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Try 100k for a Panasonic hdx 900 kit. Although even those are a bit archaic and then you need sound.
I spent a number of years as a member of the pool media out of NYC. It's a never ending struggle between stills and video. They think we are evil. We know they are 
pool only get used in a few scenarios, but I know what you mean. I hated the mash up of it all. The hurry and wait, the total disdain from security or secret service. Yet another never ending struggle.
But if we pool it all the (not that I know what you do, but I gather the idea) independants like yourself will be the first to go, as well as, locals from the area and it will be NYC and Washington DC crews flying in.
I doubt that much will ever change. Too much going on all the time that isn't the president or head of state.
Happy Chasing and
Get down! You're the shot! 
you are right. We were looking at it at one point, but quite frankly, it is the boss's turn to buy THAT if they truly want to go to video. Me, we get pretty good shots.
And since we are the 8th market in the country, not the first, security gave trouble to all the kids from out of state who did not have a proper press pass.
It was funny, they were irritated. They checked our city issued passes, yup, up to date, go right ahead. You STOP!!! But I am (quite honestly do not remember the national). Had that puppy face of BUT, BUT...
Actually one of my favorite stories involves the Chariot Fire. We carry topo maps to fires, and one reason we got to the command post is we shared with Cal Fire and Coronado Bat. Chiefs. They needed to get up there to get their maps, but they had no maps. It's kind of a catch 22 situation. And for some reason going through an AF facility, the road is not well marked on most maps.
So after we looked for it in a topo and found it, (not all of it was on the map either, but the beginning was) we followed them, and got the good shots above the smoke. Ah yes, the CNN drop by the VLAT were impressive, and not through the smoke. So the paper got very good shots nobody else did.
This, I quite frankly hope we do not get another media national level story for a while. The scram to get in there for the highlights of the run and games was not fun. I figured though that this peek behind the scenes would be of interest to some here. And what was really funny was to see the self importance grows with the size of the outfit people work for. That was actually more than just an eye opener.
I am glad I work in a market that while large, still acts like a smaller market. I mean, can you imagine a local crew sharing cables with another local crew if their cables are not good in your market?
It does happen. I can't tell you how many people I've explained mic/line output on a mult-box. I guess with like Everthing else there is that 10 percen of jerks.
But when the fit is hitting the Shan, then no. I'm not you're friend at all. But it's only out of fear of losing my job to the other hundreds of people trying to get it. And that's not so likely in a smaller market.
Where I'm from their are 8 sound guys. All are good and all are nice. And all of them know there is only room for 8 and frankly no else is trying to get in. In NYC, not the case.
But if we cross paths and you need xlr or a connector, you got it.
