Day rate for mini DV

[D9_Hoosier]

I have a shoot coming up where the client wants me to shoot a stretch of property that their company is going to do some construction work on. They want a video showing where the pre-existing damage is and any other "things" that are not supposed to be interfered with during the construction, all this is primarily for the insurance company. I am just going to shoot it on a little dvx-100 and then print to DVD after a little post work. What should the day rate for this be, I am really new to this area of freelance and am not sure where to start with a price

Thanks,

Michael

[Run&Gun]

This is kind of an apple's and orange's situation, but the few times I've done DVX-100(miniDv) work for broadcast, I've billed my standard Beta rates.

[freedom]

Most 'real' clients that are used to production costs will pay about the same as beta even though the camera cost is substancially lower. I drop my rate $100 to reflect the difference between DVx & beta. I'll bet there are some clients that would have paid the full beta price. There are many DV clients that expect a significantly lower price for a DV camera, some cheap, off brand wireless and a minimal light kit. I argue for a bit and then tell them good luck...

[Stoney]

I just did a two-cam minidv shoot for a cable network. One was locked off, the other, a DVX100, was primary. It was an interview, standard deal... black background. I charged BetaSP rates, and that was for two cams. It helped that it was a single interview and only a five-hour day p to p.

I don't think I would give a huge break for minidv. They are more difficult to shoot on than pro gear, thus, can take a more experienced user to operate correctly. I bill for my experience, as well as gear. Also, the lighting is the same, the other support gear is the same, the audio is the same.

Conversely, I do not charge much more for a shoot with my HDX900, $1650 for the day. I know some guys charge well over 2k for the HD label... but I keep it in-line with the cost of the camera. Varicam and F900 will fetch more... but I don't own those cams, or get many calls for them.

In my experience, good producers will pay normal rates even with minidv cameras. I do a Travel Channel show that is on HDV and it is not my gear. They supply Z1's (which I really don't like, personally) but I get good day rates for the shoots. As long as they pay well, and understand the quality of their gear, I will shoot on SVHS cameras.

Of course, my rate flexes a bit with certain clients... repeat clients who provide lots of work get a break sometimes. It all depends on the variables... and there are usually lots of variables...

[quicklad]

I knock a couple hundred off my "full size" camera rate. No reason to go lower since they are already getting a package price on lights, sticks, monitor AND camera.

I would also figure out the production and post production seperately, then add them together for the total.

My day rate is just for shooting not for any post work (except when I'm using the HVX200!!)

[BluesCam]

I would ask for $850 if the only change was the camera. Unfortunately, today the cost seems to be more important than the quality.

[shade]

in the past I've done hdv shoots and always gotten the full beta rate

[Sprite]

It's been years, but last I checked the day rate for beta shooters was $800. I'm sure it's much more now. What about small HDV cams like the Z1U??

[Baltimore Shooter]

It's been years, but last I checked the day rate for beta shooters was $800. Yep, it's definately been years, the standard rate now for a 1 person crew is $1,100 and $1,500 for a 2 person crew.

Warren