I've got $10,500 to spend on equipment but...

NO CA$H

NO CA$H

Veteran
I don't know what to get. I would be in on all these contests if I only had equipment!!! I shot a zombie film for my student short a couple of months ago. I wasn't going to submit it for zombiefest because I know it was against the rules since it wasn't made for zombiefest. It was too long anyways. Anyways, I had my rough cut done on my schools FCP editing computer and they called me up a few days ago and said they had hard drive failure and my project is GONE. One of the great things about my school is after you graduate you get to use the schools equipment for life but after that incident I've realized i need to get my own ****. I had at least 60+ hours of editing down for that film. I know its not my schools fault its nobodys fault, hard drives fail.(They could have had a back up system but whatever) I was so excited about zombiefest and all these contests but all I have is a DVX, joels FF, and a pelican 1550.


I Have a wishlist on B & H photo video.com but I'd like everyone to look at it and see what they think. Most of the equpiment I picked out is the same stuff I've used on other students films so I know how to use it. I hate final cut pro and mac altogether so I'm getting a Vegas 6 editing system. I'm pretty new to all this stuff and I don't wanna make any bad choices with equpiment purchases.

Well heres my wishlist...https://secure07.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=wishlisting&A=wishlistDetail&Q=&li=18C19883F7

If they ask you for a username and password its: MikeSkiera@Gmail.com and the password is ***deleted by a moderator who doesn't want anyone messing with your account***.

Thanks in advance.
 
How permanent are these purchases? There are some things that are on there that are pretty good, but may be overkill; others that are not of the same caliber.

Also, how tight is money? Do you want cheap suggestions? $2700 for a light kit is perhaps a bit much, although the Arri kit is very popular and definitely has the stuff to do the job, and it's a much more solid kit than Britek or Lowel. I might be tempted to look at a less-expensive light kit and then re-allocate some of the savings to upgrade a couple of other items (most notably the microphone and the tripod head)... The 9L1 is an okay monitor, but it's no 9L3. 9L3's pricier, so you have to decide what you want to upgrade and what you want to settle for. And for the price of a 9L3 you could get a cheap laptop and DV Rack and use that as a monitor, although there's no doubt that the 9L3 will deliver a better picture than a cheap laptop screen.

If you're a student, look into academic pricing on Vegas+DVD, should save you at least $300. Try places like academicsuperstore.com.

I don't know what to say about the LaCie bigdisk -- I've heard mixed things about 'em, haven't used 'em at all, as the reports have kept me away from 'em. I use Seagates mainly; 300gb Seagates are around $279 or so now; shop around to see if you're satisfied with LaCie reliability.

For the XLR cable, $80 is an awful lot. Definitely shop around on that one; an Audio Technica 25' cable is under $20 at B&H.

For tripod, look at this combo and see what you think: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=272845&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I got those sticks to use as emergency/lightweight backups for my bigger 3068 legs; instead I find I'm using the little pod for almost everything and the 3068's have been relegated to jib duty. They're just a nice design -- they go very tall, they're quite light, they're reasonably sturdy, and they have an integrated ball leveler (never underestimate the value of a ball leveler!) :thumbsup: Plus it includes the case, and the better 503 head. There are much better tripods out there, but Rush pointed me in the direction of these legs and I've been happy with them (for what they are).

MattInSTL will tell you about the ME66 and the AT4073; if you're going for a great mid-priced mic ditch the ME66 and go for the 4073. But your audio package looks a little weak -- no headphones? No lavs? Consider adding some MDR-7506 phones and a Countryman EMW lavaliere... if you can't afford it, consider dropping the ME66 down to an AT897; that'll free up some money for a little better-rounded audio kit.

For computer+monitor, you're looking at near $1500; try shopping at Dell and see if you can't get something comparable for $200 or $300 less.

For deck, the DSR-11's a solid choice.

If you're getting the monitor case for the monitor because you want to take it in the field, then you may have to consider getting a battery system for it too. Batteries aren't cheap.

Other toys that are nice to have: mafers, a fog machine (should be cheap cheap cheap in a few weeks!), a skateboard dolly, some duvetyne, some rolls of gaffer tape, plenty of extension cords, a few cube taps, some sheets of diffusion gel, a roll of blackwrap, some genuine c-stands, etc.

And hey, don't forget ebay -- lots of this stuff can be had for maybe half off on ebay.

Flexfills have their place, but if money's tight definitely ditch that and get a couple of sheets of foam core (at least one black and one white). In fact, head over to Scott Spears' no-budget-lighting article and see what he recommends, but do not (I repeat, do NOT) go for the whole "worklight" thing; that's just... ugh. The Arris are far superior to the whole worklight thing, even Briteks are infinitely better than using worklights. If you absolutely can't afford at least Briteks and you feel you have no choice but to use worklights, then -- well, then go get a night job at a fast-food joint and earn a few hundred bucks and then spend 'em on Briteks, but don't use worklights! :thumbsup:
http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/lighting/spears1.php


In summary -- if you don't know what something does, and/or you don't know why you need it -- don't get it. Don't torch money on something you don't understand, wait until you need it before getting it.
 
pookie said:
Your info was very helpfull though, very well thought out.


First answer, then *****.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I try...

Unfortunately I lack the experience to give any real advice.....so I just *****. Pookie, quit changing your avatar goddamit. It's making it hard to see who is making fun of me.
 
Im teetering....

On a more serious note: "Luck is a dangerous Religion"
Is that a movie you're working on? I've seen the banner for quite a while and been wondering what the hell it is...any insight would be appreciated. Tim.
 
We use the TM-910SU monitor, and its a great little monitor on a budget. - All the proper adjustments (with hardware controls, not through a menu) runs great with Composite or S-vid .. no component though.. Runs any AC voltage from 110 to 240, and of course 12v.

and, most importantly, The picture looks good. :-)

Can't speak for the Sonys in comparison though...

- Mikko
 
I use the TM-910SU at work and I've also had no complaints. It's a solid piece of gear, and I really mean that. It got knocked off of our gear cart onto concrete and it still worked perfectly.
 
Barry_Green said:
How permanent are these purchases? There are some things that are on there that are pretty good, but may be overkill; others that are not of the same caliber.

Also, how tight is money? Do you want cheap suggestions? $2700 for a light kit is perhaps a bit much, although the Arri kit is very popular and definitely has the stuff to do the job, and it's a much more solid kit than Britek or Lowel. I might be tempted to look at a less-expensive light kit and then re-allocate some of the savings to upgrade a couple of other items (most notably the microphone and the tripod head)... The 9L1 is an okay monitor, but it's no 9L3. 9L3's pricier, so you have to decide what you want to upgrade and what you want to settle for. And for the price of a 9L3 you could get a cheap laptop and DV Rack and use that as a monitor, although there's no doubt that the 9L3 will deliver a better picture than a cheap laptop screen.

If you're a student, look into academic pricing on Vegas+DVD, should save you at least $300. Try places like academicsuperstore.com.

I don't know what to say about the LaCie bigdisk -- I've heard mixed things about 'em, haven't used 'em at all, as the reports have kept me away from 'em. I use Seagates mainly; 300gb Seagates are around $279 or so now; shop around to see if you're satisfied with LaCie reliability.

For the XLR cable, $80 is an awful lot. Definitely shop around on that one; an Audio Technica 25' cable is under $20 at B&H.

For tripod, look at this combo and see what you think: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=272845&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I got those sticks to use as emergency/lightweight backups for my bigger 3068 legs; instead I find I'm using the little pod for almost everything and the 3068's have been relegated to jib duty. They're just a nice design -- they go very tall, they're quite light, they're reasonably sturdy, and they have an integrated ball leveler (never underestimate the value of a ball leveler!) :thumbsup: Plus it includes the case, and the better 503 head. There are much better tripods out there, but Rush pointed me in the direction of these legs and I've been happy with them (for what they are).

MattInSTL will tell you about the ME66 and the AT4073; if you're going for a great mid-priced mic ditch the ME66 and go for the 4073. But your audio package looks a little weak -- no headphones? No lavs? Consider adding some MDR-7506 phones and a Countryman EMW lavaliere... if you can't afford it, consider dropping the ME66 down to an AT897; that'll free up some money for a little better-rounded audio kit.

For computer+monitor, you're looking at near $1500; try shopping at Dell and see if you can't get something comparable for $200 or $300 less.

For deck, the DSR-11's a solid choice.

If you're getting the monitor case for the monitor because you want to take it in the field, then you may have to consider getting a battery system for it too. Batteries aren't cheap.

Other toys that are nice to have: mafers, a fog machine (should be cheap cheap cheap in a few weeks!), a skateboard dolly, some duvetyne, some rolls of gaffer tape, plenty of extension cords, a few cube taps, some sheets of diffusion gel, a roll of blackwrap, some genuine c-stands, etc.

And hey, don't forget ebay -- lots of this stuff can be had for maybe half off on ebay.

Flexfills have their place, but if money's tight definitely ditch that and get a couple of sheets of foam core (at least one black and one white). In fact, head over to Scott Spears' no-budget-lighting article and see what he recommends, but do not (I repeat, do NOT) go for the whole "worklight" thing; that's just... ugh. The Arris are far superior to the whole worklight thing, even Briteks are infinitely better than using worklights. If you absolutely can't afford at least Briteks and you feel you have no choice but to use worklights, then -- well, then go get a night job at a fast-food joint and earn a few hundred bucks and then spend 'em on Briteks, but don't use worklights! :thumbsup:
http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/lighting/spears1.php


In summary -- if you don't know what something does, and/or you don't know why you need it -- don't get it. Don't torch money on something you don't understand, wait until you need it before getting it.
Click to expand...

Thanks alot barry. I updated my toylist a little and got rid of that Arri kit, it was killing me. I added the Lowel DV maker 55 kit instead. I got the PL3 monitor instead of the PL1, a sony vaio 3GHz computer(hope its fast enough), the AT4073 mic rather than the ME66, got rid of the flexfill, changed the tripod, and I'm gunna see if my school will help me out with the academic version of vegas 6. Hopefully I'll have enough money to get some lavs.

Also, do you think that JVC monitor is OK for field use?

Thanks again.
 
Having that kind of money to go to the toy store with is a very tempting thing.

What you're hearing here is how to spend your money. A question is, why do you need it all, or all now?

Buy what you "need", not what you "want". There's a big difference between the two.

After you've been shooting, you'll find other things you "need", that you won't have thought of, that aren't on your list.


It's too easy to buy badly, when the cash is burning your hands. Your list at the moment pretty much takes all your $$$.
 
Yeah I know what you mean but if bought everything I want you'd see a mattebox and follow focus on there too. Everything on there is pretty much what I need except for a few things but I'd end up buying them anyways.
 
NO CA$H said:
Yeah I know what you mean but if bought everything I want you'd see a mattebox and follow focus on there too. Everything on there is pretty much what I need except for a few things but I'd end up buying them anyways.
Click to expand...

Well in that case,

Lose the Porta Brace, not really needed.

Lose the Rycote, $110, LOL, too much.

Lose the Lacie, and get a removable drive setup, and a few drives, a better choice, and more backup space (drives are cheaper).
 
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