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HDX-900 – What Does Is the True Cost?
Hi guys
I’m looking at two options for producing a TV series. It will be quite run and gun — minimal lighting, a lot of interviews and b-roll shot mostly interior. First off, we are a FCP based studio running Kona2 on G5. First option is Varicam, which I have experience with using and have no questions about. Firewire in and SDI out to master. But we’re also looking at buying a new HDX-900. This camera seems very attractive because of the price.
Since we have never owned a camera (always use a rental house and get the Varicam), I’m curious what the price for an HDX-900 would actually end up being when I have to buy all the accessories needed to actually use it for our purposes: viewfinder, zoom control, on board monitor, batteries, tripod, case, etc. I’ve had difficulty finding anyplace online that actually tells me what the HDX-900 comes with for out of the box, (example: does it even come with a basic lens?) versus what I’ll have to buy on top of the camera body in order to make it work. Of course I could rent some of those elements too. Thanks in advance for any links or info you can provide.
Nick Tempest
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5 Replies
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The basic camera will not come with a lens, mic, or tripod plate. Lens will be $15,000 and up. Batts and chargers, $5,000, onboard monitor $4000 and up, mattebox $2500 and up, Tripod and head, from $5000 and up. There are then dozens of other things that you need to buy to make a decent shooting package. Don’t buy a minimal package and then insist that your DP work with what you have – it just sucks to work with a kick ass camera and none of the right accessories.
Thats Just my 2 cents, people may argue about the price of things, but for the most part I lowballed the prices above, and am speaking in generalities not trying to start a debate.
Nick Gardner
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Nick,
It’s all about the accessories that make a camera package a real package. Buying a camera head and renting a lens would be quite stupid in the longer run given the fact that you would be paying top dollar for the lens rental and not all rental facilities would be willing to break up a lens for rental if it might risk losing out on a camera/lens combo rental to another client.
If you currently rent and can only accept the level of gear and accessories the rental facility provides then I doubt you would be willing to accept less unless you con yourself into believing you can get by with less gear.
Other major items you need to include are equipment and liability insurance, and the cost for repairs and upkeep thru out the life of the package, storage area for the equipment (no your broom closet will not do), equipment cases (very important for protecting and shipping the gear).
If you don’t already have a van to transport the gear around you can either rent or may need to consider buying one.
So to answer your initial question buying a camera package involves alot more than a camera head and a lens.
In closing the single most important question you have to ask your yourself to justify the purchase is the ROI (return on investment) . How long will it take to pay off the gear? and when will you how much profit will there be after all your overhead is accounted for?
Avoid the hype and rush to make a quick purchase unless you first answer all the questions and have the hard numbers on paper.
Tony Salgado
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Nick,
Based upon an assumption that the camera with viewfinder will be $30,000…
I estimate that a complete package with tripod, one lens, batteries, chargers, matte box, filters, cases, monitors will be about $90,000 – $100,000. Maybe a little less with a cheap eng lens, no matte box, no follow focus knob, no zoom control.
I would also suggest allowing yourself at least 4 weeks to select and get delivery of all this stuff.
I based my estimate on my purchase of a Varicam package in November using a $56,000 price of the Varicam body.
Best of luck with your up-coming show.
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The “typical” HDX-900 package sells for considerably less than $90k – $100k, although this price range is completely possible for a very nicely loaded package, especially if an AJ-HD1200A (soon to be AJ-HD1400) VTR is included. I suggest a budget of $75k for a very nice package with ENG lens, tripod/head, AC/DC, monitor, mattebox, follow focus, cases. Packages can sell for a lot less and for a lot more.
I regularly receive emails asking “What is your price for an HDX-900?” or HDW-F900? or a Varicam?, I reply by asking for more information about who you are and what you do. An HDX-900 package for Customer A could be all of $40k, while a package for Customer B might be $100k. Exact same camera, but one package is minimally equipped and one is highly configured.
Suggestion: avoid purchasing this level of product by price alone. Select a partner who truly understands HD, one who can provide training, who can answer real-world operational and application questions, and who can provide technical service and support. Lowest price doesn’t necessary mean best price. Afterall, you’ll depend on this camera for years after you’ve purchased it.
Regards.
Dave Anderson
HD Cinematography Manager
Roscor – HD Sales & Rental
616-954-2001 -
Hey Nick,
I agree with all the responses from your post. Tony hit the nail on the head. From my exsperience accessory purchasing was my wake up call. When I purchased my first Varicam, I spent just as much dressing it up as i did for the camera body. I was suprised to hear that you were confused about what you get when buying a camera? You get a camera body, that’s basically it… I’ve also has success in matching up a Varicam with the SDX-900 passing through the AJ-150p VTR and up-converting to HD. I’ve heard a lot of hipe about the HDX-900 but nothing officially from a “user”.
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