to liquidate or not to liquidate

Steve Laramie

Steve Laramie

Veteran
I am going to college next year for film and I am wondering if I should sell the bulk of my gear that will be out dated soon. I have an HVX with a redrock and a mac pro. Would it be wise to sell these aging tools now? I feel like in 2015 I am going to want the RED 45k scarlet delux and my old gear will sell for pennies. The school im going to has a lot of equipment and I wouldnt even consider needing any of my own gear except for a mac book pro. What do you guys think?
 
You might want to do some digging on what the school has to offer as far as cameras and gear. Talk to some of the undergrads there. I know many folks who have gone through film studies at several different schools, yet all have the same complaints:

- The gear available from the school isn't great, and hasn't been taken care of.
- The school doesn't have enough equipment to go around.
- Graduate students get priority in borrowing equipment, and undergrads are often left without.

The HVX makes a very lovely image*. If you sell it now, what's going to happen to that money between now and 2015? College is expensive.

And deciding now what you will want in 2015 is all but pointless. Technology will have shifted by then, and Scarlet isn't even out yet. You're basing this decision on stuff that doesn't yet exist and in a future that you cannot predict.

Why not go into your film program with a kit that you're guaranteed to be able to access whenever you need it?
 
C2V said:
You might want to do some digging on what the school has to offer as far as cameras and gear. Talk to some of the undergrads there. I know many folks who have gone through film studies at several different schools, yet all have the same complaints:

- The gear available from the school isn't great, and hasn't been taken care of.
- The school doesn't have enough equipment to go around.
- Graduate students get priority in borrowing equipment, and undergrads are often left without.

The HVX makes a very lovely image*. If you sell it now, what's going to happen to that money between now and 2015? College is expensive.

And deciding now what you will want in 2015 is all but pointless. Technology will have shifted by then, and Scarlet isn't even out yet. You're basing this decision on stuff that doesn't yet exist and in a future that you cannot predict.

Why not go into your film program with a kit that you're guaranteed to be able to access whenever you need it?
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Yeah, I can't help but agree. I wouldn't get rid of what you have now in ANTICIPATION of what the school MAY have to offer; gearwise. Besides, having an gear set that you are used to, and is available to you exclusively may offer many advantages. I would hold on to the gear you have. If it sets on a shelf gathering dust for a couple of semesters, then maybe sell it. However, I got a sneaking feeling that is not going to be the case, and you are going to get a lot of use out of that gear.
 
Agreed. Don't sell your stuff. It's so nice to be able to shoot something anytime you want. It's the best education you can get.
 
Sell it. Get out while the gettin is good. Try, investing in things that are cross platform. A smallHD-DP6 is a smart buy. Works on everythign from HVX200 w/ adapter to 5D, to RED one, to Alexa. having a good cross platform monitor you trust, w/ False color as an exposure tool is in the digital age the same as having a good light meter. All a blossoming DP needs. I just bought one, and honestly its the one thing i wish i had bought earlier. Had it been available 5 years ago i'd have bought it and would still be using it....

The school will have gear, and being a college student you will need extra cash for emergencies or for investing in your films.
 
Don't forget you can always generate money while in college with your gear.

Professors would often throw paying work my way because I had my own camera package. Once you got "in" with the professors and engineers, you could check out gear regardless of class requirements. However, if it was a paying project you were SOL. I could check out lights without much questioning, but any student that tried to check out both camera and lighting packages were prone to getting shot down if it was for "extra curricular" work.

Though it all depends on your personality, your program, and your professors.
 
In my first year i had actually bought a dvx. sold it for an hvx and picked up a redrock. Using schools gear was such a hassle i was glad i never had to. Owning your own gear like Taylor said also helps you keep money coming in. Doing jobs in your free time because you have your own stuff and can use anytime is a big plus rather then checking it out and what time it's due back. I always did freelance jobs while i was in school and kept building my rig bigger and better which made kids in school think i was some spoiled kid but it's cause i'd do any and every job because i had my own gear.

It was the one thing i'd tell anyone and it just gives you a leg up if you have your own gear. I'd say to keep it.
 
Are you going to be using your HVX for professional work that will make you money? If it's not, there's no point in owning something at that level right now. Especially since you'll be studying filmmaking, not owning an HD camera that makes the image for you. Obviously only you will know the answer to this, but you have to decide if the benefits of ownership beat the cost of deprecation over the next few years.

Of course, if you are going to be using it to generate income, the only reason to sell would be if you intend to switch rigs in the immediate future.
 
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