Why I don't know but they are but more importantly, there are a great number of people there who can help you including me. I'm sure you'll find one in your price range. Or I'll loan you one to use for a while and then you make the decision. I started 2nd Unit to make a difference in people's lives; a difference that begins with education and never ends as long as I have the 2 hands God gave me. One holds on and the other reaches out to help others. If you can make it, we're shooting portions of a commercial in the DFW area later this month. We'll make room for you on the crew and teach you about the JVC and a few other aspects of filmmaking that, given your experience, I'm certain you'll pick up on quickly. We'll be shooting with Sony XDCAM 350s as usual using the JVCs as "B" cameras so I'll leave it with you to work with. Use it. Learn it. Get good at it. Understand lighting and optics in motion and you'll see your work improve immeasurably. Then you'll be able to use it to make back the money you'll invest in purchasing one. If you do head over to dvinfo.net, you'll find a story where I once sent a camera to a guy I didn't know in Uraguay because he was in the jungle and his JVC went inop. JVC couldn't help him and he was running out of time so I sent him one to use. People on the board thought I was nuts until I explained that there was really no downside for me. If he didn't return it, everyone would know what the price of his integrity was. But if he did return it, he'd have a group of friends behind him forever. The filmmaking community is like that; we all help each other out and so we're all one big, close family. In the end, he sent it back and today he's a part of a very large family. So you see, it's really not about winning the lottery; it's about meeting the right people like all the great people here on this board who take the time to lend their knowledge to whomever needs it asking nothing in return except to be there for them when they need a hand. I see you're a Senior Shackmaster. I don't know what that is but it sounds important and like you've been on the board for awhile. So do the right thing if it feels right. Accept the offer and work with a great camera for a while. It'll pay wonderful dividends in the end. If you think shooting stills is rewarding, wait until a shoot you've written, blocked, lit and shot all comes together. It's a truly indescribable feeling. And besides, if you don't like it, you can always send it back. I have close friend who flies for Delta and he can always toss it on one of his flights and have it back to me in a jiffy.