Are Zacuto prices high?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ted Spencer said:
$144 for a Z-Mount.? Hmm.

My $.02 (which in Zacuto-money is $20...).
Click to expand...

LOL.

Another example is the quality of Apple hardware, which I find very good.

A white Macbook runs $1299.00

An exactly configured BLACK Macbook runs $1499.00.

Sometimes you get less than what you pay for.
 
Well I must agree that some options are not always worth what you are paying. Although I'd pay the 6000 for the black trim in the porsche in a heartbeat. Thats assuming I have some serious porsche money just sitting around... As for the cost of the Z-mount. If the lock on it works as well as they lead me to believe it does and works every time then its worth 144 to me. Flawless equipment is hard to come buy - mine should ship today so we'll just see what happens.
 
Ted Spencer said:
$6000 for something that cost the manufacturer approximately an additional $0 to make?

To each his own...
Click to expand...

Thats only assuming I'm buying a 150,000 super duper porsche and live in a mansion that has room for my other cars. What's an extra 6 grand if it makes you happy at that point. Of course the black would be to reduce any glare while I was "racing". I wouldn't toss 6 grand at black trim on a boxster...

Back in reality I'm quite happy with my little minivan.
 
Prodigi Pictures said:
Is it worth the price they charge? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

No offence, but that´s exactly what I thought when I heard you were charging $1,195.00
for a lamp based on 5 CFLs.
If this lamp is more than a metal housing, a reflector and the bases for the 5 CFLs, feel free to clear this up.
I´m not saying the Lumen doesn´t work, I´m sure it is a good product and does the job.
I´m also sure you put a lot of thought behind the manufacturing of your product.
But just based on the info I get online, I´d file the Lumen under the same tag as Zacuto:
"Could Be Less Expensive"

All the best,

Spart
 
Last edited:
Well, I've exhausted every other cheaper solution regarding the mounting an external monitor. I've tried using the hot shoe, 1/4 20 threads, using cinevate rails blocks to attach the z-american, noga arm... all of them slip or untighten. They werent reliable.

The z-mount was the only option that didnt slip and will keep your articulating arm and the connection to the rig solidly. The noga MG11043 wasnt strong enough either. And the larger mounting screw on it is inconvenient and require silly adapters or unreliable workarounds.

I went to buy the z-mount and ended up getting it for $1 because of a website error asking me to enter my own price. Steve honored that ridiculous price, but I was more than ready to pay the $140. Still, thats a great example of the customer service they have. Now that I own it, I know its worth it. When I shoot handheld and I dont mind having a 3lb Nebtek + battery attached to the arm while running, I know it was worth every penny.

That's just my humble opinion regarding the z-mount, in reference to my pal, Ted's joke. The .02 cents joke was too funny though, Ted!

As to whether or not this thread needed to be started, I dont think it was needed but it doesnt bother me. I honestly think people will continue to support zacuto as long as the quality remains unmatched. Prodigi had a bad experience with customer service and ended up having to jump through hoops to get their products piece by piece til he completed his cinema package. You can tell he is not happy with them, but he recognizes quality products. And that's unfortunate, Ive done business with prodigi before and I know hes a nice guy and low maintenance buyer.
 
Last edited:
Yup.

Here is my setup with the Marshall HD monitor and a FULL SIZE Sony Battery on it.

Letus6.jpg


Try to do that with ANY other arm. Not gonna happen.
 
It would be interesting if Zacuto provides its profit margin for individual products, and perhaps a gross profit margin.

Then we all can compare to what others are providing.

I doubt this will occur, but it seems consistent with the original post.
 
Spartacus said:
No offence, but that´s exactly what I thought when I heard you were charging $1,195.00
for a lamp based on 5 CFLs.
If this lamp is more than a metal housing, a reflector and the bases for the 5 CFLs, feel free to clear this up.
I´m not saying the Lumen doesn´t work, I´m sure it is a good product and does the job.
I´m also sure you put a lot of thought behind the manufacturing of your product.
But just based on the info I get online, I´d file the Lumen under the same tag as Zacuto:
"Could Be Less Expensive"

All the best,

Spart
Click to expand...

Spart -

It is far more than what you guessed.

Go try to extrude a 16" surface of aluminum with .001 inches tolerances, so each light slides together with ease. Then build an electrical housing designed to withstand the next three generations of CFL bulbs that don't exist. Make sure the housing can withstand a 200 pound man jumping up and down on it (that's what I did). And tell me what it costs you to manufacture.

I'm sure since you know so much about manufacturing that you know the surface area of an object is one of the greatest factors in tolerances and price. And for the record, The Lumen was 1/3rd the price of the competition.

But, your comment wasn't a real question. It was just a cheap shot. So, now that you've gotten that out of your system...go build one. Go build one for less. Let me know what it cost you.

We had EVERY SINGLE aluminum extruder in the US give us price quotes. If we'd gone with any of them the manufacturing cost would have been $1,600.00 a light. Not the retail cost...the manufacturing cost. You wouldn't know that...but that doesn't stop you from having an opinion, does it?

I want you to go out and build one. Put your money where your mouth is. Go out and build a light with the tolerances I described. Make it future proof. Make it rock solid. Don't forget making sure the electronics will meet UL standards. Don't forget about silent ventilation, because CFL's still heat up...in fact, they reach 140 degrees within 10 minutes if you don't have some of the gadgets we had in the light. And don't forget the gadgets have to be damn near silent. But, hey, I'm sure you thought of that.

After you solve all those problems get back to me with your costs.
 
Last edited:
Guys.. whoa!

This thread just needs to get locked up and thrown away. Let's cut the flaming and either get back to the topic, which really was just a statement or go away. No need to get our panties in a bundle. To each his own on what is expensive / priced just right / cheaply made but saved me money...
 
Prodigi Pictures said:
Spart -

It is far more than what you guessed.

Go try to extrude a 16" surface of aluminum with .001 inches tolerances, so each light slides together with ease. Then build an electrical housing designed to withstand the next three generations of CFL bulbs that don't exist. Make sure the housing can withstand a 200 pound man jumping up and down on it (that's what I did). And tell me what it costs you to manufacture.

I'm sure since you know so much about manufacturing that you know the surface area of an object is one of the greatest factors in tolerances and price. And for the record, The Lumen was 1/3rd the price of the competition.

But, your comment wasn't a real question. It was just a cheap shot. So, now that you've gotten that out of your system...go build one. Go build one for less. Let me know what it cost you.

We had EVERY SINGLE aluminum extruder in the US give us price quotes. If we'd gone with any of them the manufacturing cost would have been $1,600.00 a light. Not the retail cost...the manufacturing cost. You wouldn't know that...but that doesn't stop you from having an opinion, does it?

I want you to go out and build one. Put your money where your mouth is. Go out and build a light with the tolerances I described. Make it future proof. Make it rock solid. Don't forget making sure the electronics will meet UL standards. Don't forget about silent ventilation, because CFL's still heat up...in fact, they reach 140 degrees within 10 minutes if you don't have some of the gadgets we had in the light. And don't forget the gadgets have to be damn near silent. But, hey, I'm sure you thought of that.

After you solve all those problems get back to me with your costs.
Click to expand...

Prodigi, I totally understand where you are coming from on this and have been on the marketing side of several highly machined close tolerance pieces of equipment. Manufacturing that meets tolerances and fits a solid design that will last is EXPENSIVE. This is exactly how I feel about the Zacuto stuff. Like your lights (which its a real shame what happened, and I feel for you, that sucks), the Zacuto stuff is close tolerance and built to last and take some abuse. You cant find another monitor arm that does what the Zamerican can do. Sure there are a few pieces you could quibble over on pricing like the fabric donut thing, but when you build an expensive line, my theory is that the whole line should be expensive.
 
The tone and direction this thread has taken is a very poor reflection on some of the members of this forum. A simple discussion has turned petty and vindictive... and that change really serves no purpose other than to provide insight into those involved.

Personally I appreciate those who provided insightful and helpful comments. But now, I agree with some of the others who have stated that this thread should be closed.
Jim
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top