Have you ever dreamed of having a specific camera or lens, but haven’t been ready to spend the money? Perhaps you just want to play around in real-life settings–at your kids’ sports games, on vacation, or at a special event–to see how well it works.
There have been times when I’ve found myself in this situation. (Let’s be honest–there’s always a new piece of camera equipment I’m lusting after. Glass is a woman’s best friend.) Sometimes, as a photographer game, the solution to this problem is to be happy with what you’ve got and see the limitations it puts on.
In this article, I’ll go through when you should hire gear and when you shouldn’t, as well as how (and where) to do it. I’m also going to share a few of my insider tips for making the rental experience easier.
To test it out before a purchase
The most compelling reason I would suggest renting a camera or lens is that it’s the way to go. When you’re ready to upgrade your camera and have narrowed down your choices, renting might be worth it rather than purchasing right away. £1K – £2K on a purchase is a significant amount for many of us, and renting helps guarantee
If you’re renting a car, plan your trip around a short getaway or an event where you know you’ll be using the camera. You may also use it in a variety of lighting settings and for different types of subjects while on this type of journey.
Speciality lenses
There are occasions when you may want to utilize a specialist lens that you don’t use regularly, so it wouldn’t be worth the expense. If you’re going on a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife trip, renting rather than buying a super-telephoto lens is probably smarter. Although it won’t come up very often,
To play with new gear!
I enjoy a unique creative challenge when I rent a lens that is very different from the one I usually use. Recently, I rented a 14mm lens, which is completely out of character for me (I like close-ups and the compression of longer lenses).
Reasons not to rent camera gear
To try new equipment!
Everyone has a different budget, so renting just for the sake of it might be an option for some people, but most of us need to be conscious of price. In the long run, renting is not as cost-effective as purchasing, therefore I’d like to emphasize that you don’t always need the latest and greatest camera equipment to improve
How (and where) can you rent cameras and lenses?
If you live in an area with a respectable local camera store, there’s a chance they may have equipment for rent. The major advantages of renting locally are that you won’t have to pay to ship, it’s easier to get a last-minute or single day rental, and you’re supporting a local business in your community (something I always advocate!).
However, many of us do not have that luxury, and online rentals make it simple to acquire a range of equipment. I’ve attempted out several the major internet camera rental companies throughout the years as a side business shooting weddings and events, and ProMotionHire.com has stood out from the crowd.
Things I love about ProMotionHire.com
Great customer service
Forgot to send that owner’s manual or lens cap back? It shouldn’t be a problem–just shoot them an email and you can get it back to them ASAP in a separate shipment!
Have you ever wished for an additional day with the equipment and had to extend the rental period? This should go smoothly since they have stock to fulfil their other orders. This should go through without a hitch, and you’ll see how much it will cost to extend it, as well as pay with the click of a button if they have enough stock to
ProMotionHire.com has been a positive experience for me over the years, and I’ve appreciated their assistance when I made a mistake on my end or had any inquiries.
You can travel with the gear!
You are covered worldwide if you buy rental insurance.
Professional and high-quality
From their website to the packing to customer service, I’ve found everything to be of excellent quality with a consistent level of excellence throughout numerous years. Every piece of equipment is also cleaned and examined optically and physically to guarantee that goods arrive with compatible, working gear.
Fast and on-time
After putting it in order after the cut-off, I received a notification that it had been sent. (Though I don’t recommend doing it daily.) And I’ve never had a package arrive late!
It’s simple to return everything with ProMotionHire. It’s simply putting the box back together, including the return shipping label they provide, and taping it up
Comes with a case
A camera bag is a necessity, depending on the size of your rental. A small bag, a soft case (which may be useful for traveling), or a hard case (which might come in useful for travelling)
