What the thread found

• A large rig should only be financed if the operator is confident in continuing the work and has realistic job prospects.
• Common financing paths include: a rental house or dealer's own finance program (often better rates but not covering the full purchase price) combined with a specialized film equipment financier; credit cards with 0% introductory rates or balance transfer cards over twelve months; bank loans secured against the rig and supported by a business plan; and unsecured personal loans from one's main bank, which in one case were cheaper than film equipment financiers and allowed early repayment without penalty.
• Almost all equipment financing is hire purchase with a fixed interest sum: interest payments remain due even if the loan is repaid early.
• Used Steadicam® rigs represent good value because the physics of the system means a well-maintained older rig will stabilize modern cameras nearly as well as new equipment and can usually be resold without loss; used models mentioned include EFP, PRO 1, Ultra 1, Ultra 2, Clipper, Archer, and modified Zephyr units instead of new entry-level sleds.
• Staged upgrading (arm first, then vest, then sled) costs less than buying a complete rig at once.
• An alternative requiring no upfront capital is to operate a rig owned by a retiring operator, with rental income paid to the owner and credited toward eventual purchase, though this requires either a watertight contract or an established relationship of trust.

Gear in this thread

Zephyrcatalog

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