What is going on with used RED prices?

[Adrian Maurud]

I'm in multiple Facebook groups selling RED gear. The last two weeks it seems like the prices of used gear has almost doubled? What's going on. I've seen medium to large Scarlet-MX kits as low as 3000 USD. Today one was posted for 7000. Smaller Scarlet-W kits have also gone from 5000 to 8000 USD. The prices for the older gear seem to be increasing across the board.

Is it because people are worried about the prices being affected by the possible chip shortage? I can't see how that would make sense for the older gear...

 

[Björn Benckert]

Hyperinflation is a factor also for slightly used camera gear. The car I bought 14 years ago are now worth more than it was when I bought it, minus inflation. Then also, productions are picking up and people are not as eager to sell as they where in the midst of the covid fiesta.

 

[Zack Birlew]

I think they're also wanting to max out their 4K gear return as we head into more 8K+ workflows come NAB next month. Other than action and small specialty cameras, I can't see anybody doing any more 4K cameras and the demand for 8K is going to ramp up fast like it did for 4K.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

I think they're also wanting to max out their 4K gear return as we head into more 8K+ workflows come NAB next month. Other than action and small specialty cameras, I can't see anybody doing any more 4K cameras and the demand for 8K is going to ramp up fast like it did for 4K.

Shouldn't it be the other way? If you want to dump your 4K gear, you sell it at a discount before anyone else does. In any case, I see no reason why 4K cameras won't be used many years into the future.

 

[M Harvey]

Other than action and small specialty cameras, I can't see anybody doing any more 4K cameras

We're expecting to see Arri's first 4k s35-sensor camera soon. And the Alexa LF, with its 4.5k sensor, is still seen as one of the most desirable cameras for high end features and TV (or so it would seem from flipping through "American Cinematographer").

I don't disagree with you that 6k/8k options are becoming available quickly at a variety of new price points, so there probably is a lot of interest from owner/operators.

 

[Zack Birlew]

Karim, I remember seeing not too many years ago someone trying to sell a basic Canon XL1S kit for $5,000, no 35mm adapter or anything and I’m sure some person who didn’t know any better bought it so there are those cruddy sellers out there that try to sell stuff a decade or more later for exactly what they paid.

Harvey, while I don’t doubt we may see another 4K camera here or there or just an updated Mark II model on an existing camera, I’m very confident that from this NAB on, there will be no more push for serious 4K sensors, it’s simply time to move on to 8K+ equipment. Arri may release a S35 4K camera but their higher end models should move on, especially their large and medium format models.

 

[James Darren]

Arri may release a S35 4K camera but their higher end models should move on, especially their large and medium format models.

Arri sees it differently than you do. The 4.5K LF & 6K 65 sensors won't be updated anytime soon.

 

[Eric Santiago]

I for one have been hunting and pecking parts to feed my DRAGON 6K
I sold my first Scarlet MX for a decent price of $3000 (body) and picked up the DRAGON for $5000.
It's the parts that are killing me since there isn't a lot of DSMC1 options out there in the used market.
I got lucky with somethings but if I break a display, I am screwed again