What's the hardest videography related purchase you've had to make so far?

C

commercialguy

Member
For me it has been buying a tripod. I find it so hard to justify paying $800+ on some metal sticks to hold a camera up when I know that I've used cheap tripods that are around $100 to $150 that work just as well. Then I read how some people are spending $1,800+ for tripods and it's just crazy to me. I understand you have to because of camera weight if you own an Arri or Red, but for most of us, the cheaper tripods will often hold a DSLR or smaller HD camera. I was thinking about buying a Manfrotto 504HD, since that is what so many videographers use and recommend, but $850! I feel like just buying a really old/used bogen off craigslist for $150 and use that remaining $700 difference for some more audio gear, a lens or something else. Just has been so hard to pull the trigger on spending that much on a tripod.
 
I spent $2600 on a Sachtler/Vinten combo and haven't looked back. The best purchase I have made and something that will outlive any camera.
 
I got a great deal on a used Miller Compass 15. The legs are pretty good but the head is fantastic. If you're using the camera locked all the time it doesn't make a difference but if you're panning and tilting it makes a world of difference. It's worth it.

When you say "hardest" I'm guessing you mean the one that was the most painful to lay out for. I guess, at the time, the TVLogic monitor was a hard purchase because it was a lot of money at the time.
 
commercialguy said:
For me it has been buying a tripod. I find it so hard to justify paying $800+ on some metal sticks to hold a camera up when I know that I've used cheap tripods that are around $100 to $150 that work just as well..
Click to expand...

Wait till you buy your first $10K tripod/head. :laugh:

For me it's not the purchase, but the discipline to not purchase.

In other words putting on your business blinders, and only purchasing needed gear, rather than wanted gear.
 
When you pay out the ass for a tripod, you're not paying for the weight capacity or the simple fact that it holds the cam up, you're paying for something that allows you to get butter-smooth movement when you pan and tilt. On a great tripod you should be able to pan or tilt from a dead stop with out that little "jerk" at the start of the movement, and you should be able to let the head rest at any angle without it moving or having to "fight" it when it tries to correct itself back to perfectly level. When you get all those features, as weight capacity goes up so does price.
 
What Josh said.
Once you use a really nice tripod for a while, you'll curse the cheaper tripod and regret any money you've spent on it.
Take a look at the Sachtler Ace M, about $500 and a good starting point for decent tripods on a budget.
 
Private health insurance for a self-employed family of 5. $2600 on a tripod is chump change, comparatively speaking.
 
Years ago, I really debated buying a used Altman 650L fresnel light for $200. After all, the barn doors weren't included, so it was going to cost me another $60 or so. After using it, I fell in love with fresnel lights. A few weeks ago, when I saw a used Arri 650 plus with barndoors for $200, I couldn't whip out the credit card fast enough.

In time, you'll realize that buying quality gear infrequently will always be more satisfying than frequent buys of inferior stuff. (especially when you find steals like I did)
 
Amen, HorseFilms! Used gear may have some rash on it, but if you are judicious in what you buy......you can get some real deals on high quality gear. Yeah, it won't have that "new gear smell"........but if you are more about function than form....it won't matter.

Confessions from a die-hard used gear junkie, there's just something about landing that deal, and paying less than everyone else.
 
Yeah, and just imagine how cheap one of those $150 tripods can be bought for used! :)

All joking aside, I had a similar discussion with someone bevause we have been using lousy tripods for years and I'm always saying we need to get a good one. He thought it was completely ridiculous when I showed him prices of decent tripods.
Yet I explained how it's nearly impossible for us to get good long usable pans with the junk we have. Good equipment can make a difference.

Yes, most all this stuff in this field is expensive. I think the most troubling to me is the software.
I work so hard to legally buy good stuff and it adds up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Then dealing with all those ongoing license hassles wastes so much time and causes many extra headaches.
 
Tripods: I bought a Manfrotto 503 head with 525MVB sticks 9 years ago for $750 and it is showing no signs of being anything but awesome. I love that thing.
 
The hardest purchase is probably the one that's a gamble on whether it'll make its money back in a timely manner before it's obsolete. Lights, audio, tripods. . .even if you don't use 'em that often, they'll last forever and be useful for as long provided you treat 'em right. Cameras/computers/software. . .not so much.
 
Very true, Josh! Though, I'm in my 9th year of using my DVX100A, so maybe I'm not the best guy to ask about camera upgrades. :)
 
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