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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 :)

Dear Epic Renters

A

Andy Nguyen

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Hey Epic Owners!

I think a lot of you who own these cameras, usually are in the renting of equipment side of things to some extent.

I just wanted to ask you all (those who do rent) when do you expect to recoup your investment? How long does it usually take you from gigs you shoot on your own and take a kit fee in addition to rentals, how long are you expecting until you recoup your investment.

Apologize if this is in the wrong section.

Just was at the top of my mind, that's all.

Andy
 
Roughly 1.5 years for anything. Being careful about what we buy, it's been about that. Lenses longer but they last forever.
 
I [almost] never buy anything that can't recover its value in 18 months or less. And even then I pause to think about it. My ideal range is 8 to 12 months.

Everyone has different business models and goals for their investments. My 18 month rule doesn't apply to everything I purchase, it just can't. Some things, like computer workstations and notebooks, are supplanted with superior models within months, even if we buy when first released. Their value is automatically halved as soon as the return policy expires. So I've found it best to make sure they can ROI themselves in 6 months. Like Rob mentions above, lenses last forever. Glass is a safe investment in this business, or at least it has been for many years. I don't know if that logic is as sound as it was a few years ago with all the changes happening in the industry and the increased demand as well as offerings, for lenses. Lenses hold their value quite well too, so you won't usually take a beating if you over-spend on some nice glass and find you need to sell it a couple years later.

For big-ticket items like a set of primes or even an EPIC-M camera, I will do everything I can to pay cash for them as opposed to financing. In the end, it's those interest payments and finance charges that kill you, not the purchase price of the gear.
 
ROI

ROI

Hi,

Mine benchmark is 10-12 months ...

Thks

Harcharan
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
I [almost] never buy anything that can't recover its value in 18 months or less. And even then I pause to think about it. My ideal range is 8 to 12 months.

Everyone has different business models and goals for their investments. My 18 month rule doesn't apply to everything I purchase, it just can't. Some things, like computer workstations and notebooks, are supplanted with superior models within months, even if we buy when first released. Their value is automatically halved as soon as the return policy expires. So I've found it best to make sure they can ROI themselves in 6 months. Like Rob mentions above, lenses last forever. Glass is a safe investment in this business, or at least it has been for many years. I don't know if that logic is as sound as it was a few years ago with all the changes happening in the industry and the increased demand as well as offerings, for lenses. Lenses hold their value quite well too, so you won't usually take a beating if you over-spend on some nice glass and find you need to sell it a couple years later.

For big-ticket items like a set of primes or even an EPIC-M camera, I will do everything I can to pay cash for them as opposed to financing. In the end, it's those interest payments and finance charges that kill you, not the purchase price of the gear.
Click to expand...

Agreed, whenever possible, although interest still dirt low.
 
This is all amazingly great information! Thanks to Jeff, Harcharan, and Rob for their responses.

Really appreciate it. I just don't know what people expect these days.

I hear what you're saying about lenses and I believe that when you say it'll last a while I believe you, it's just so many people want to rent so many different kinds of lenses for so many different looks that I couldn't find myself sitting down a purchasing a prime set. I just feel like they'll use it to make sure an image in coming through.... ok rambling

But thanks everyone

Andy
 
Rick Darge said:
Great glass will never devalue. Cameras will...
Click to expand...

What will happen when the market only values glass that covers 5k or 8k or 18k?

Could it be that there are only a couple of years left for 35mm glass being a golden ticket to the future?

I'm not suggesting it won't be useful because it will, just maybe not in as high demand and that could affect value.
 
Andy Nguyen said:
This is all amazingly great information! Thanks to Jeff, Harcharan, and Rob for their responses.

Really appreciate it. I just don't know what people expect these days.

I hear what you're saying about lenses and I believe that when you say it'll last a while I believe you, it's just so many people want to rent so many different kinds of lenses for so many different looks that I couldn't find myself sitting down a purchasing a prime set. I just feel like they'll use it to make sure an image in coming through.... ok rambling

But thanks everyone

Andy
Click to expand...

If you get a great lens system you can sometimes sell them on it by showing it to them, in a live demo or through your own work.
 
Andy Nguyen said:
Hey Epic Owners!

I think a lot of you who own these cameras, usually are in the renting of equipment side of things to some extent.

I just wanted to ask you all (those who do rent) when do you expect to recoup your investment? How long does it usually take you from gigs you shoot on your own and take a kit fee in addition to rentals, how long are you expecting until you recoup your investment.

Apologize if this is in the wrong section.

Just was at the top of my mind, that's all.

Andy
Click to expand...

Andy, we are planning on getting an EPIC-X but we are stage 4. But we still have a business plan to get back our investment within 12-18 months. I think the words from Jeff and others ring so true. Every piece of equipment has to be weighed up and if you are renting / hiring, then you have to make sure your getting something back or its just dead money.

It will also depend on what the market is like where your from and how far you are prepared to let the equipment go to get your return on investment...

:-)
 
Glass

Glass

Hi,
The glass may devalue once we get 7K or 8K footages if they do not give full coverage...Thats the reason we have postphoned our investment for glass and now relying on RPP's which are great value for money.

If there is any specific requirement for other lenses we rent it out...Further my business logic is simple ..If I buy a set of Ultra Prime then set of 6 should cost me around USD82000 to 85000 but with my EPIC or RED I would get an extra rental of maybe USD150 per day....Its better I rent lenses from outside and get TWO more EPIC's when they are available and rent them out for USD1000 each per day or more.

Thanks

Harcharan
 
Rob Ruffo said:
Agreed, whenever possible, although interest still dirt low.
Click to expand...

Haha, true. Money is practically free right now. If you can get someone to loan it to you.
 
Harcharan Singh said:
Hi,
The glass may devalue once we get 7K or 8K footages if they do not give full coverage...Thats the reason we have postphoned our investment for glass and now relying on RPP's which are great value for money.

If there is any specific requirement for other lenses we rent it out...Further my business logic is simple ..If I buy a set of Ultra Prime then set of 6 should cost me around USD82000 to 85000 but with my EPIC or RED I would get an extra rental of maybe USD150 per day....Its better I rent lenses from outside and get TWO more EPIC's when they are available and rent them out for USD1000 each per day or more.
Click to expand...

Are there actually any lenses out there right now that would cover 7K or 8K (assuming pixel size is the same)? I think we're likely at the limit of what most lenses are able to handle with respect to sensor size. Would it be reasonable to assume a higher resolution sensor, say 7K or 8K, would actually end up being the same physical sensor size we have now, but somehow with new advancement in sensor technology still allow comparable sensitivity to light? This of course excludes the Monstro sensor (whenever it will actually exist), which would really be for special applications and require very special lenses. Given that, I don't think a good lens set is a bad investment, unless my reasoning and thinking is completely wrong.
 
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