VaricamLT: Varicam LT for Solo Owner-Operator?

I study and watch gear prices like a hawk, so I'll be the first one to post here when and if it does, lol.

But in my opinion, it's a guarantee whether it's an instant savings or a mail-in rebate.
 
robfilms said:
no returns seems a wee bit excessive.

maybe limit the number of hours on the internal clock is a better path with a similar result.

i'm just saying.

be well,

rob
smalltalk.productions
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The no return policy is standard on cameras of this sort, the c300 was and all the canon EOS C cameras are no return cameras.

As for the price dropping I doubt it, in my experience that doesn't happen on MAP pricing cameras (The F5 and F55 are still the same price and will probably be that till Sony decides to discontinue them). My F5 was $16,490.00 when I bought it and was still $16,490.00 when I sold it in January. Actually it still is

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/898427-REG/Sony_PMW_F5_CineAlta_Digital_Cinema.html


And I'm sure canon will get a mention here, the difference is they dropped the pricing on the cameras that just weren't selling (c500, c300 Mkii) The c300 only went down in price when they were about to announce the MKii.

Actually one of the reasons I got the LT is because I was told it's a MAP pricing camera I know it won't get devalued by the manufacturer in a year.

The Varicam 35 price hasn't dropped so I don't see the LT body price dropping, If anything the package prices may drop, P2 prices and the viewfinder prices will probably go down eventually.

One sure way to get a deal is to look at dealers that sell B-stock/demo
(Hint: all those cameras on the show floor at NAB, IBC and NAB NEW YORK, are new and are bought by dealers)
I'm sure if you reach out to your local Panasonic guy, they can point you in the right direction, So the Varicam LT may not be that out of reach if you REALLY want one
 
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Remember MAP is just that: Minimum ADVERTISED Price. A dealer can still make an individual sale for anything they want. As a general rule, most stick to it, but can get around it with "package deals" and the like.

If you're really looking for a deal, talk to a rental house and see if they're looking to get rid of any bodies they may have. I can't speak to the LT, but I know for a fact, because of talking to more than one rental house owner and sales reps, Panasonic was selling the V35 to the rental houses for half MSRP/MAP.
 
F5 shipped in 2012... we're talking 4 plus years, Had mine for 3+ of the 4 and still sold it at over $10,000 when I upgraded to the Varicam LT. My point is I don't see any Canon C series price drops on the LT body in anything short of 2 years. There will probably be package deals and rebates, and the 0% financing deal is pretty sweet.

The reason the F5 now has deals is because Sony continually devalued the F series cameras with the FS cameras (5 and 7). It's hard for me to say I'll be able to justify buying a sony "premium camera" in the future. They've burned owners one too many times (Glad I never bought an F3).

Panasonics Product cycle historically says LT owner will have till earliest 2018. Which in this day and age of cameras is an eternity and literally all I ask from any manufacturer (at least for the premium badge products).
The can release a GH camera every 6 months, it's a consumer product and that makes sense, but the plus $20k tools need to have some level of longevity
 
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