I've heard it said that Sony no longer sees the need for a "sub-
VX" priced 3-CCD model, and the VX2000 (or its replacement) will become the sole three chipper in the line-up.

I cannot see this. The phenomenal success of the TRV900 worldwide points to a consumer call for a high quality 3 chipper that is compact, discreet and looks like a "family cam". A lot of folk on this list are potential VX2000 buyers (I'm one) yet we choose the 900/950 for it's size : performance ratio.
We know and accept the losses compared to the VX2k but the gain is light weight: 1,4kg vs 880g.

And Sony are certainly not going to let Panasonic reel us all in with their 700g three chip MX500, no way. My guess is that internal politics or worldwide recession tempted Sony to hold back the release of the 950, especially as they saw that in the face of the Panasonic MX300 and then 350 competition, the 900 continued to sell well.

Lastly, the TRV50 is now closer to the 950 and only serves to show the gap left by the demise of the 900. The 50 is half the price of the VX2k and that void needs plugging. Sony are not ones to leave a niche market - rather they are ones to sub divide the niche. I think there's a gap that needs filling - between the 950 and the 2000.

tom.

bottom line is $$ .. if sony or any manufacturer thinks they can make $$ they will put a model out there. if they don't think they can make $$ then you will not see a model between the 950 and vx2k ...

Considering that they have drasticly dropped the price on all of the above models I think we will soon see what the new kid on the block will be in this model/price range. Lets hope they improve on an overall basis from what are allready good camcorders

A Sony model that may be between the TRV950 and VX2000? How about the PDX10? But why focus on Sony? Go with the best one which suits your needs. I would say that the GL2 is a step above the TRV950.

In the European market the PDX10 is $500 more expensive than the VX2000 !!

Regards P

Sorry to hear that. Prices are a bit like here in Canada. The only good prices we get here is if you order from Japan, the US, and Hong Kong.

And they're not really good prices because there is no warranty.

By G'd, you're right...er, in the sense that you do get a warranty but have to pay for shipping? But wait a minute, when I sent my cam back to Australia, for the firmware upgrade, Pana paid for shipping both ways. And they even offered to pick up the other Pana---sitting in my sister-in-law's home located in Tehran, Iran. In fact, Pana even arranged everything before I could even think about! Fedex picked up my cam from my home, and then back again. Mind you, it did take almost 4 weeks.