Anyone ever rented lenses?

[Tnkrbelle565]

I didn't even know that you could do this until yesterday. In reading a TR, I found out that you can rent lenses!!! I would love to try this for my next trip. Specifically, I'd love to try out a fisheye...maybe something else???
(I have my kit lens, my 50mm, and a 70-200mm so far as I'm a newbie).

Has anyone ever done this? What are you experiences? And more the fun part....what would you rent if you could???

 

[handicap18]

I rented the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for a family wedding last year. IIRC it was $110 for 10 days (maybe less, I think its less now though) and that was with insurance. Considering the lens costs $1699 yo buy new,,, it was worth it.

I rented from www.lensrentals.com. Very good rates (IMO) and very nice to deal with. I tried to rent from www.cameralensrentals.com but they didn't have the lens I wanted for the specific dates I needed. Their customer service was AWESOME though. I will definitely rent from them when I can. They also have a 10% off coupon for your first rental (available on their site). When I went to rent from them they were fairly new and didn't have a big inventory, but they have gotten bigger over the last year or so. These are the 2 places I would recommend.

 

[Alztybrn]

I used LensRentals twice and could not be happier. Their customer service is second to none. Prices are very competitive and have always had the lenses I wanted.

When I went to Disney this past June, I rented a Canon 10-22 and it was a great lens to go with my 28-70 and my 50mm.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I rented an 85mm f/1.2 lens recently. I can't recall who it was from. They sent it on time and I returned it on time and I never talked to them, so I can't comment on their customer service.

I remember when checking lens prices that you had to work a bit to make even comparisons. There were significant variations in insurance and shipping costs.

 

[mtdewlarissa]

i rented from lensrental.com and was very happy. i rented a 100-400 l lens for my cannon for my vaction at the beach. my photos turned out great. i rented for 2 weeks and had a little extra time to play with it.

 

[tjl1388]

I rent from http://www.borrowlenses.com/ and LOVE them. They are great. I rented a D300 and a D3 when I was looking to upgrade and have rented a BUNCH for sporting events and family functions. I have a pending order for next week when we go to DL. I'm getting a 30mm, a fisheye and a 14-24 F/2.8.

 

[WDWFigment]

I've never rented, but if I were to rent, I would only rent more "exotic" glass. If you're renting a garden variety lens (one that is less than $1,000 new), you might as well save the money and put it toward the lens.

If you don't know whether you'll want to buy it, why not find one on eBay, buy it, then resell it when done if you don't like it? With Bing.com cashback, you likely could still make money, even after fees. This is, of course, only if money is an issue. If not, go wild!

 

[sdshutterbug]

I have never rented either but I am looking into it. I agree I don't think it's worth it to rent cheap glass since by the time you pay shipping and insurance you could practically buy it. The big drawback for me is shipping, because some places charge a lot of money. If I lived near a lens rental facility I would think it would be more worth it.

 

[spinetnglr]

I rented from lensrentals.com also and had a flawless transaction. The lens I rented was a Nikkor 300mm f4 lens and it was well worth the $100 to rent the lens and try it out for 10 days. I was considering buying one until I rented it. I loved the lens and the shots I got with it but its not a lens for me to use hand held as its big and heavy. After renting it I decided there are lenses I would buy before investing $1400 in a lens that I would almost always have to use with a tripod. It was definately a fun lens to use and one I may eventually considering buying but I have others I would rather have before that one. I would definately rent from them again.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks for the opinions everyone!!! Keep them coming!!!

I think I'm going to get the fisheye for fun but of course I can't just stop there!!

What to do...what to do???

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I rent from http://www.borrowlenses.com/ and LOVE them. They are great. I rented a D300 and a D3 when I was looking to upgrade and have rented a BUNCH for sporting events and family functions. I have a pending order for next week when we go to DL. I'm getting a 30mm, a fisheye and a 14-24 F/2.8.

OOOh I can't wait to see your pics with those rented lenses. I have my eye on all 3

 

[fitzperry]

I've also used lensrentals.com successfully on two occasions--lenses I wanted were in stock, arrived on time, well-packaged and in perfect condition, etc. I agree that I wouldn't rent a cheap lens. Even if it were something you weren't sure you'd want to keep, it would probably make more sense to buy and sell it if you decide against it.

 

[tjl1388]

OOOh I can't wait to see your pics with those rented lenses. I have my eye on all 3

The 14-24 is 10000% going to be my next lens when I can swing it. This is going to be the 4th time I have rented it. It is an AMAZING lens....but also an amazing price.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

The 14-24 is 10000% going to be my next lens when I can swing it. This is going to be the 4th time I have rented it. It is an AMAZING lens....but also an amazing price.

Do you have pics on your smug mug acct taken with it???

 

[tjl1388]

Do you have pics on your smug mug acct taken with it???

Here is one..

And most of this entire gallery.

http://www.tjl1388.smugmug.com/gallery/4401324_ECAvC#260009537_GB8hW

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Here is one..

And most of this entire gallery.

http://www.tjl1388.smugmug.com/gallery/4401324_ECAvC#260009537_GB8hW

Thanks...heading to check them out!

 

[AndrewWG]

I have rented from lensrentals.com 3 times now. I currently have the 100-400 Canon L lens for baseball photos. I love it and lensrentals is a great company. Here is a hint.... If you need the lens for say, Thursday, tell them you need it for Friday or Saturday. They mail them on Monday no matter what and it takes 2 days for you to get it. Your rental starts on the day that you request it for no matter when you recieve it. So in the case of you needing it Friday, your rental would be from Friday to Friday but you will have it on Wednesday so you have 2 more days to play.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I have rented from lensrentals.com 3 times now. I currently have the 100-400 Canon L lens for baseball photos. I love it and lensrentals is a great company. Here is a hint.... If you need the lens for say, Thursday, tell them you need it for Friday or Saturday. They mail them on Monday no matter what and it takes 2 days for you to get it. Your rental starts on the day that you request it for no matter when you recieve it. So in the case of you needing it Friday, your rental would be from Friday to Friday but you will have it on Wednesday so you have 2 more days to play.

Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[spinetnglr]

I have rented from lensrentals.com 3 times now. I currently have the 100-400 Canon L lens for baseball photos. I love it and lensrentals is a great company. Here is a hint.... If you need the lens for say, Thursday, tell them you need it for Friday or Saturday. They mail them on Monday no matter what and it takes 2 days for you to get it. Your rental starts on the day that you request it for no matter when you recieve it. So in the case of you needing it Friday, your rental would be from Friday to Friday but you will have it on Wednesday so you have 2 more days to play.

I rented the Nikon 300mm for 10 days and had it for 2 weeks. I didnt realize it when I ordered it that the return day (10th after my request day) fell on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend so I coudn't send it back until Tuesday. It arrived 2 days early like AndrewWG said plus with the holiday I had the lens for a full 2 weeks at the 10 day price ... timing can be a good thing

 

[bnorm27]

I've used www.cameralensrentals.com several times with great results. They've always had what I wanted, when I needed it. Very good prices, fast shipping too! A great way to test lenses prior to purchasing them.