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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 :)

RED really pays for itself?

Jarek Zabczynski

Jarek Zabczynski

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I've been considering taking the plunge on RED for a while now. I've talked to a couple people that have them and they say it's pretty easy to get work once you have one. Considering the average daily rate on a full package is about $1500/day...it almost seems too good to be true.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?
 
JesterJJZ said:
I've been considering taking the plunge on RED for a while now. I've talked to a couple people that have them and they say it's pretty easy to get work once you have one. Considering the average daily rate on a full package is about $1500/day...it almost seems too good to be true.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?
Click to expand...

The way the "Red concept" is now, I can tell you that 90% of Red owner don't get a return.
The package needs lenses which are not cheap and then matte box, filters, follow focus, head legs and monitors.
Then you have a heavy post work flaw that not every post house can deal with.
If you are a production company which has a few projects lined up in the next few years and consider having your own camera gear instead of renting one, that could be a different story as after the third or fifth project you will find that buying the package paid off itself than renting one each time.
 
"Full Package" typically means just that, body, lens, mattebox, tripod etc.

As long as you are willing to spend $40k+ for the most basic package, you should have everything you need.

How much you can get for it depends on where you are and who you know.

I've found everyone I talk to knows of 5 other cameras and doesn't express a lot of interest in renting mine.

Having said that, I got mine for my own projects to avoid the cost and hassle of rental, as well as hone my skills and knowledge. In that respect it has been fantastic!

I haven't spent a lot of energy trying to rent mine so I don't know if I would have more success if I put it out there a bit more.

One thing I will say, with 4,000 cameras out there, $1,500 a day may be on the high end and restricted to rental companies with additional services. If you're just a guy at home, with no backup, you may need to settle for less.

If you're a producer with your own projects looking to recoup a bit on the side, I say go for it.

But if you are just looking for a free camera, I would say chances are slim you will break even from renting it, and you'll have to jump through so many hoops, the time investment may make the return less glossy.

Just my opinion.

Jim
 
I'm seeing Red packages going for $500-$1200 in Los Angeles. $1500/day for a Red without a proper Zeiss setup is pretty steep nowadays, & I've owned the Red since Feb 08 & it's not as easy as you think to attract business. Just owning the camera isn't going to bring you work. Within a few weeks, Red will be all caught up and shipping in real time. Prod. houses will buy their own Reds so they dont have to rent from private owners and rental houses. We're about to see a flood of gear/owners nestled between an economic recession. Rates are expected to drop even further. Merry xmas. If you can provide a skill with that camera, then you have a better chance at survival.
 
I think a lot of RED ONEs will change hands over the next 3-4 months and RED will probably not sell as many cameras as they have in the past because if the economic situation. I don't think production companies that haven't already invested in the RED ONE will continue to do so in the next year as they have done in the past year. They would rather rent for projects and keep the rest of the money to be safe in order to survive the current economic crisis. So I think those that are able to keep their cameras will be able to get them into the rental market if they make an effort. But - I'm pretty sure the rental prices will drop a little and then settle.

I'm currently renting out my own "indie" package (redrock mattebox and a set of 5 Zeiss ZF lenses) for just under $1000 including myself as operator/technician - and also renting it out through a couple of rental outfits when they need extra cameras. Thus far it's going pretty good (haven't seen my camera in over a week now) :)
 
Tony is probably right. In fact, there seems to be an increased number of RED Ones for sale this week already.

As for making a return, it depends on your local market and other markets you choose to serve. What you currently do will be a huge factor -- owning the camera isn't going to bring you work. There's roughly 4000-something cameras out in the wild now and it's pretty easy to find a RED One rental.

I took delivery of my camera in May. The RED One body has already more than paid for itself. However, all the remaining support gear, lenses, etc.. added up to more than the camera body by far. OTOH, shooting with RED is only some of what I do and it's a smaller aspect of my whole business. ...The RED is just a tool that lets you get certain jobs done.
 
Well I have projects starting to line up that I'd really like to use RED on. High end music video for the most part. I've always liked buying my gear over renting. It just makes more sense to me. I'm willing to plop down a good 50k into this. I would include myself in my rental for whatever purpose, either as a DP or simply doughnut boy. Onsite tech for the most part.

I've been doing well as a DP and am starting to get more work on the directing front. I'm just thinking that a RED system would only open me up to some bigger clientele.

I wouldn't be relying on simply having the camera to get work if that's what anyone is thinking. I just want to expand my capabilities.
 
Seems like you're in an OK situation then... If you're getting work as it is, then owning a RED will bring more capabilities to the table.
 
I`m wondering all the time...is that transformers thing you`re using here and on your website public domain?
 
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