Pricy Camera Equipment

Gooskin

Gooskin

Member
Is it fair to say that camera equipment is overpriced? My friend made me a steadicam out of PVC pipe and weights, while big name companies like Glidecam sell theirs for like $300. I get that there are grips and follow focus controls on them, but for the basic concept of smooth action, equipment should not be that expensive. Don't you agree?
 
Although some things may seem overpriced, you are paying for a quality that simply cant be matched otherwise. You may be splitting hairs compared to some cheaper options but for that extra little bit better that the top of the line product is, the money spent on the satisfaction of reliability and true quality is worth it in the end. It's buying the nice stuff that makes you want to use it over and over again, and not leaving you striving for more.
 
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Is this a troll? 1 post?

For real, that plastic piece of shit your friend built will fall apart, my glidecam has been solid for 4 years and ive beat the fuck out of it
 
Yeah money buys you quality, but at the same time the amount of gear whoring on NS is pretty fucking ridiculous hahaha. More time should be spent shooting than reading specs on the internet!!
 
You do realize that materials expense is only a tiny part of the cost of producing a product? R&D, licensing, packaging, advertising, etc... I'd say under $500 is pretty fair for a Glidecam.
 
That has nothing to do with the fact that your PVC rig probably can't even compare to the quality of a glidecam
 
"Overpriced" compared to what? Compared to the fact that 15-year-olds generally don't have much money, or compared to the cost of production?

In the camera realm $500 is not very much money at all (relatively speaking). Just because you don't have the money to afford something doesn't in itself mean it's overpriced. It simply means its out of your price range. It could be overpriced, but to base that claim only on the fact that you simply cannot afford it is dumb.
 
if anything id say the price for quality has reduced in the past 7 or so years. I mean the kids starting filming now can swoop a t2i with kit lens and decent tripod/stabilization setup for under a 1000. When I started...I used my parents hi-8 shitty camera then upgraded to a gl2 (which was 1600 at the time). If you are looking to get into stuff now consider yourself lucky. Unless you're looking for something like a fs-100 or 700 the cost to get started isn't all that much. However if you want good things...ie nice tripod and/or camera you are looking at a few thousand dollars to get going
 
No way is it overpriced - especially considering the amount of affordable used gear out there that's still in very workable condition.

PVC setups will be hardpressed to last a few months, much less years on end of constant work. I have a few DIY PVC pieces that might work and look 'okay' but they are merely backup if anything. Not only that, but I would never take anything PVC to a professional set unless I had absolutely no other choice... IE: something breaks, and you have to make a run to Lowe's, ACE, or Home Cheapo...

 
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