DVX100B, How to justify it.

PainTed

PainTed

Active member
I really don't have the money. I thought about financing one and pay interest. I just can't stand not having it though. I have too much going on in my head not to start shooting. What are some good ways to recoup the money and pay back the loan quickly? I'm in the Columbus, OH area so I'm sure there is some money to be made. Any good suggestions? I just have to find a way to justify purchasing it. My brain is fighting itself right now.
 
Do you have a cam right now? If so then just shoot with that until you have the money. The DVX will always be there waiting. I think it would suck more to get one now and have to sell it to get some money in a few months.

If you have access to a cam right now just work on your technique. There are post workarounds for 24p and CC.
 
I recently bought an HVX200, bad, Focus tripod, and AT4074ta mike, boompole, and accesories. I used a lot of discounts and price saving methods but it's still run me around 8k (cleaned out settlement money I got from a car accident lawsuit).

How did I justify this to myself? Because I'm a film maker (still learning but I know this is what I want to do for the rest of my life) and I'm sick of constantly begging people for equipment. I used my school's equipment for four years but now I need my own. I had a scholarship to my film school so I figure that I can justify spending 8k on my own stuff now and on my dream.

I'm currently about to embark on my first paying gig (with the HVX, done PA work on other stuff) and I hope I'll get more work as time goes on. Ultimatly though, the real reason I have this camera is that I want to make movies and I want to learn as much as I can about how to shoot something (I really like cinematography). Sure it's a gamble and I'm sure there will be many times in the next few years that I'll wish I had invested that 8k. But you know what? I really don't care. I'm young. This is the time in my life where I can take risks and shoot for my dream. It's niave to be sure but you're only young once and I believe in myself.

There, I just justified my HVX. Good luck with yours.

By the way, my girlfriend is in Colombus and I'll be visiting her in a few weeks. If you desperately need to rent a camera I might be able to help you.
 
Think of it as an investment into your future.

I've met people who were impressed that I put down the money to get a DVX, because it showed that I was serious about pursueing this as a career and that it was my true passion.

Plus, if you start now, you'll get pretty ahead of the competition years from now when you're trying to showcase your work to someone for a job.

This will also give you a chance to show that you can take some from start to finish, which is really important if you want people investing millions into you. ;)
 
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if it is a hardship, why not consider getting a used camera and saving mad cash? would make sense to me. might want to consider a dvx100a model.
 
I bought my dvx100a two years ago and the entire package cost me 4G. I paid it off in 10 months shooting weddings (4 of them).
 
I thought about doing the exact same thing. Weddings would be good experience and a good way to pay it off. What's the best advice you could give to start out doing that ?
 
PainTed said:
I thought about doing the exact same thing. Weddings would be good experience and a good way to pay it off. What's the best advice you could give to start out doing that ?
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Make sure you have a good NLE software. you may be able to shoot good stuff but if your editing sucks, it won't help. make sure you can edit well and that'll help you recoup your DVX back quicker. I know clients will be willing to pay more if you can get a video out that looks professionally shot AND edited. Can't have one o the other..

Not to say mine is in anyway well edited, but if you're interested I have 2 wedding videos I edited but did not shoot (not yet, waiting for my first job!)

here are the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGekT_Tw5e8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqN1xMuOIKg

GOOD LUCK dude. I REALLY wanted one as well and went out to buy it, but had a big fight with the missus cos of it.. which was not good... :( I justified the purchase by shooting some good footage of our daughter and my wife and our recent holiday in Brisbane :) and will be shooting some Wedding Music Videos for clients soon, fingers crossed
 
Once you have your camera, see if you can get some work as a 2nd cameraman at weddings. The money can be good, and all you have to do is hand off the tapes to an editor.
Plus, you'll get a feel for whether or not it's something you want to continue doing.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
Once you have your camera, see if you can get some work as a 2nd cameraman at weddings. The money can be good, and all you have to do is hand off the tapes to an editor.
Plus, you'll get a feel for whether or not it's something you want to continue doing.
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Good idea... you should be able to get abit of money out of that work without the pressure of bearing full responsibility for the shoot
 
I bought my DVX and peripherals on a deferred interest credit card. That means zero interest for 12 months. That gives you 12 months to figure out how to pay it off. Got to be sure you make your credit card payments on time though or you forfeit the deferred interest.
 
Hi PainTed. I shooting weddings on weekends... been doing this for over five years. First 2 on my own and the last 3 with a big wedding company in Los Angeles. I use both a DVX100A and a Sony PD-170. I recently got the DVX ro replace a stolen Sony VX-2000. I got the DVX to expand my creativity by giving my wedding videos that unique "look" only this kind of camera can provide. Sorry for rambling on like this, but I just wanted to encourage you... There is pretty good money in weddings. After you've done it for a while... it gets easy and it doesnt run out of challenges. Im sure if you market yourself well, you'll get enough business to pay off that camera on no time. I always paid cash for my cameras... always saved up and never used credit... didnt have to, when you've got steady work coming in... I know you'll get there...best of luck!
 
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