DSLR Shooting Rigs are more expensive than DSLR Cameras

[Brent Dunn]

I have a degree in Industrial Arts. I keep telling myself I’m going to make some custom gear….6 months later, I’ve purchased someone else’s sweat labor. Maybe after I retire, I can break out the old tools and start making the big bucks charging you guys a bunch of money.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Video.com

Sony EX-1, V1U
Cannon 5D Mark II
Cannon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
w/ Adobe CS-4 Production Suite, After Effects
& CS-5 Production Suite. Window’s 7

Manfrotto Tripod’s & Heads

[Jeffrey Krepner]

First time chiming in on this particular COW forum, but to speak to the original poster–yes, it is worth it and here is why (or at least my thoughts as to why I jumped in.)

I bought a T2i instead of 7D or 5D though I could have afforded the higher priced models. My thinking is that all of this HDSLR stuff is happening so fast, my goal is going to be to buy quality support gear that will work with the next round of HDSLR or video cameras with full frame sensors (the new Panny and Sony or RED, etc.) without over buying on the camera portion today. I’d rather have $5K wrapped up in glass, quality shoulder rig, filters, etc, instead of spending $5k on a all in one camera that doesn’t carry over next year when something better comes out.

I bought a wonderful Cavision rig with follow focus, LCD swing away hood, and nice Zeiss (Nikon mount for full manual aperture ring) lenses. The camera only cost $900. Next year when the Nikon/Canon/Sony/Panny/Red full frame body with full manual controls, XLR ins, proper viewfinder, camera is released I should be able to transfer all of my existing gear to the new body and only be stuck with a super nice little DSLR camera as a B-Cam.

The cavision rig is $850, btw, so you don’t have to spend nearly $2K on other products to get what you want.

Good luck!
Jeff

[Clayton Moore]

Of course the Can-O-Worms that you can open is the market in general.
Who is working now, how are they doing. What are companies willing to pay for video work. It wont matter how pro your stuff looks of course if the “current market” wont sustain paying for a big ticket rig.

If your in LA, or SF, or NYC, or Chicago a similar large market then any competitive edge you have is very good. After that it really comes down to how well your stuff works. How smooth and light and durable.
How much do your muscles ache at the end of the day …. LOL !!