RPP Rental Rates

[Ghandi El-Chamaa]

Here's a perfect example of what we're talking about...I wanted to rent RPP's for a shoot but the quote came in way higher than this, which is from a national equipment house in Canada:

Zeiss 1.3 primes: 18, 25, 35, 50, 65, 85 for $85 each for the week with the exception of the 18mm which is $95.

That's pretty hard to beat -they're charging $520 for the week including shipping for 6 lenses from Toronto to Winnipeg.

So this is what the small guys are up against.

Hi Torrie,

A few questions.

Is that the first time you've dealt with that company? And was that the standard or negotiated quote?

 

[Zakaree Sandberg]

I'm gonna test my RPP's against some Cooke S4's.

s4's win

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Torrie,

A few questions.

Is that the first time you've dealt with that company? And was that the standard or negotiated quote?

Everybody will get a discount from a major rental co if they ask. Historically rate cards were based on 1% of cost a day with a 3 day week. Rental is not a particularly profitable business, just look at Panavision's accounts if you don't believe me.

 

[Ghandi El-Chamaa]

s4's win

Well that would be subjective wouldn't it :wink:

What I'd like to achieve is some idea of strengths weaknesses in comparison to a top end lens set.

 

[Stephen Williams]

Well that would be subjective wouldn't it :wink:

What I'd like to achieve is some idea of strengths weaknesses in comparison to a top end lens set.

As you noted in another thread lens markings.

 

[Ghandi El-Chamaa]

As you noted in another thread lens markings.

Thank God it's not critical, the differences are under half a ml on 2 of the lenses but neither is it a good thing. Few thread markings are as good as the S4's.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Yeah, the whole lens rental market will adjust downward. The RPP's are a market force in and of themselves.

 

[Ben Graham]

I don't think the RPP's will affect the lens market for proven brands at all. They are awesome lenses and I love them but a set of UP's or MP's or S4's are not going to drop in value because of the rental price of RPP's. Purchase price is not what directly affects rental prices the most. And every competitive rental house has flexible rates.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

No I've dealt with them before on a few films. They're well established and have a whack of lens choices...that was their standard quote, and it was so good we didn't feel the need to negotiate.

Perhaps they were being nice to me, but I was definitely surprised.