Camera sales and rentals in Orlando

[bdtracey]

Does anyone have a suggestion where I could rent a fisheye lens for my Canon XSi near the world? I local camera store doesn't rent them out and even if they did I don't think I'd want to have it on rental for 14 days.

I've tried reasoning w/ DW about just buying one but she won't hear it! LOL jk! I'd like to at least try it before I buy it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ScrappinGran]

I do not know of a place in Orlando, but I recently rented a fisheye lens from
Borrowlenses.com. I do not know their minimum rental period, but their prices were very reasonable. It came quickly, well packaged and padded. You send it back in the same box, and use their postage paid label that was in the box. I had never used a fisheye, and enjoyed using it. I would recommend Borrowlenses.com to anyone, I was impressed by the ease of renting.

 

[WillowBelle]

I agree with S.G.

FWIW, If you rent it enough times, maybe your DW will cave and just let you buy one....that's what happened with my DH!

 

[WDWFigment]

Fisheye lenses are (relatively) cheap. If you plan on renting anywhere near 14 days, it likely will be cost-effective to just buy.

If you don't like it, you can always sell it and still probably come out ahead.

 

[Uncle Greg]

Hey Disney, are ya listening? Lens rental right beside the stroller rental. Rental delivery direct to your hotel when staying onsite.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey Disney, are ya listening? Lens rental right beside the stroller rental. Rental delivery direct to your hotel when staying onsite.

Sheer GENIUS!

Actually, a couple of regulars here could probably just set up shop on a moment's notice.......

 

[Shutterbug]

Fisheye lenses are (relatively) cheap. If you plan on renting anywhere near 14 days, it likely will be cost-effective to just buy.

If you don't like it, you can always sell it and still probably come out ahead.

I guess it would depend on the lens and where you rented it from but I have to disagree, at least in my case last month.

Few weeks back I rented a Tokina 11-16 fish eye zoom from lensrentals.com for 10 days. The combined cost of everything(rental, insurance, shipping) for 10 days was just $99.00. Looking at B&H, the cost of the lens alone is $579.00.

Renting the lens saved me $480.00

 

[WDWFigment]

I guess it would depend on the lens and where you rented it from but I have to disagree, at least in my case last month.

Few weeks back I rented a Tokina 11-16 fish eye zoom from lensrentals.com for 10 days. The combined cost of everything(rental, insurance, shipping) for 10 days was just $99.00. Looking at B&H, the cost of the lens alone is $579.00.

Renting the lens saved me $480.00

The thing is, at the end of the 10 days, you have nothing to show for your $99, which is my point with the "cost-effective" remark. A cursory search of eBay shows this lens selling used for $540-580. Ebay charges fees, so selling there isn't the best option.

Assuming you could make the same amount on Craigslist, at worst, renting was less advantageous in that it cost you $60 over buying and reselling ($99-($580 cost on BH less $540 worst-case resell=$40)=$60) and at best, renting was less advantageous by $99 over buying and reselling ($99-($580 cost on BH less $580 best-case resell=$0)=$99).

I guess I just don't get all of the proponents of renting cheap lenses, especially when people give as their justification that they can't afford or get permission to buy. The people who don't have the money (and I count myself among these people, so it's no knock at anyone else) are exactly the ones who should not be renting cheaper glass as it often isn't cost effective. you have more of a reason to be cautious with your spending.

I'm have no issues with renting expensive or exotic glass. I still wouldn't do it personally, but it makes better financial sense. However, renting a $300-600 lens doesn't.

 

[Shutterbug]

The thing is, at the end of the 10 days, you have nothing to show for your $99

Actually I have $480.00 in my pocket to show for it and some really great pics.

At the time that I rented the lens, for the most part all other extra money was going into other expenses..the trip itself, bills. I did not have $580 sitting around to go for the lens.

To go by your method, since I didnt have enough to actually buy the lens, I should have just gone on vacation with out it because in the end its not cost effective to rent it. Then again I would have missed out on the photo opportunities I had with it.

Also if I had bought it and it turned out to be a dog of a lens I hated, I am out of pocket $580.00 and stuck with the trouble of trying to sell it and hope I get can get close to that dollar value back within a reasonable time frame.

I know I wouldnt pay close to new price for a used lens when I can get a brand new lens for a little more.

If I see someone selling it used for $540 and then see B&H selling it new for just $40 more, I will buy it from B&H. That way I can be assured its new and if there is problems I have an actual business I can go to get the problem taken care of.

So in my case renting the lens makes perfect sense.

 

[WDWFigment]

Actually I have $480.00 in my pocket to show for it and some really great pics.

At the time that I rented the lens, for the most part all other extra money was going into other expenses..the trip itself, bills. I did not have 580 sitting around to go for the lens.

To go by your method, since I didnt have enough to actually buy the lens, I should have just gone on vacation with out it because in the end its not cost effective to rent it. Then again I would have missed out on the photo opportunities I had with it.

If this was an issue, you could have put it on a credit card and paid it off in full within a month without incurring any interest. With this method, you probably could have gotten 2-3% cashback, too! If you couldn't have afforded it within the month, sell.

Also if I had bought it and it turned out to be a dog of a lens I hated, I am out of pocket $580.00 and stuck with the trouble of trying to sell it and hope I get can get close to that back.

I know I wouldnt pay close to new price for a used lens when I can get a brand new lens for a little more.

If I see someone selling it used for $540 and then see B&H selling it new for just $40 more, I will buy it from B&H. That way I can be assured its new and if there is problems I have an actual business I can go to get the problem taken care of.

So in my case renting the lens makes perfect sense.

What you're willing to to do when it comes to used lenses versus new ones (for what it's worth, I agree with you in that I'd never take only a $40 (or in some cases $0!) discount on a used lens over a new lens as there just is too much risk for so little discount) is irrelevant; those are actual numbers taken from completed listings on eBay. Those are market prices that others are willing to pay, which is the pertinent consideration.

Renting certainly may have been easier for you, I will certainly grant you that, but my point is that if you're truly concerned about money, renting lower cost lenses is not economically efficient.

 

[Shutterbug]

If you couldn't have afforded it within the month, sell.

Again that point is you have to hope you get back what you bought it for and hope its before your bill is due. IMO more than likely you are going to take a hit and its going to be at least $100. Thats more than the cost of the rental in this case.

but my point is that if you're truly concerned about money, renting lower cost lenses is not economically efficient.

It wasnt just about money but also about being able to take the pics I wanted.

I understand your argument, I mean if I had the 580 laying around for the lens and had the time to wait to get a decent return on it then yeah that would be the way to go.

 

[Finiamh]

::Ropes thread back to topic:::


There used to be a place that I knew of but they moved shop to Kansas or somewhere. I know, a lot of help.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I have used borrowlenses.com

Follow them on twitter. they offer discount codes on certain lenses from time to time.

I plan on renting a 100-400 zoom and maybe the 50mm f1.4 for my decker trip. Rental price for both is about $100.

Have looked at www.lensrentals.com and they look good too.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

And to go back down the rathole.........

Not everyone has been selling on ebay and got a good feedback profile already built up. I do, but I know others that don't. So buying the lens for a while and then dumping it on ebay is not so simple. I for one would not spend $500 on a lens from someone with no prior ebay selling experience (and don't get me started on all those paypal guarentees, they don't afford any real protection what so ever).

And while I sell on ebay, I've never transacted on Craigslist, so I wouldn't go that route either.

For me, renting lenses is about trying something different. Not sure I would ever take lots of photos with a fisheye, but after seeing some of the fisheye pictures on this board, I think it could be neat. So maybe someday I'll rent one and give it a shot.

I have rented the 400mm f/2.8L IS lens last year for some high school football games and that is one expensive lens. Glad I did rent it though. It was a blast for 10 days.

 

[rmdavis]

Hello Everyone, I am heading to Orlando the day after Thanksgiving and was hoping someone here could tell me if there is anywhere in the Orlando area that sells camera supplies. Specifically I am looking for a good circular polarizer and maybe ND filter. I just decided today I wanted one and of course can't get it in time before I leave. Any input would be greatly appreciated.



I'm not sure which mod moved my post into this thread but I don't really see how looking for filters to buy relates at all to a post about lens rentals??

 

[RadioNate]

Colonial Photo & Hobby is a good store. It is just north of downtown.

As for rentals http://www.thelensdepot.com is about an hour away from WDW.

 

[Golf4food]

I have used and like www.cameralensrentals.com