HDX900 crew rates and rental pricing

[John Sharaf]

This thread has been going on for years and over that time the rates have been going steadily down. I was asked this week by a producer if I’d match Wexler Video’s rate of $980/week for a HDX900 camera package (with tripod, batts and charger). Labor rates are under stress too. Sign of the times, and beware once rates are lowered they’ll never come back, and in many cases now it’s the producers setting the rates not the crew.

JS

[Nick Teti]

Hello, we are charging 2250 for a 2 person HDX900 DVCPRO HD camera crew in the Denver Colorado area, and other metro Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder cities. We include tungsten lighting kit, camera, tripod, monitor, HD lens, sound equipment, camera filters, along with other camera support. The HDX900 also docks well to the FS100 FireStore, and FS160 HD DTE recorders enabling HD recorded to tape, as well as, Quick Time or P2/MXF. The ‘most common’ 2 person camera crew is a DP/cameraman/videographer and a location sound person.

I hope this helps, as the prices of the camera equipment is the same give or take wherever you go. Crews also carry overhead or equipment & liability insurance which is needed to tote around all the hardware. + There’s all the misc camera support gear to keep your HDX900 running all day.

Nick – DP/Cameraman: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs areas Colorado – https://www.misterphoton.com (720) 299 2084

[Nick Teti]

I had the same questions about what to charge for a 2 person HDX900 camera crew myself when I bought the camera in it first year. I don’t feel ‘this market or ‘that market should be the deciding factor on your rate for a 2 person HD camera crew. Every high definition camera crew brings various camera support items, lenses, monitors, lighting, grip and other camera support and each of us has our operation costs from day to day. So I charge what I can negotiate with the clients within reason and within the rates of other HD / HDX900 camera crews with comparable camera packages & skills.

Lawyers and other professionals are all out there in mass – like HD TV video camera crews and they stick to their guns on rates (imagine how many lawyers there are compared to camera crews?)

Thanks to creative cow for letting me post on my soap box, Nick – https://www.misterphoton.com – (720) 299 2084 – Denver Colorado USA

[Nick Teti]

Author: Nick Teti- https://www.misterphoton.com: Denver Colorado – HD equipped camera crews for Denver & Colorado.

RE HDX900 HD camera crew rates. Hello, other things to warrant the higher rates of a HDX900 HD camera crew would be several costs compared in the manufacturing to the smaller cameras with the HDX900 camera being a most costlier & professional HD camera. The HDX900 has larger 2/3″ CCD imagers unlike the smaller P2 cameras using 1/4 & 1/3 or 1/4″ CMOS or CCD imagers, the cost of a adequate HD lens, HD monitor, a professional weight bearing camera tripod, expensive lithium HD camera batteries adequate for powering the HDX900 all day (2 may power a HDX900 for a half day, but past that you’ll need more batteries). For HD camera crews aside from the smaller HDV, XDCAM, P2 HD cameras the HDX900 has several functions making it applicable for multiple HD camera shoots for events, conventions, concerts, multiple camera conference coverage and other infinite HD video applications for high definition productions, producers, production companies or networks. The HDX900 also matches well with the VariCam HD cameras & P2 HD cameras in the DVCPRO HD camera crew portfolio for scene files shared, and camera looks.

[Nick Teti]

In Denver, Colorado Springs and Boulder markets in Colorado the rates for a HD camera crews are up to the national average rates with most HD packages. We are charging 2250 to 2200 on average for a 2 person HD crew with the HDX900 and Canon HJ7.6×22 or Fuji HA 5×10 or comparable wide angle lens like a Canon HJ 4.7 or even the Fuji HD4.5 wide angle lenses.

The HDX900’s anamorphic aspect ratio is really wide with a fish eye lens, and not always necessary.

Please write us directly if you like, Nick, Mister Photon Media – https://www.misterphoton.com (720) 299 2084 – Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder HD video camera crews.