There are so many different cameras out there, it’s hard to find something that all clients will be happy with.

I currently own an HPX370 P2 camera and Sony Z1U. I also have tripods, light kits, support gear and a couple of ENG audio kits. For some of my gigs, I shoot on my 370, or Z1U. I also have an Atmos Ninja with an SDI converter, which I use to record on rental cameras sometimes. I also work quite a few reality gigs, and they supply the cameras, usually a Sony Z7U, DSLR, EX1 or an HDX900. So, I am sometimes provided the camera and I provide all the tripods, support gear and lights, so I make a good chunk of change on rentals. I also provide a sound guy and audio kit on some shoots. So, I haven’t bought a 2/3" chip camera yet. I guess part of it is just small chip syndrome that I am lusting after a 2/3" chip camera. I am considering buying a friend’s used HPX3700 Varicam, but I haven’t gotten calls requesting this particular model. However, I shot a reality casting tape on the 3700 and 370, matched with scene files, and it worked beautifully. I really like the 3700. If this show takes off with MTV, and they want to keep shooting P2, it would be a worthwhile investment to buy it, if MTV hates the idea, and there’s no show, it seems very risky to drop 25K on a 3700 package.

The only other catch is, I’d really like to get in the circle of the History Channel, Discovery Channel shooters that shoot on the 3700. I don’t mind reality TV shooting, but I love both natural and human history, and truly enjoy documentary filmmaking. Would buying this camera get my foot in the door or am I going about this the wrong way? Maybe making the contacts first and letting them know that I can get a 3700, which I am renting for now? Will the high end documentaries abandon ENG style camera in favor of large sensor cine style digital shooting?

Just some thoughts, feel free to advise.