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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Think it's RED time for me! A few questions regarding purchase...

D. O'Bryan

D. O'Bryan

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Hey all. So I think it's finally time to realize my life dream and officially be able to die happy. :thumbsup:

I want to get a red one for my own productions, but could only afford one were I to keep her rented at least a few days a month to cover payments.

How viable is rental here in L.A. and surrounding counties? The going rate seems to be around $500-700/day for a body and some accessories, a bit more if a lens is included. Heck, if I rent her one day a month at those rates I'll be covered. Ideally it'll be more and I'll actually be able to make back some money while I'm at it. ;)

Also, I'm not sure if I'm missing anything terribly important, but here's what I'm thinking to start myself off:

RED ONE
Base Production Pack
CF module
RED EVF
18-50mm RED zoom
Redrock Micro MatteBox
Redrock FF

Also, anyone know where I can find good financing for the above package? :)
 
If you have never rented gear before, you may want to reconsider your business plan. The package you describe is not an ideal rental package, and if you are serious about renting your gear there is much more to consider. Rentals are brutal on your equipment, and require a different type of insurance.

What are you going to do when you rent out the camera to a production and the camera breaks down?

Do you know how to adequately protect yourself from fraud and theft?

just a few things to consider.
 
Well what would you recommend I include in the package? I've looked into a whole mess of available packages out there and have priced out all their included gear. If I'm going to get a loan for $30k I may as well get a loan for $40k and do it right, and end up with plenty of gear to support my own productions as well.

As for insurance whenever I've rented I've been required to provide proof of insurance to the rental company. Does it not work that way?
 
Rental equipment- I would stick with Arri Gear and outfit the camera w/ ET hardware.

If you are willing to take a risk with the camera, the proof of insurance is ok...but if you look at one you will notice that they usually have a hefty deductible also be prepared to wait 6 months to a year to get your money.

Rental biz is brutal...its best left to an outfit that does nothing but Rentals.

Personally I would never rent a package from a company that doesnt offer full support, with one body and limited accessories how are you going to do that?

just my .02
 
the problem is there are quite a few others in LA willing to rent that same package for less, often with support gear, drives, DIT, blah blah blah.

If you need to renting it out in order to be able to afford the payments, I don't think many here will advise getting the camera. The market is absolutely flooded. The big boys pay extra to have all their needs met by proven professional houses, and the little guys are looking for the absolute best del on the block, of which there are many people who made the same mistake your thinking about and willing to undercut any price just to make some kind of income. It will be years before those guys (and there are many of them) come close to paying off their gear.

Anyway, if you're going to "do it right" I'd try to cover just about everything besides glass and post. I'd get:
o'connor or cartoni tripod
arri gear instead of redrock
RED LCD
RED drive
3 CF cards
RED power pack
1 extra red brick
top mount
2 universal mounts
2 12" steel rods
2 24" steel rods
ET Hybrid base plate
ET breakout box

that's all I can think of off the top of my head. There are already people in LA renting out packages like this for stupidly cheap prices, but that's the market right now. And of course when Scarlet comes along...

EDIT: oh, and remember to get cases for everything.
 
Kingsly said:
Hey all. So I think it's finally time to realize my life dream and officially be able to die happy. :thumbsup:

RED ONE
Base Production Pack
CF module
RED EVF
18-50mm RED zoom
Redrock Micro MatteBox
Redrock FF

Also, anyone know where I can find good financing for the above package? :)
Click to expand...

I got my three REDs with WEST BAY FINANCIAL, talk to Mark, and say I referred you to him, do mention that you are a REDUSER.

Good Luck.

ciao
 
I'd take a good look around- the RED rental market in L.A. is pretty saturated and with fully loaded packages. You might be better off renting yourself out as camera/DIT than just hardware. Otherwise you may wind up with debt...

-Noah
 
Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me?

There's another 'Kingsly' on this board? Never thought I'd see the day. Allow me to formally introduce myself: Kingsly, I'm Kingslea.


Seriously, I have to chime in and recommend waiting for a Scarlet. Is this to be your first major camera purchase? If so, maybe an HPX or an EX-3 would be good options to start with.

Do you have much experience with the RED? If no, you should talk to some local owner/ops and see what their experiences have been like and what they've got in their kits. It's not an investment to be made lightly - support and accessories, cine glass, powerful machines and storage for post...I know some people who've dropped $200,000-plus on their RED set-ups.
 
Noah Kadner said:
I'd take a good look around- the RED rental market in L.A. is pretty saturated and with fully loaded packages. You might be better off renting yourself out as camera/DIT than just hardware. Otherwise you may wind up with debt...
Click to expand...

I was planning to offer myself as a DIT and/or operator (operator first, considering I need to get myself qualified as a dit!) and make dough that way too.
As far as saturation, I've got a large and very far reaching list of contacts within the industry that can and are more than willing to hook me up with a client base.
Kingslea Bueltel said:
Do you have much experience with the RED? If no, you should talk to some local owner/ops and see what their experiences have been like and what they've got in their kits. It's not an investment to be made lightly - support and accessories, cine glass, powerful machines and storage for post...I know some people who've dropped $200,000-plus on their RED set-ups.
Click to expand...

Hi Kingslea! I've operated and directed RED since serial #15. Obviously I've plenty to learn about it and the best way to handle it, but I'm an über fast learner and have a good understanding of the theory behind it all. :)
As for the kit, I've been looking at the packages offered by established rental houses and am pricing and piecing together my kit accordingly. It'll essentially be what everyone else is offering, with mattebox, ff, HD monitor, filters, sticks, etc, etc, etc.
 
i personally feel it's a mistake to buy a package when the new cameras are coming out within months, but if you've made up your mind then I guess your doing it as best as one can, by gathering the necessary accs and having a solid client base.
 
Brandon said:
i personally feel it's a mistake to buy a package when the new cameras are coming out within months, but if you've made up your mind then I guess your doing it as best as one can, by gathering the necessary accs and having a solid client base.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
Any word on the epic's pricing and release date? They're still offering trade in's at 100% value, right?
 
Kyle Presley said:
Don't go into debt. Just wait for Scarlet.
Click to expand...

2nd that.

At this point, the market is over saturated with RED1s. I'm sure there's at least 1000 in the LA area alone.
In itself, this is great! I think it's great for filmmakers who want to shoot with the camera and it's still good for established rental groups (and obviously, this has been a great 2 years for RED Co.).

But if you're a startup looking to make your money back on a new RED investment, I believe that time has passed.

First off, the camera package you offer must be competitive in the market or else you're not going to get rentals. Period.
For $700 a day right now, I can get a very comprehensive rental package.
These full kits can cost between $40-60K to purchase all the parts, cases, filters, batteries, etc. and the reason they can afford to rent them out so low now is because they've had a year to make their money on their camera packages.

Elysian Pictures Rental
Ryan Smith Rental
Rent-A-Red
Indie Rentals

Again, if your camera package isn't as good or greater than what people are offering for the same amount of money you will not get a sale. Please consider this.

Also, you have to generate buzz for your camera from scratch when many camera owners are already well established. This is a lot of work, so please think through what it'll take to do your own publicity.

Whatever you do, don't become a slave to a debt. Don't force yourself to take multiple day rentals at extremely lowball prices just so you can pay your RED bills. It's not worth it. From experience I know this. Don't turn your passion into an obligation.

Please, take the time to think and plan through this decision.

At this point, I believe you're better off waiting for the Scarlet.

sincerely,
-J
 
Kingsly said:
Any word on the epic's pricing and release date? They're still offering trade in's at 100% value, right?
Click to expand...

Yes.

One thing you could do (since the brains are interchangeable) is buy the Scarlet but rent the Epic when you need the framerate flexibility for certain shots/scenes. :beer:

You're choice though. I'm just trying to help.
 
I think the cautionary advice is well founded -- and already, in many of the arenas where "the little guy" can rent his kit, are feeling the financial meltdown. I know from personal experience the salad days of the individual with Red generating income from his camera are largely passed around LA.

But good luck, whatever your decision.
 
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