Just a student trying to get a camera ;p

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

This is something I've had goin through my mind lately and I'd like to get some some suggestions if you were in my shoes. Up until now I've been renting the DVX100 from a local film and video arts society here in Edmonton and everything was cool. Membership is about $80 a year which is not bad and daily DVX rentals go for about $45.

This is all good but they only have one or two of these things and the waiting list can get pretty lengthy so you can't just get up one day and say "hey I wanna experiment". Therefore I'm considering investing in one of my own (though I do agree with the benefits of rentals, you dont have to maintain the camera, its cheap, etc). I call it an investment because I do plan on using it as an asset doing all kinds of things, from movies to freelance work, etc.

Since money is being spent on schooling I am wondering what kinda of things people here have done to raise funds in order to buy their DVX. I am considering film grants but thats pretty much like winning the lottery and I just won a free ticket so my luck is spent :). I work at Staples and am in pretty good wth the management and I have come up with a plan that I think might be somewhat effective. Basically it involves convincing the managers to allow me to put a money box at each of the tills and I would get my cashier friends to ask every customer if they are willing to donate a dollar to support local movie productions. I figure it may or may not work, depending on the angle I approach it as. Now this is getting lengthy so I'll spare your eyes the trauma :)

Thanks for any and all feedback.

-Edalgo
*Daddy like!

[Kirk Gillock]

Getting a franchise to place a donation box at each till would be unusual and surprising if they agreed to it. Since most charity requests need to be legit charity organizations and approved by headquarters, so there's no legal ramifications down the road when customers want to know "Where'd my money go?" I'm not syaing it's impossible, I'm just saying it would be unlikely.

I've gotta go, I'll ponder this for a while and get back to you. Every problem has an answer. Don't worry, you'll get your camera.

-pk

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

PK Gillock your opinion has long held my respect. I appreciate your words of wisdom and look forward to any solutions you might have to provide.

-Edalgo

[Kirk Gillock]

Thanks for the unsolicited respect :)

Here's my .02 cents (which is worth more in Canada). First, mney is an issue so you need to buy a used camera. I bought a used DVX100 last year (202 hrs on the heads) for $2,000 US and it's worked perfectly. With the HVX200 coming soon, prices for used DVX's will be going down. If you decide to buy a used camera you will save $1,300+ (which can go to other goodies).

Now, how do you get $2,000 for a camera? That's the 2,000 dollar question. You have a job so that negates any "get a job" comments. I wouldn't ask for hand-outs. (This coming from the guy who is begging DVXusers for donations.) This camera is for you and it's very personal. I think it would be best if you came up with the money on your own, so you felt more ownership of the camera and the beautiful videos you make with it. If you get donations then you'll need to thank everyone who donated $1 in your Academy Award speech. :) Do you have any friends or family who need a video made (birthday, wedding, commercial, website video, etc.) ? Can you mow a few lawns? What are your resources? Do you pay rent? Where does your money go when you get paid? My only suggestion is to save money for one or two months. During that time keep on surfing this website and learning as much as you can. And keep searching websites for used cameras. I'm sure that $2,000 can be raised quickly if you watch what you spend and do another job here or there.

I know that wasn't the lottery ticket answer you wanted, but I bet if you think hard enough, use your resources, and save every dollar, a lottery ticket will appear in the form of a DVX.

Let us know what you decide. Good luck!
-pk

[thisiswells]

Obviously, playing the lottery is throwing money away (unless you live in New Mexico... all college tuition for all students with a "C" average is paid for by the lottery.... Yes, all four years....) however, playing poker is not throwing money away. Hold 'em is all about calculated risks, different than lottery.

As for the other idea, I don't think your boss will go for it. (I wouldn't go for it.)

[BLUESPIDER]

Let me tell you how I got my or will I say our DVX cameras. I'm going to try to keep this real simple. Basically I went out to the local JC film school met some people and told them I had a dream. I basically made friends. Long story short those who beleived in me went out and bought the DVX. Make that 3 DVX cameras,. Of course, it was from three different people. I figured out of the 100+ inspired filmmakers, teachers, doctors, drug dealers, etc I've made friends with. Three shared the same dreams and goals. Those three individuals works very closely with me. Suckers! kidding.. Oh, I just got an Sony FX1. Now this I didn't even ask for. It just showed up and now were going HD. :)

Good luck and start meetting some rich nice people if there is any...

[galt]

Why not get all the film and art society people on board, and just buy another camera for the rental pool?

Or work some overtime?

Or give up something you spend frivolous money on? (cigs, beer, TV??)

Or get some extra video work, as suggested above?

[PDX_DVX]

Pretty much the way I got my DVX was by working full time for a summer at the local air force base. I knew at the time I got the job that I was saving up for a camera, however I didn't know it was the DVX all along. So I spent that summer saving pretty much every bit of every paycheck and putting it toward the camera. The advantage I have is that I still live at home, and so I don't have to pay for rent or food, so I can put the majority of my funds toward gear. So I started the job in June, and by the next May I had around 3500 dollars, and it was at that point that I got myself on a b-stock waiting list. I ended up buying the camera from a local place which got me a b-stock (they said it was a display camera, no head time, full factory warranty) for 2795. It felt good paying for the entire thing myself at 17. I guess the point of this is that somehow you can find a way to get the camera. Good luck!

[scharky]

Also a full time student here, and I know what it is like. I saved for 8 months for the DVX, but as a student there are other things you can do. Personally I am of the mindset that, you want to get as prepared as possible for the professional world, while still a student. WHY? becasue the government and companies that want your professional business make it so. First, academic software. Get as many different academic programs as possible. 99.9% of these programs will let you upgrade to the full version once the next upgrade comes out, all of these, except for microsoft of course. Now the next best thing, student loans. "but these are just for academics, right? wrong"! Talk to your loan dept. about computer loans. Talk to your film, or photography professor about applying for equipment loans. These are the only types of loans I will take, and as I just consolidated my loans at a whopping 2.7%APR, you really can't beat them. There are options out there that will buy you a camera. For the most part grants won't let you buy stuff for yourself, the equipment that you buy with a grant usually goes back to those that paid for your grant, so that doesn't help.

[PDX_DVX]

Thats how I see it. Not only will you have good gear when you get out of school, you will also have good gear while you are still in school. No more checking out cameras for a period of 24 hours/being on an equipment waiting list. Scharky has a good point about the loans too. It's a good idea as long as you can/will pay them off before things get out of hand....Plus, with your own gear you can shoot weddings and other stuff on the weekends and actually make some pretty good money.

[HorseFilms]

I got a loan for mine. I don't regret it at all.

[Kirk Gillock]

Horse - Speaking of, some creditors have been calling and looking for you. They say you're 10 months behind on your payments and that the name you used, John Hudson, isn't your real name.

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

Thanks for the responses guys. I guess there's so many ways to make money that the problem becomes which one to choose :). Be it gambling, loans, or good ol' hard work, I think I can utilize them all.

I love the idea of buying a used DVX, any good places you'd recommend (as I cant imagine EBAY would be too dependable). Actually I think I might call up a local viedo shop right now. Good ol' Cine Audio :)

-Edalgo

[fixitinpost]

Rush at EVS often has some used ones in stock. He's got really good prices on them too.

I actually got my DVX through my church, so it's still technically theirs. Not as satisfying as buying one for yourself, let me tell you.

[J.R. Hudson]

Just save some money man. Work overtime. Cover other peoples shifts. Have a few Keg Party's. Get a second job.

Come on; its not rocket science. You want; it cost's. You gotta pay for it.

[BLUESPIDER]

Just start selling drugs man!















I meant like kids Flintstone vitamins. :)

[aaron_wade]

find some stuff around the house that you dont need, and sell on ebay. ask others if they got junk they dont need and sell it. this is where you become a HUSTLER! (legal one at that)

[HorseFilms]

Horse - Speaking of, some creditors have been calling and looking for you. They say you're 10 months behind on your payments and that the name you used, John Hudson, isn't your real name.

I've been getting a lot of calls like that lately. Sorry, John.:evil:

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

Have a few Keg Party's
Hmm this could work :)


Just start selling drugs man!

Now this'll definitely work!


I meant like kids Flintstone vitamins. :)

I er uh... mean THIS will definitely work :)

-Edalgo

[Owen]

Just dive into the world of wedding videography. Book 6 weddings at $1,000 each and require 50% deposit. Use the cash to buy the camera and use your rental club to get a second cam. By the time the weddings roll around you'll have your DVX already paid for.

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

Actually Owen I have been seriously considering getting into weddings and $1000 each sounds good to me. I dont think theres much competition around here either. I saw a post on here that gave a link to a site called Video University which is all about wedding shoots. I should see if a couple might let me do a "low pressure" shoot in which I show up and practice shooting their wedding (while the main videographer does his thing) that way if I mess up its no big deal.

-Edalgo

[Owen]

That's how I managed to pay for my GL-1 in college... the first couple gigs are tough to get if you have no demo reel, but low prices help. I did a friend's wedding for free and got some great crane shots etc. in order to put together a snazzy demo. You could probably find a local videographer to let you tag along and run his second cam or something... as long as you don't let on that you plan to start stealing away his business in the near future!

[Rosestar]

No, No, No... find a couple who need a wedding and do it, for a fee. If it is your first one, let them know and cut them some slack on the price, but don't do it for free. Do the very best you can do, then use this example to get more work.

It's like the story of when Ceaser landed in Britain to conquer it, the first thing he did was burn the boats, so there was no retreat!!!

Go for it.

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

Ahh I can see it now first he lets me in, then I take his business and then BURN THEM ALL!!!! Heh, you both make good points, in fact Im gonna do it. I'm jumping in and there's no turning back, I mean how hard could it be ;).

-Edalgo

[Owen]

Not hard at all unless you find yourself phoning the bride a few weeks after the wedding to schedule an ADR session b/c the mic didn't pick up her "I DO!"

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

haha, one more thing to add to the list: Get good sound: Check!

-Edalgo

[bilgami]

I used my finacial aid money to buy my cam who needs books!!!

[fixitinpost]

The library should have all the textbooks anyway. I know a guy in film school who doesn't buy books. He just goes to the library and reads them there. Much cheaper. I'm going to do it (I'm going to the same place), and it will save me at least $2000

[Edalgo_Alvarez]

Yeah the book system is such a scam, hundreds of bucks for books you can just get fromt he library. Im down!

-Edalgo

[flyerland]

Charge it!

Went on ebay, bought a used one for 2500 and maxed out a CC. Though I wasn't a student, I have a video job, but still am kind of poor.

Now I just use the camera for my own needs and do freelance work. Which pays the 80 dollar a month CC minimum. I know CC's aren't responsible, but hey, it's business and you got little other options.


This is something I've had goin through my mind lately and I'd like to get some some suggestions if you were in my shoes. Up until now I've been renting the DVX100 from a local film and video arts society here in Edmonton and everything was cool. Membership is about $80 a year which is not bad and daily DVX rentals go for about $45.

This is all good but they only have one or two of these things and the waiting list can get pretty lengthy so you can't just get up one day and say "hey I wanna experiment". Therefore I'm considering investing in one of my own (though I do agree with the benefits of rentals, you dont have to maintain the camera, its cheap, etc). I call it an investment because I do plan on using it as an asset doing all kinds of things, from movies to freelance work, etc.

Since money is being spent on schooling I am wondering what kinda of things people here have done to raise funds in order to buy their DVX. I am considering film grants but thats pretty much like winning the lottery and I just won a free ticket so my luck is spent :). I work at Staples and am in pretty good wth the management and I have come up with a plan that I think might be somewhat effective. Basically it involves convincing the managers to allow me to put a money box at each of the tills and I would get my cashier friends to ask every customer if they are willing to donate a dollar to support local movie productions. I figure it may or may not work, depending on the angle I approach it as. Now this is getting lengthy so I'll spare your eyes the trauma :)

Thanks for any and all feedback.

-Edalgo
*Daddy like!

[bdt09]

def. look into the school loan, thats what I will probably be doing here shortly and its a safer course than maxing out a CC.