The Mighty US $ at DVinfo.net

Andrew Leigh · April 6th, 2002, 06:54 AM

Hi,

I am curious to see if all you non US $ earning boy's are suffering the same pain as I am?

1. Two years ago my XL-1 complete with charger, Aluminium flight case batteries cost me R 30 000,00 (S.A. Rands). I have just ordered a Frezzi Mini Dimmer Fill, two spare lamps and the Gel Soft Box with the single barn doors. When landed it will cost me
R 10 000, 00. A THIRD OF WHAT I PAYED FOR THE XL-1, granted two years ago. TO MY MIND SOMETHINGS SCREWY.

2. I bought the 75 ~ 300mm EOS IS Ultrasonic lens at the same time and it cost R 1 500,00 were I to purchase now the converted US $ will cost me R 6 000,00. For R 6000,00 I can buy a brand new VW Passat 1,8T, insure it, pay it over 48 months and pay for all the fuel and running costs and be left with change.

What I am trying to find out is if the costs of videography are proportionately higher here in S.A. or if it is my imagination.

Regards
Andrew

PS : Anything worthwhile on the XL-1 as an accessory tends to start at about $ 450,00. The monthly cost of my Passat.

Peter Koller · April 6th, 2002, 07:52 AM

I paid around EUR 3600 (USD 3100) for the basic kit 2 years ago, which was about the same price of the NTSC version in the US back then.

I ordered mine in Germany, because they have a lower sales tax there and are generally a bit cheaper than Austria. In Austria I would have paid EUR 4600 (USD 3950), so I saved a lot (for me) of money.

Here is a list of current average prices:

CANON 3,4 - 10,2mm wide-angle EUR 1150 / USD 990
EF Adapter EUR 410 /USD 350
CANON XL 5,4-86,4 mm Manual Lens EUR 2200 / USD 1890
MA 200 EUR 520 / USD 450
Sennheiser ME66+K6 EUR 450 / USD 390

all the other stuff from Varizoom, Beachtek is hard to find here in Europe and should be a lot more expensive then in the US because of the bad currency exchange rate.

Cheers,

Peter Koller · April 6th, 2002, 08:06 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Andrew Leigh : Hi,

<I am curious to see if all you non US $ earning boy's are suffering the same pain as I am?>

Just out of curiousity... are there also non US GIRLS out there?

:-)

Cheers,

Dan C. · April 6th, 2002, 01:41 PM

Don't know about non-US girls, I don't think there's even any US girls here! (I may be wrong).

April 6th, 2002, 06:07 PM

Here in the US we can only afford the lowly Sony VX2

Frank Granovski · June 2nd, 2002, 05:08 AM

Or Canon ZR10.

Bryan Beasleigh · June 29th, 2002, 03:12 PM

The trick is to buy items not made in or sold through the US. A Sony VX2000 is $4400 Canadian best price, a PD150 is $500 more. The Spread in the US is a $1000 US. $500 can is only $325 US. The reason is consumer stuff from sony come through the US, broadcast comes from Japan.

Light's like Arri and Ianiro are cheaper for me if I buy them in canada because they do not come through the US. Manfrottos gear is also cheaper.

Frank Granovski · June 29th, 2002, 04:11 PM

...and Miller, and Cokin, and Heliopan, etc etc. Oh, and don't forget Beachtek (made in Canada).

April 6th, 2002, 06:54 AM	#1
Andrew Leigh Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 220	The Mighty US $ Hi, I am curious to see if all you non US $ earning boy's are suffering the same pain as I am? 1. Two years ago my XL-1 complete with charger, Aluminium flight case batteries cost me R 30 000,00 (S.A. Rands). I have just ordered a Frezzi Mini Dimmer Fill, two spare lamps and the Gel Soft Box with the single barn doors. When landed it will cost me R 10 000, 00. A THIRD OF WHAT I PAYED FOR THE XL-1, granted two years ago. TO MY MIND SOMETHINGS SCREWY. 2. I bought the 75 ~ 300mm EOS IS Ultrasonic lens at the same time and it cost R 1 500,00 were I to purchase now the converted US $ will cost me R 6 000,00. For R 6000,00 I can buy a brand new VW Passat 1,8T, insure it, pay it over 48 months and pay for all the fuel and running costs and be left with change. What I am trying to find out is if the costs of videography are proportionately higher here in S.A. or if it is my imagination. Regards Andrew PS : Anything worthwhile on the XL-1 as an accessory tends to start at about $ 450,00. The monthly cost of my Passat. __________________ PAL XL-1, DV Raptor, Premiere TOTAL AMATEUR - DOING IT FOR THE FUN

April 6th, 2002, 07:52 AM	#2
Peter Koller Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Brunn am Gebirge, Austria Posts: 161	I paid around EUR 3600 (USD 3100) for the basic kit 2 years ago, which was about the same price of the NTSC version in the US back then. I ordered mine in Germany, because they have a lower sales tax there and are generally a bit cheaper than Austria. In Austria I would have paid EUR 4600 (USD 3950), so I saved a lot (for me) of money. Here is a list of current average prices: CANON 3,4 - 10,2mm wide-angle EUR 1150 / USD 990 EF Adapter EUR 410 /USD 350 CANON XL 5,4-86,4 mm Manual Lens EUR 2200 / USD 1890 MA 200 EUR 520 / USD 450 Sennheiser ME66+K6 EUR 450 / USD 390 all the other stuff from Varizoom, Beachtek is hard to find here in Europe and should be a lot more expensive then in the US because of the bad currency exchange rate. Cheers, __________________ Peter Koller Vienna, Austria http://www.kop11.com

April 6th, 2002, 08:06 AM	#3
Peter Koller Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Brunn am Gebirge, Austria Posts: 161	Re: The Mighty US $ <<<-- Originally posted by Andrew Leigh : Hi, <I am curious to see if all you non US $ earning boy's are suffering the same pain as I am?> Just out of curiousity... are there also non US GIRLS out there? :-) Cheers, __________________ Peter Koller Vienna, Austria http://www.kop11.com

April 6th, 2002, 01:41 PM	#4
Dan C. Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Cheshire, England Posts: 105	Don't know about non-US girls, I don't think there's even any US girls here! (I may be wrong).

April 6th, 2002, 06:07 PM	#5
kristin2 Posts: n/a	Here in the US we can only afford the lowly Sony VX2

June 2nd, 2002, 05:08 AM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Or Canon ZR10.

June 29th, 2002, 03:12 PM	#7
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	The trick is to buy items not made in or sold through the US. A Sony VX2000 is $4400 Canadian best price, a PD150 is $500 more. The Spread in the US is a $1000 US. $500 can is only $325 US. The reason is consumer stuff from sony come through the US, broadcast comes from Japan. Light's like Arri and Ianiro are cheaper for me if I buy them in canada because they do not come through the US. Manfrottos gear is also cheaper.

June 29th, 2002, 04:11 PM	#8
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	...and Miller, and Cokin, and Heliopan, etc etc. Oh, and don't forget Beachtek (made in Canada).