Anyone ever see any used mini35s for sale? at DVinfo.net

Matt Pope · May 4th, 2003, 05:02 PM

I'm curious as to whether anyone has ever seen a used mini35 adapter for sale? I saw one link to an old ebay auction where someone was selling a new one with an $8000 reserve, but I'm curious as to what a used one would go for - if you can ever find them?

My reason for asking is that I'm looking at buying a mini35 with XL1 mount for a few upcoming projects this summer. I'd like to think that I'll get enough work with it to justify keeping it beyond that, but in case I don't and have to unload it, I'm wondering what I could realistically get for it (with the XL1 mount and maybe 2 lens adapters - zeiss/nikon).

What do you guys think? You think I'd be able to ebay or otherwise find a buyer for a used one?

Thanks!
Matt

Rob Lohman · May 5th, 2003, 03:42 AM

I would never buy such an expensive item off eBay (also see the
how not to get spammed on eBay article right here on the
watchdog.

Personally I have not seen any second hand mini35's for sale.
My guess would be that there aren't much of these units on the
market and most people bought it with good research.

Why not rent one for your movies?

John Threat · May 5th, 2003, 06:24 AM

wasnt there one for sale right on this site?

Rob Lohman · May 5th, 2003, 06:31 AM

Yes there was (is?). The thread can be found here

Try sending him an e-mail about it. Good luck!

Matt Pope · May 5th, 2003, 07:24 AM

Thanks guys, I posted and emailed Rick to see if his is still available.

Rob - you asked why I don't just rent it... Well, I'm right on the border between renting and buying one. I've rented before and had a great experience renting. Over the next couple of months, though, I've got what looks to be at least 2 weeks worth of shoots I'll need to have the adapter for.

This started causing me to think that maybe this was the ideal time to look at buying my dream piece of equipment :-)

Basically, I would "rent it" to myself for projects that require it, thus paying it off over time with the client money that would have gone to the rental house. Make sense?

The question is just whether or not I'll have enough upcoming jobs that require it so that I get it for as little out of my own pocket as possible. I'm right on the line as far as that's concerned. And I'd need to buy it for the jobs this summer before I find out about other jobs down the road - thus wondering about a worst case scenario of having to re-sell down the road.

Does that sound like a decent plan, or am I just trying to justify it so that I can own my very own mini35?!

Rob Lohman · May 5th, 2003, 08:50 AM

It sounds like your justifying... nah... just kidding. I can't tell
you (in all honesty) whether you should buy or rent. Very
dangerous to tell people things like that. I'll just tell you what
your options are. You have to decide or do this with people
whom you know and they know you. It IS a lot of money!

Good luck with your quest!

Derrick Begin · May 5th, 2003, 09:20 AM

Mini35...

If you can pass the rental/purchase price through to your client then by all means, do it. Otherwise absorbing the price could/can be costly. I was thinking of doing what you are pondering and I nixed it because I need to eat.

Are you being paid for your work? If you really want it and you think business will be better because of this piece of equipment then up your rate a bit. You'll pay it off in no time.

Let me know how it goes...

I'll probably rent it for a two week feature shoot, the company who I'm working for will have/need to foot the bill.

Good Journey!

Cheers!

I take it if your paying 8 Gs for the equipment you are getting the a lense or two?

Matt Pope · May 5th, 2003, 10:25 AM

Derrick...

All the work I do currently is paid - and I'd definitely be incorporating whatever cost the client would have to pay to rent the equipment into what I charge. For a two week shoot, it looks like I could charge through about $1500 worth of rental cost to the client (which is $1500 I save on the purchase). I've got a guy I think I can get the mini35 from used for about $6500 - it's barely been used, but I'd still have to decide if I'd feel comfortable with it...

That'd leave about $5000 that I'd be eating right now - that I'd be hoping to make up for additional similar projects in the future. There's a local rental house that says they may be interested in sub-renting as well, but I was figuring even if I ran out of money and had to eat, I could still probably sell the thing when the project's over for more than $5000...

As far as lenses go, I'd probably buy some Nikons for the time being and just rent whenever I needed something better.

And if I do end up buying, maybe you'd like to rent mine for your two-week feature shoot! :-)

Matt

Derrick Begin · May 5th, 2003, 10:37 AM

Matt,

A definate possiblity.

We should keep in touch.

Cheers!

Derrick

Charles Papert · May 5th, 2003, 11:25 AM

Matt:

Be aware that the Mini 35 has gone through three generations of development to get to the current production model; it would be worthwhile to learn about the changes that have been made so that you can price used ones accordingly (obviously a first gen. model should be a lot cheaper!)

Matt Pope · May 5th, 2003, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the heads-up - I will definitely look into that!

Dylan Couper · May 5th, 2003, 05:40 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by John Threat : wasnt there one for sale right on this site? -->>>

I believe the one that was put up for sale here was also the one that was on Ebay.

Justin Chin · May 12th, 2003, 02:55 PM

Charles is right, the mini35 has gone through 3 generations (I own the second gen). The last improvement they made was with the relay lens.

I certainly get noticed when I shoot with the mini35 and I get jobs because of it. I have begun renting out the rig, but people generally don't understand it and some have been disappointed (because they didn't follow my instructions, or they don't understand how to focus, or don't understand lighting).

I now offer my services as an AC on the shoots if need be. Like anything there are limits to using the rig, but they are definitely workable. Serious filmmakers only. If you don't have or rent a good lighting package than you're severely limited. Regardless, I believe in plenty of light.

It sounds funny, but it's easier to control a 5k or 10k shot through a 6by dif, than a 1k with a dif clipped to the front. Okay, now I'm rambling...

Alturo Nguyen · June 2nd, 2003, 11:43 AM

why is the price so high? don't understand, when going to mfg
http://www.pstechnik.de/pstechnik.htm
it shows the mount for way less than that? am i missing something, if so what?
ty

Rob Lohman · June 2nd, 2003, 12:04 PM

I don't see a price there?

May 4th, 2003, 05:02 PM	#1
Matt Pope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 83	Anyone ever see any used mini35s for sale? I'm curious as to whether anyone has ever seen a used mini35 adapter for sale? I saw one link to an old ebay auction where someone was selling a new one with an $8000 reserve, but I'm curious as to what a used one would go for - if you can ever find them? My reason for asking is that I'm looking at buying a mini35 with XL1 mount for a few upcoming projects this summer. I'd like to think that I'll get enough work with it to justify keeping it beyond that, but in case I don't and have to unload it, I'm wondering what I could realistically get for it (with the XL1 mount and maybe 2 lens adapters - zeiss/nikon). What do you guys think? You think I'd be able to ebay or otherwise find a buyer for a used one? Thanks! Matt

May 5th, 2003, 03:42 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I would never buy such an expensive item off eBay (also see the how not to get spammed on eBay article right here on the watchdog. Personally I have not seen any second hand mini35's for sale. My guess would be that there aren't much of these units on the market and most people bought it with good research. Why not rent one for your movies? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 5th, 2003, 06:31 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Yes there was (is?). The thread can be found here Try sending him an e-mail about it. Good luck! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 5th, 2003, 08:50 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	It sounds like your justifying... nah... just kidding. I can't tell you (in all honesty) whether you should buy or rent. Very dangerous to tell people things like that. I'll just tell you what your options are. You have to decide or do this with people whom you know and they know you. It IS a lot of money! Good luck with your quest! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 5th, 2003, 11:25 AM	#10
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Matt: Be aware that the Mini 35 has gone through three generations of development to get to the current production model; it would be worthwhile to learn about the changes that have been made so that you can price used ones accordingly (obviously a first gen. model should be a lot cheaper!) __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

May 5th, 2003, 06:24 AM	#3
John Threat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York Posts: 322	wasnt there one for sale right on this site?

May 5th, 2003, 07:24 AM	#5
Matt Pope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 83	Thanks guys, I posted and emailed Rick to see if his is still available. Rob - you asked why I don't just rent it... Well, I'm right on the border between renting and buying one. I've rented before and had a great experience renting. Over the next couple of months, though, I've got what looks to be at least 2 weeks worth of shoots I'll need to have the adapter for. This started causing me to think that maybe this was the ideal time to look at buying my dream piece of equipment :-) Basically, I would "rent it" to myself for projects that require it, thus paying it off over time with the client money that would have gone to the rental house. Make sense? The question is just whether or not I'll have enough upcoming jobs that require it so that I get it for as little out of my own pocket as possible. I'm right on the line as far as that's concerned. And I'd need to buy it for the jobs this summer before I find out about other jobs down the road - thus wondering about a worst case scenario of having to re-sell down the road. Does that sound like a decent plan, or am I just trying to justify it so that I can own my very own mini35?!

May 5th, 2003, 09:20 AM	#7
Derrick Begin Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 329	Mini35... If you can pass the rental/purchase price through to your client then by all means, do it. Otherwise absorbing the price could/can be costly. I was thinking of doing what you are pondering and I nixed it because I need to eat. Are you being paid for your work? If you really want it and you think business will be better because of this piece of equipment then up your rate a bit. You'll pay it off in no time. Let me know how it goes... I'll probably rent it for a two week feature shoot, the company who I'm working for will have/need to foot the bill. Good Journey! Cheers! I take it if your paying 8 Gs for the equipment you are getting the a lense or two?

May 5th, 2003, 10:25 AM	#8
Matt Pope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 83	Derrick... All the work I do currently is paid - and I'd definitely be incorporating whatever cost the client would have to pay to rent the equipment into what I charge. For a two week shoot, it looks like I could charge through about $1500 worth of rental cost to the client (which is $1500 I save on the purchase). I've got a guy I think I can get the mini35 from used for about $6500 - it's barely been used, but I'd still have to decide if I'd feel comfortable with it... That'd leave about $5000 that I'd be eating right now - that I'd be hoping to make up for additional similar projects in the future. There's a local rental house that says they may be interested in sub-renting as well, but I was figuring even if I ran out of money and had to eat, I could still probably sell the thing when the project's over for more than $5000... As far as lenses go, I'd probably buy some Nikons for the time being and just rent whenever I needed something better. And if I do end up buying, maybe you'd like to rent mine for your two-week feature shoot! :-) Matt

May 5th, 2003, 10:37 AM	#9
Derrick Begin Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 329	Matt, A definate possiblity. We should keep in touch. Cheers! Derrick

May 5th, 2003, 11:32 AM	#11
Matt Pope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 83	Thanks for the heads-up - I will definitely look into that!

May 5th, 2003, 05:40 PM	#12
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	<<<-- Originally posted by John Threat : wasnt there one for sale right on this site? -->>> I believe the one that was put up for sale here was also the one that was on Ebay. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 12th, 2003, 02:55 PM	#13
Justin Chin Major Player Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 227	Charles is right, the mini35 has gone through 3 generations (I own the second gen). The last improvement they made was with the relay lens. I certainly get noticed when I shoot with the mini35 and I get jobs because of it. I have begun renting out the rig, but people generally don't understand it and some have been disappointed (because they didn't follow my instructions, or they don't understand how to focus, or don't understand lighting). I now offer my services as an AC on the shoots if need be. Like anything there are limits to using the rig, but they are definitely workable. Serious filmmakers only. If you don't have or rent a good lighting package than you're severely limited. Regardless, I believe in plenty of light. It sounds funny, but it's easier to control a 5k or 10k shot through a 6by dif, than a 1k with a dif clipped to the front. Okay, now I'm rambling... __________________ justin www.monsterrocket.com Filmmaker \| Cinematographer

June 2nd, 2003, 11:43 AM	#14
Alturo Nguyen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 52	don't understand why is the price so high? don't understand, when going to mfg http://www.pstechnik.de/pstechnik.htm it shows the mount for way less than that? am i missing something, if so what? ty

June 2nd, 2003, 12:04 PM	#15
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I don't see a price there? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors