My HVR-z7u has been fabulous, but after 7 or 8 years it's getting a little long in the tooth. As just one example, the wheel that scrolls through the menu options works only sporadically and, as a result, I am shooting almost all the time on auto. What is a newer Sony model in the same general price range that will provide a better image than the 1440x1080 HDV technology? I am not a daily shooter, more like a few times a month. Thanks very much for any advice.

The replacement for your camera is the Nx3 is basically the same camera but tapeless it uses the same cmos sensor so I can't imagine it be much of a difference. You have to jump up to PXW -X200 with the 1/2 sensor and a less compressed codec but it's pricey ($6,300) you could save a lot of money by getting a used EX1 which might make more sense if its not being used heavily.

Thanks, and I also ran into this beauty, which is just coming out for $3,200: sony pxw-z150 Just sounds ideal, at least from what I have read and the videos I have seen.

It is ideal for many things. A great run'n gun camera with an exceptional G lens that goes macro to looooong with clear scan zoom. Great image. Solid codec. Backpackable and fun to use. I replaced my EX3's with them. And they can b-cam for the FS7 or FS5. Or A cam for the a6300 or RX10 or A7S. Incredibly easy to use in this day and age of slog/cine/gamma/LUT/Look/dozen codec choices on cameras costing 3x as much and outputting what this camera does almost automatically with a picture profile. If you want an uncomplicated camera, this is it.