looking for a complete steadicam system

[Ingo Hoffmann]

Hi everybody !

 

The first sorry about my English.

 

I am looking for a complete used steadicam system (in good condition) around 14.000,- U.S.$

 

steadycam.operator@hotmail.com

 

Ingo

[Erwin Landau]

Hi,

 

Please change your Login Name to your full first and last name.

 

No worries about the language most people will understand you... I'm still learning!

 

Also more information about what you are looking for can help getting the right information to you. What weight range are you looking for, Prosumer Video, Broadcast Video, Film?

 

You state that you bought a Steadicam Aviator a couple of months ago... so are you upgrading? Already?

 

$14'000.- will not buy you much, especially if you are looking into a full blown Film setups...

[Ingo Hoffmann]

Thank´s for your help :rolleyes: I will change to my whole name, sorry I don´t know this be for.

 

I have a small steadicam "Aviator" yes and she is relay nice for small HDV cameras, but not enough now,

I need a bigger steadicam for TV (DVCAM, HDTV) cameras.

In moment I don´t have so much money to buy a relay nice steadicam.

I start to work with the steadicam 7 month ago and I pructice every, every day around 2 - 3 hours and

I love it so very much.

I work 16 years as normally news cameraman in many different war zones, but I´m relay tired now about this business, 16 years is enough.

 

Thank´s for help and sorry about my first mistakes !

 

Ingo Hoffmann

[Ingo Hoffmann]

Thank´s for your help :rolleyes: I will change to my whole name, sorry I don´t know this be for.

 

I have a small steadicam "Aviator" yes and she is relay nice for small HDV cameras, but not enough now,

I need a bigger steadicam for TV (DVCAM, HDTV, Sony HDW 750) till 15 kilo cameras.

In moment I don´t have so much money to buy a "relay nice" steadicam, I just start.

I start to work with the steadicam 7 month ago and I pructice every, every day around 2 - 3 hours and

I love it so very much.

I work 16 years as normally news cameraman in many different war zones, and as police reporter,

but I´m relay tired now about this business, 16 years is enough.

Now I do music videos, documentaries and commercial and this is much more relax B)

 

Thank´s for help and sorry about my first mistakes !

 

Ingo Hoffmann

[Ingo Hoffmann]

Hi again Everybody !

 

I think many people knows already I looking for a used steadicam.

But yes be for they tell me, I don´t have enough money for a "complete" steadicam system,

but I sell already one of my two HD cameras and now I have around 18. - 20.000 Euro for buy a

"new" used steadicam.

 

If somebody can tell me which kind of steadicam is for me the best . . . relay thank´s.

 

I need a steadicam system for my Sony HDW 750 and also DVCAM, Digi Beta, TV cameras.

 

Thank´s for every help . . .

 

Ingo

[Matt Burton]

I'd say you should go for a used steadicam clipper 2 or mk-v nexus perhaps even a brand new steadicam archer would suite.

However film is something you might end up wanting to do later down the road, so perhaps look for a rig that is 24v capable etc.

20k is a good amount to play with so you might have to balance toys (add ons) with base system if you are intending to get follow focus and video transmitters etc.

Edited October 21, 2007 by Matt Burton

[Ingo Hoffmann]

I'd say you should go for a used steadicam clipper 2 or mk-v nexus perhaps even a brand new steadicam archer would suite.

However film is something you might end up wanting to do later down the road, so perhaps look for a rig that is 24v capable etc.

20k is a good amount to play with so you might have to balance toys (add ons) with base system if you are intending to get follow focus and video transmitters etc.

 

 

 

Relay thank´s Matt for you help.

 

You know I do this kind of job "the steadicam work" not so long time but it is what I like

to do and I love it so very much.

To work with the steadicam makes me feel sooo relay good . . . sorry may be you don´t understand me, because of my bad English.

I can´t explain exactly in English this !

 

I work 16 years as cameraman, but the steadicam has fascinated me always very much ! ! !

 

I am really very grateful about every seriously meant advice ! ! !

 

Ingo

[Mike McGowan SOC]

there are usually some decent used rigs on the MV-K website:

 

http://www.mk-v.com/steadicam_for_sale/sec...dicam_sales.htm

[Ingo Hoffmann]

there are usually some decent used rigs on the MV-K website:

 

http://www.mk-v.com/steadicam_for_sale/sec...dicam_sales.htm

 

 

 

 

Thank´s Mike I will look . . .

 

Have a nice day

Ingo

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

you can also look here too: http://www.steadicam.com/steadiUsed.html

 

-Alfeo

[Mark Karavite]

Dear Ingo,

 

If you look in the Classified For Sale forum, you will see any sleds for sale posted here. One in particular is Angelo Colavecchia's PROI rig. Angelo is selling a rig that would allow you to shoot either digital or film.

 

It sounds like you are serious about this craft. If that determination persists, then shortly you will be called to work on more than just video projects. Buying a rig that doesn't limit the jobs you can take is sound business. Try to imagine what kind of jobs you could be doing in 3-5 years, and buy a sled now that will accomodate your future plans. Basically, at your stage in the game, I suggest you need a rig that allows your career to grow.

 

You mentioned that you have $18 - 20K Euro to spend on a rig (or roughly $28K US). Have you considered financing part of your investment? You may be able to afford more rig than you think. For example, say you spend $45K US total. If you put $20K downpayment, and financed the other $25K over 5 years, your monthly payments would be $500. On a 3 year loan, the monthly payments would be $780.

 

These payments work out to basically one day's rental per month. You would have a rig that you would be able to use for years, and take any job that comes your way. Plus you'd still have a pad of $8000 to cover any slow months you might encounter while ramping up.

 

There is also a benefit in establishing business credit with a bank. Say you use your first rig for 4-5 years, and you are ready to jump up to a new rig, you will certainly want to finance the $80 - 100K investment for that setup. Having a history of success with a bank will make that move an easy deal for them to approve. You could litteraly sell your first rig (which you spent $45K on) for maybe $25K. On a $100K purchase, the sale of your first rig would suffice as a downpayment for your next rig. You could move into a new, state of the art rig for little or no money out of pocket. That new rig, with a $75K loan for 5 years, would cost you around $1500 per month, or less than 2 days rental.

 

Don't feel limited by thinking that you have to have all the cash for a rig now. You sound serious about this business, so treat it like a serious business. If you have the confidence in yourself that you will work, then you can see the advantages of financing a more expensive rig. As Erwin correctly said, you won't get much for $20K, but think about spending $45K, and you can get into a used rig that can do any job, film or video.

 

I know this from experience. I bought my 2nd rig for around $40K, and put another $15K into it. It worked for 7 years, then I sold it as a complete system for $30K. I put $25K down on my new rig, took a 5 year loan when interest rates were 6%, and pocketed $5K while assembling my shiny new, state of the art rig.

 

It's smart to look at both the equipment side and the financial side of the business.

 

Good luck,

Mark

[Ingo Hoffmann]

Dear Ingo,

 

If you look in the Classified For Sale forum, you will see any sleds for sale posted here. One in particular is Angelo Colavecchia's PROI rig. Angelo is selling a rig that would allow you to shoot either digital or film.

 

It sounds like you are serious about this craft. If that determination persists, then shortly you will be called to work on more than just video projects. Buying a rig that doesn't limit the jobs you can take is sound business. Try to imagine what kind of jobs you could be doing in 3-5 years, and buy a sled now that will accomodate your future plans. Basically, at your stage in the game, I suggest you need a rig that allows your career to grow.

 

You mentioned that you have $18 - 20K Euro to spend on a rig (or roughly $28K US). Have you considered financing part of your investment? You may be able to afford more rig than you think. For example, say you spend $45K US total. If you put $20K downpayment, and financed the other $25K over 5 years, your monthly payments would be $500. On a 3 year loan, the monthly payments would be $780.

 

These payments work out to basically one day's rental per month. You would have a rig that you would be able to use for years, and take any job that comes your way. Plus you'd still have a pad of $8000 to cover any slow months you might encounter while ramping up.

 

There is also a benefit in establishing business credit with a bank. Say you use your first rig for 4-5 years, and you are ready to jump up to a new rig, you will certainly want to finance the $80 - 100K investment for that setup. Having a history of success with a bank will make that move an easy deal for them to approve. You could litteraly sell your first rig (which you spent $45K on) for maybe $25K. On a $100K purchase, the sale of your first rig would suffice as a downpayment for your next rig. You could move into a new, state of the art rig for little or no money out of pocket. That new rig, with a $75K loan for 5 years, would cost you around $1500 per month, or less than 2 days rental.

 

Don't feel limited by thinking that you have to have all the cash for a rig now. You sound serious about this business, so treat it like a serious business. If you have the confidence in yourself that you will work, then you can see the advantages of financing a more expensive rig. As Erwin correctly said, you won't get much for $20K, but think about spending $45K, and you can get into a used rig that can do any job, film or video.

 

I know this from experience. I bought my 2nd rig for around $40K, and put another $15K into it. It worked for 7 years, then I sold it as a complete system for $30K. I put $25K down on my new rig, took a 5 year loan when interest rates were 6%, and pocketed $5K while assembling my shiny new, state of the art rig.

 

It's smart to look at both the equipment side and the financial side of the business.

 

Good luck,

Mark

 

 

Hola Mark !

 

Sorry I answer late, because we have a really nice project now, to help people in Africa in the war

"sing for Africa" and that´s why I was so busy.

 

Wow . . . I understand not everything what you mean ( because of my English) but really thank´s for your help !! !

 

Yes I like to do this job "professional" because to work with a steadicam is for me . . . a felling . . . I can´t explain it . . .

I have now two friends here in Spain (there are work long time with the steadicam and there are really good operator) who help me to start this business well !!!

 

Si . . . yes I already have speak with my bank about a credit for buy a new steadicam and they want help me, but I don´t like to have a credit, but yes I am also not sure this money is enough for a good rig.

 

I have really "some" good jobs now with my small steadicam but this is not enough, I like to do some more "professional" jobs and yes therefor I need a better, more professional steadicam . . .

 

But you can´t trust the most people, because if they want sell something they always tell you . . .

my steadicam is the best and I have not so much Experience in this business.

 

But your information was really helpful for me . . .

 

Thank´s

Ingo

[Mike McGowan SOC]

From my experience you probably can trust people selling a steadicam. It's not like they are selling used computer equipment or something that a billion people have. Steadicam is a small market in the scheme of things and most operators know or know of other operators or their agents or clients, et.

 

I have sold 2 rigs since I started operating. I sold my first pro at about 8 years old with pro vest and arm and a complete preston system for 39 thousand US. I was happy with the price and the guy that bought it got a good deal.

 

The second rig I sold (just recently) was a first generation pro with a 3a gimbal, 3a vest and 3a arm and part of a bartech system. It sold for 23 thousand US and I also think both myself and the buyer got a good deal.

 

The point is, rigs are out there in good shape at a good price if you just look around a bit.

 

mm.

[Jon Beattie]

Mark gave a very good example on financing a rig.

 

Another way you can come up with a down payment, but keep the money for yourself and pay super low interest is a collateral loan. The way a collateral loan would work is you take your down payment. Put it into a CD (pick a term of anything from 3months to 10years) then the bank will allow you to borrow 95% of those funds.

 

They then charge you 3% over whatever the CD earns for the loan.

 

IE if you have $35000 dollars 95% 35k= 33,250 if the CD rate is 4% the bank will charge you 7% (4%CD+3%bank interest).

 

This way you can take a really long term keeping your payment down. And you only pay a bank 3% because you are making the interest on the CD. You can always pay it off sooner to get your money back. And in the end you still have all that cash you laid out and basically just paid yourself back.

 

Then you can just take out a loan for the remainder of what your rig will cost.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Let me see if I understand this correctly. You pay the bank 3% for them to loan you your own money? If I were a banker I would love that too.

 

How about instead of that you use the money to buy the gear, then put those payments that you would have been making to the bank into a bank account. Once your "loan" is paid off you will have the gear and more money than you started!

 

~Jess