OT: Going HD - How to do it Cheap (as if that's possible)

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 4/9/2005, 10:51 AM
i've been thinking lately, if I want to offer HD weddings and products, etc... Well, the answer is YES - I WANT TO. Now I run into the brick wall that everyone seems to hit. HOW DO I PAY FOR ALL THIS %&@)#$%^!@)#(%&@#_ EQUIPMENT!!!!!!

Well, I just though I'd post this so that all of those out there that are in the same spot as I am can know that other people are in the same place.

Here's what I've decided to do - RENT!!! - even at the cost of renting and shipping the equipment for every project that could require it. I may not make as much money on a project - not that I won't charge more for a wedding/commercial/informational video, etc... done in HD ;-) - but I will be able to offer it w/o having to buy 1 or 2 cams and I will not have to turn down the jobs either.

So many people are bent on the idea that they HAVE to buy - because maybe there's no rental house where they live. There's none where I live - I have to get it shipped in - so it costs more, but hey I can do it.

Hope this helps some people that have been feeling distrought over HD and not sure which way they should go.

Dave

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/9/2005, 11:06 AM
Keep in mind, shooting is actually the cheap part of doing this.

Fast computer....Rental would add up quick, and for every hour you spend behind the cam, you'll spend 2,3,5,10 hours in front of computer. So, you'll have needs there.

Monitoring; very hard to monitor HD without an HD monitor. You have 2 choices, CRT or LCD. CRT is of course best, and highly desirable, but LDC is the far, far less expensive route. A good LCD screen that manages 1920 x 1080 is just fine, and is what I'm using at the moment. We've had a loaner HD CRT, but we'll likely not buy it, even though several of our clients are demanding HD delivery now. I want to own a good one, and can't pop for the 10K to get the one I want.

Storage; You need a lot more. Depending on what you're working with, you could need up to 4 times the storage you currently use, and you'll also want it on a fasst RAID with a good controller card or software.

So, renting a cam at 150.00/200.00 per day, but expect to spend at least a little in the short run for computer/display/storage.

But you also know we've got a pretty nice lil alternative coming up for all this...:-)
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 4/9/2005, 11:23 AM
Sorry - forgot about the computer stuff - have that capability - I was thinking of it too when I was writing but then i got distracted and just finished up quick.

Dave
vitalforce2 wrote on 4/9/2005, 12:53 PM
Sounds like SOMEbody's hinting you can buy something like Sony's HDR-FX1 and plug it into Vegas 6 after April 18. But I'd just be guessing....
Spot|DSE wrote on 4/9/2005, 1:30 PM
Nope....no hints as to what Sony might be doing, I was referring to a new tool coming from the VASST team, that's not relevant to any specific HDV camera. :-) I should have clarified that, since it would be very inappropriate for me to hint at anything that will be in Vegas 6.
farss wrote on 4/9/2005, 3:53 PM
You can plug a HDV camera into Vegas NOW with help from CineFrame.
I work for a hire company so take this for what it is. Renting is a good option and one that's sadly not very popular down here, we're obsessed by owning stuff, probably more so than in the US. If you factor in the total cost of ownership it's a pretty cheap alternative, it's also a good way to try before you buy.
The problem I see with it is with something very new like HDV you do need to spend a bit of time learning how these cameras work and if you feel the clock is ticking in the background it's not that easy to spend a few days trying things out, probably if you can find a rental company that gives a discount for weekly hires is the way to go.
Bob.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 4/9/2005, 4:46 PM

Dave, how will you "deliver" the finished product to the client in HD?


craftech wrote on 4/9/2005, 5:00 PM
I think renting is a GREAT idea Dave. That will allow you to get into HD while it is still being ironed out and then buy when it is perfected a bit.

John