Renting fee for your HVX (how much to charge the client)

Well... for such situations there's a very nice rule...
Charge the lowest, you can afford (or justify).
Don't be a money-grubber.
We're in Crisis after all.
 
I get $250/day for my HVX pkg(Cam,sticks,16gig card, batteries). Lights extra, Firestore extra, me extra. In the 2 years Ive owned this camera I have always been rented with the camera.

If i'm behind the HVX add $400, if I'm behind a higher end tool, say an F900 or Varicam add $650.
 
ZzBog said:
Well... for such situations there's a very nice rule...
Charge the lowest, you can afford (or justify).
Don't be a money-grubber.
We're in Crisis after all.
Click to expand...


Actually, I would argue the complete opposite...

Charge the highest price THEY can afford (or justify)
DO be a money-grubber
We're in Crisis after all

HA!
 
HVX Rental in Seattle. Details

Insurance is the biggest issue. Though most shooters are very conscientious, things WILL happen and it will likely cost you in ways you didn't expect. If you purchased a camera so it would be there for your use at a moments notice, be sure you're ok with it going to Panasonic for repair for a month when someone else breaks it.

Have a contract, get a deposit for the full value of the equipment, cover yourself.
 
Jay Rodriguez said:
I'd like to know this as well... anyone care to fill us in on this?



justanormalguy, get a deposit for the camera? So you'd ask for $5?
Click to expand...

Ha! Thats funny. Not sure if you're kidding.

No. I get a check for the full replacement value of the equipment. People want their check back and I want my equipment back. People seem to understand that pretty well.

They are trusting me not to deposit it, and I am trusting them to return thousands of dollars worth of my equipment.
 
All I'd say about renting out though, is know who you are renting too... and also get some type of renters insurance and or a deposit from them. I've seen what happens to rental equipment.. including what has happened to mine.

I had a flash broken, my HVX screen scratched, and I had an old XL1 come back with sand under the lens and all over it as it was dropped in the sand at the beach...


As people say"... Don't be gentle, it's a rental! That's how a lot of people operate. They will rent YOUR cam and put that one in harms way. So just be prepared and covered.
 
HVX200A with two 16GB cards w/o operator rents for $300 at our Austin, Texas shop. If a client has insurance they can list us as additional insured. You can add equipment to your home owner's insurance policy but there might be a distinction between gear for a hobby versus for a business. I don't know if you can have additional insured on a home owners policy. It covers other people on your property but probably not off site.
 
i have always thought that as an owner/operator, renting out your camera to joe public at large - unless you set out to be a rental shop and have safeguards in place, is a path wrought with peril.

i wont even lend my gear to trusted pro-associates anymore (and some consider me lame for this) since i had a loaned consumer camera come back "dew-inflicted" and my ikan monitor come back with the fascia all jacked up. too many little unseen things can go wrong and it ends up in a he-said, they-said deal...
 
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yeah, i only rent to other shooter buddies, guys that I hire, or guys that hire me. regardless, i'm not renting to someone i dont know personally.
 
I rent to most anybody but require insurance (plus security deposit for deductible) or credit card authorization for full replacement value. I've been renting gear for two years now and oddly enough, my equipment has only been damaged by me. I rent mostly to small indies and small self financed productions. These folks tend to be very careful once you're authorized to to take their money. I do not accept a check in any form unless it's far enough in advance to clear. Checks can be cancelled. I require the full rental amount to reserve dates for rental. I charge 1/2 the rental fee for cancellations within 72 hours and the full rental fee for cancellations within 48 hours. All my rental guidelines are posted on my site and they must send me a confirmation that they'ev read it all. Everything is itemized and well doc'd on their invoice which they must sign. Only the credit card holder can sign for the gear.

I'm a big believer in renting my gear out as it not only pays itself off and makes you some money but it takes the pressure off to always pimp your gear when you're hired as a DP. I don't want to be one of those guys trying to use their gear when it isn't right for the gig just to make my monthly payment.

Tim Naylor DP
www.timnaylor.com
 
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