How does your day rate compare with or without equipment? What percentage more do you get for including your own equipment in your day rate? Should it just be a rental fee (flat rate) type of situation?

Thanks.

I Have found that having your own equipment has far more advantages than draw backs. First if you are constantly using the equipment the rental fees can be so high that you may as well have purchased it in the first place. Second is convience, you have it when you need it. As far as cost goes over all you are going to save money over the life of the equipment versus renting for the same period of usage. While this may or may not effect your daily rate it will certainly effect your profit margin. In my case ,for the amount of rent I would of had to pay out for my first project alone I would have paid for the equipment. It's 2 years later and several projects later, every thing is going strong, and its money in my pocket.

I understand, but how much more would you charge with equipment versus without?

I think that you are going to find that the price comparison to be the same. Here is why.
Rental: you have to pick up, use, return, pay for damages. All of this takes time and is factored into your cost that you must pass on to your client.
Owner: you have the equipment, you own it, it's paid for, But what happens when you need to replace it or repair it. Things wear out, SO... you have to charge the same price to buy a future camera or repair the one you have. While you will tend to pocket more money than the camera cost you, you never know just when that piece of equipment is going to go down. If you want a price, check out rental prices for the camera you want. Add that cost to your service, even if you own the camera.