Why are dslr rigs so unjustifiably expensive?

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If you have the tools, the time, and the skill, you can make your own rig and save a lot of money. I saved thousands building my own, but I had the time to do it. Now I don't.

Now I can buy parts from companies like Zacuto to upgrade my rig because I can afford them. It's then you realize you are paying apples for apples: The money I saved has the same dollar value as the tools, time, and skill. THAT is what you are paying for.
 
Truly ashamed at the old school film makers...... The truth is YES, these products are excellent & YES they are severely OVERPRICED. No different then paying $150+ for an LCDVF viewfinder to only have companies come out with better versions for $49.99.


The Game is changing & while I feel big companies like Zacuto and RedRock will be able to stay in business, I also feel that their prices will lower just so they can. It's crazy to think people paying $300 for a simple led light, when I can get the same one & even better for $60+ from 3rd party companies.

Certain things I feel are worth the money, but a shoulder rig is definitely not one of them.
 
I have yet to see janky third party support gear on any shoot where people are getting paid proper wages. I have yet to see anyone who works day in and day out with their gear settle for less. I have yet to see anyone of any age or background that relies on their equipment investment to put food on the table show up with anything less then the industry standard built and backed by companies like Zacuto and Arri and such. It's not that these people are naive or wasteful with their money, it's that they recognize value beyond the material cost.

Here's a secret; that's what you are paying for.

Anyone can and should vote with their wallet on matters like this. Think Zacuto stuff is overpriced? Don't buy it. If enough people see it that way then Zacuto will have to change their pricing sceme. Simple economics. But to sit here and ***** on the internet about how a product a company makes is obviously and completely way to expensive and the wool is being pulled over all our collective eyes is ludicrous. Honestly, unless you work for any of the specific companies you happen to be complaining about chances are you don't know jack about their specific product costs, or how much it took them to develop. I'm talking actual dollars and cents here. Can anyone tell me exactly the investment Zacuto had to make to bring that shoulder rig to market? Bueller?

Pros who shoot can afford this stuff. Everyone else bitches. These are products for professionals. Simple as that.
 
Anyone can and should vote with their wallet on matters like this. Think Zacuto stuff is overpriced? Don't buy it. If enough people see it that way then Zacuto will have to change their pricing sceme[/QUOTE

yup, couldn't agree more, pretty much what I was trying to say in my post, but didn't explain it as well as William did.
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It is obviously all supply and demand.
If professionals, or wealthy enthusiasts, can afford and do buy at the proposed prices, companies will continue selling.
However, I fully understand the op's concern, from the point of view of a video enthusiast or indy filmmaker or newcomer that wants to add tools to the arsenal still remaining on a budget. In that case, the requested prices are truly out of reach.
I haven't figured out yet if the prices are driven by actual development and production costs, or by the fact that since video professionals can afford expensive equipment video equipment has to be expensive.
But I have noticed, that it is a very evolving market, so companies that produce related equipment have to be very flexible and look ahead if they want to stay in the market being competitive. A year and a half ago companies were selling DOF adapters related rigs and products. Then with DSLRs, they had to think of lcd viewfinders, cages, shoulder supports, now electronic viewfinders etc... There is obviously development cost in all this.
So I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.
 
The fact is, if shoulder rigs were so inexpensive to manufacture and sell, don't you think there would be more quality cheap rigs out there? I've bought some of the cheap stuff in the beginning to try it and it was crap, and without a doubt.

I'll give you a recent example of an expensive purchase I made. 16x9 makes these little quick release plates for LCD monitors and anything else you want to mount and remove quickly, here:

http://16x9inc.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=32

I saw $86 and though wow, that's pricey since I want two sets of them. However, knowing the excellent reputation I've heard from 16x9, I ordered them anyways.

They came in a week ago and I am AMAZED at the quality and solidness of their design. Normally, I'd be afraid of such a small piece holding a $1200 LCD setup, but not with these. They are rock solid and give me confidence that my gear is safe with using them.

Same goes for any of the rigs I have used. I've seen shoulder rigs where it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get the hand grips to stay where you want, and tightening them hard enough so they will, destroys the rails. When you are out in the field shooting, do you really want a piece of gear that has problems? Do you really want to say "Hold on, my camera is loose, or my handgrip is loose." I don't, and I've had that happen with cheaper gear.

There is a supply and demand situation, but only these companies know how much supply/demand they are getting. Just like the people who complain about the cost of an AF100 and compare it to the cost of say a 5D or 7D who have NO clue how huge a difference the quantity of devices are that sold. From in the thousands to in the millions. THAT makes a difference and these rig designers surely go through the same thing.

I agree that sometimes a cheaper product comes along and it is better, but many times those products are knock-offs who have stolen the idea from a company that already spent the money doing all the research and design, and therefore, their cost basis is much lower. Imagine how that feels to see some company overseas ripping off a design that you spent A LONG time and A LOT of money coming up with?
 
You do get what you pay for...and with all the research and dev costs, a manufacturer needs to price items 1000% past their cost to make money! The Zacuto stuff is really expensive, but it will work great FOREVER and also have a good resale value.
 
The statements that prices are unjustified are most peculiar thinking. This is a free-market world. Any price is justified. They either go out of business or change the price if there is no demand. And demand is the key. Film makers demand very high quality, very good customer service, and need to present a very professional image. That costs money. If rig makers are making buckets of money, good for them.

For example: You could use this flag for your camera ($19) It blocks the sun or hot spots as well as any other flag or matte box, but professionals need something better and wouldn't be caught dead with it. Some demand a $500 version of this and some demand a $3000 version of it. There is something for everyone on the market. You can be sure that someone is trying to build a better, cheaper product to beat the competition.

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Frank, I REALLY want to know how those handles hold up. I was looking at them and I think I'd like to order a set, but I want to get some feedback first. They look great. I want to know that they will lock TIGHT so if my camera is resting on them, on my shoulder rig, they do not move.
 
I let you know Rick.

As far as I know, that stuff is made by the same company that made all the gear for Letus, so I guess it will be in the same league.

Frank
 
After shipping, taxes etc. my CPM Filmtools shoulder rig cost over $700. But hey, I'm really impressed with the quality and the rig does everything I want. Why pay over $700 for a rig when you could make your own for peanuts? The same reason you don't buy $50 tripods if you don't have to. It's the quality of the product. If the rig is a cheap, plastic piece of crap it has a greater chance of breaking. And if it breaks during shooting, well, there goes my $2000 camera, lens and other accessories. I don't think I have to worry about such things when using CPM Filmtools products.

"But how can a couple of sticks cost more than $50? Libec is so ripping us off"
 
don't worry, it's basically the same; it's even black and red...

just joking, I also think these things are overpriced; and I'm sure they deserve to try to sell their stuff at any price they want, but I can vote with my wallet

that's why I'm trying to hold my purchase of a rig until I absolutely need it: there are lots of new players coming around, some with new ideas, some just copying the most common designs, and all, in general, bringing prices down

will a $200 rig from 2012 be as good as a $1500 rig of 2008? no, it won't; but neither is my 550D as good as a RED ONE, and here I am, loving my cheap little camera, and coping with all its shortcomings with work and pure love
 
"from the point of view of a video enthusiast or indy filmmaker or newcomer that wants to add tools to the arsenal still remaining on a budget. In that case, the requested prices are truly out of reach."
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WELL, ITS NOT FOR THEM!

i shoot mostly corporate marketing and local commercials. 3 man crew at most and most of the gear fits into my SUV. i charge a certain price for what i do and that affords me a range of gear.
i have a friend who does a lot of feature and broadcast tv work. generally 5, 10, 20 man crews. he owns an arri alexa rig and a 30 foot jib. his gear fits in a trailer he pulls behind his truck. he charges a certain price for what he does and it affords him a range of gear.

me complaining to him that his arri follow focus is too expensive for me would be retarded.

yet the kid with the t2i who shoots free skate videos finds it an appropriate point of contention.
 
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Fellipe said:
I decided to order this one from gini... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260821309549

I'm not expecting the same quality neither the same reliableness of the zacuto's, redrock's...
in my opinion it was a good decision because I'm not a professional filmmaker.
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That's good, because I've used the gini and Zacuto and the Gini's similarities end in the color anodizing.

Not even in the same league build-quality wise.
 
mcgeedigital said:
That's good, because I've used the gini and Zacuto and the Gini's similarities end in the color anodizing.

Not even in the same league build-quality wise.
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Your comment goes against all other posts here in dvxuser (just search gini rig) and video reviews on vimeo/youtube.
So I'm very confident about my purchase.
 
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