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Hey all,

 

Please excuse me as I did not know where this post should go. I'm an active user of this awesome forum and I know it's not a rental site, nor is it primarily a buy/sell site. I'm not looking to rent a camera through this site, but I am producing a short film in the tri-state area in January that requires 1-2 Ikonoskop A-Cam dII cameras. Has anyone ever worked with these cameras before in the tri-state area and would anyone who has feel comfortable giving me the contact info of the owner?

 

They don't have them at any of the big rental houses and I don't know anyone who owns one personally but the DP and Director have decided they must have 2 of these so I'm feeling out the online communities I'm a part of.

 

Thanks,

Ben

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I think it's an unwise idea going with an unproven camera and an unfamiliar workflow. A camera is just a camera and won't dictate the ultimate look of the film more then the DP.

 

Having said that: ask around on Geoff Bouyle's Cinematography Mailing List (CML) and see what the DPs there say...

 

http://cinematography.net/

 

I would also strongly advise you to do a solid workflow test and take the material all the way through to syncing, editing, and color correction as well as final output and see how well it holds up. 

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Marc,

 

Thank you so much. I really really appreciate this and agree with your points. I think the DP wants to "play" with a new toy and use it partially for the novelty of it. That said, he's very good, but it would make my life a lot easier if we just went with a C300 or similar tier camera.

 

Thanks again Marc!

 

-Ben

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Senator's <old hat> would be very appropriate.. but speaking as a producer with experience:  I also will suggest the following replies

 

"I have looked into that, and as I am responsible for the production logistics, we are not using that model of camera.  I can offer you the options of camera a, camera b, or camera c."

or perhaps:

"The rental houses do not support that camera in our area.  We must make another choice.  The workflows of the following cameras are well proven, so lets do some testing to see which system gives you a look you can be proud of."

 

Let them rent their own damn hard to source camera to get their jollies learning how to use it!

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Although... often the job is to give the client what they ask for. I try to be as respectful and tactful as I can and make my suggestions, but when they're bound and determined, then all I can do is support them as best I can and roll with the punches. 

 

If they're trying to do this for X dollars, strictly as a budgetary thing, they should ask around about other cameras. For example, rental prices on Red Epics have dropped through the floor lately. I've seen people advertising in LA for full kits with halfway decent lenses for $400/day over on the RedUser group, which is just ridiculously cheap. I don't think you could rent a battery and a tripod that cheap 10 years ago. (OK, I'm exaggerating slightly, but not that much!)

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From KC Craigslist:

 

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cwg/4210104303.html

 

I'm an owner operator of a nice RED Epic camera package. I'm offering myself as AC along with the use of all of the following gear for $450 per day.

I also own a grip truck, camera crane, a real dolly w track and a larger light package which is ideal for feature film production for a bit more. If you are producing a feature, I'm your guy. Contact me and we can work something out.

$550/day includes:

Me as DP or AC.

My RED Epix X package which includes:
Complete package with Side Handle, Touch LCD, WC Cage, PL & Canon mounts.
Plenty of batteries to shoot all day without power if needed.
4 Redmags with 2 readers (3x64gb, 1x 128gb)
A Pl mount RED Pro Zoom 18-85mm lens
Canon L series fast primes. (24,35,50,85,135,200) + 100 f2 & Tokina 11-16
Mattebox, filters, follow focus, client monitors, sticks, etc.

Dana Dolly slider.
Steadicam Flyer LE
Basic light kit.

A top-notch audio package which includes:
Sound Devices 552 mixer.
Tascam 680 multitrack recorder.
2 x Sennheiser 416 shotgun mics.
2 x Schoeps cmc6u/41 Hyper mics.
4 x Lectrosonics wireless lavs. (2x400 series, 2x200 series)
Misc AKS. (Boompoles, shockmounts, blimps, cables, etc.

 

This package is an amazing deal and is real. Please email me with your dates and contact info for more info about me (IMDB, contact info, reels, etc) and I will call you back asap.

I do not reserve dates more than two weeks in advance unless they are multi-day shoots or features.

Thanks for reading.

Txxx

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" but I am producing a short film in the tri-state area in January that requires 1-2 Ikonoskop A-Cam dII cameras "

ops, noticed on rereading that you are producing,  thus you are involved in either obtaining these, or overruling them.

so go ahead...I like Christopher Mills' replies...

The package Mixalot found includes an AC...

of course if $$$ is no concern..

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