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.

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,

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,

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

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

Or Canon ZR10.

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.

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