Renting camera equipment

[BuzzLiteyear]

I was an ad for Kingdom rentals (or something like that) and they deliver camera equipment to WDW. I'm considering using the service as I don't want to carry my equipment on the plane (we usually drive). Has anyone used them before? Are there any other rental places in Orlando that also deliver?

 

[HPS3]

I don't know what kind of gear you are wanting to rent. For the cost of rentals, you could pick up a mirrorless camera(Nex or M4/3)for vacation. Instead of renting, you would be investing in a secondary camera which get outstanding quality. You can also fit them in your luggage or pocket for that matter. I shoot with a Sony Nex and love it. I'm just saying its an option.

 

[NLD]

Can I ask what the concerns are with carrying equipment on the plane?

Just wondering because I've done it numerous times and it's always fine.

 

[wbeem]

Never heard of them, but it doesn't surprise me that there's a business in town dedicated to serving a tourist niche for a tidy profit. When I rent gear, it's usually a lens from LensProtoGo.com. They ship it to my house for a specified period. I take it with me as if it were my own gear. When the time is up, I put it in the packaging they provide with a prepaid shipping label. Very good service.

Spending a few hundred dollars to avoid carrying a camera on the plane seems like an expensive proposition for very little benefit to me. What's the point in having your own gear if you aren't willing to take it with you?

Of course, that's just my opinion. If this gives you peace of mind, then that's the price of it.

 

[2Tiggies]

In addition to the reasons given above, I wouldn't want to have to find my way around a different camera on vacation. That's just my opinion.

With regard to rentals, I don't know what you want to rent or how long your trip is, but I was looking into renting a wide angle lens for my upcoming trip. I will admit it is not a short trip as Disney vacations go, but I was looking at over $200 with the secure shipping to me and back to the rental companies. I ended up buying the lens I want. I now have time to get used to it before my trip and if I decide it was too excessive (which I doubt) I can sell it when I return and will still lose much less on it than I would have spent if I had rented.

For what it's worth, I take my camera gear with me everywhere and have never had a problem - even on longhaul flights. Your choice, but just giving my opinion

 

[Experiment_626]

I don't know about other services, but I know that if you rent from Borrowlenses.com you can have them ship to a FedEx/Kinko's location and have them keep it for you to pick up using their "Hold at Location" feature. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that other sites offer similar options. And I can only imagine there's likely a Fed Ex/Kinko's close to WDW property.

SSB

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

The main reason would be to limit what we take on the plane. Between all of the kids' stuff and then my stuff...it just seems like this might be the way to go. I like the idea about the Sony Nex. I still have a little time to consider my options. Originally we were going to drive, so there wasn't an issue. Thanks for the opinions!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

The ad you saw was from a new place called Kingdom Camera Rentals, which would deliver it to your resort for you (kind of like Owner's Locker does).

I have not used them yet. I've only used Borrowlenses.com so far and their service / selection was awesome. Only problem was I have to pay for the rental days before the trip as I have to get the gear delivered to my home. Having it dropped off at the resort is an interesting option.

 

[Experiment_626]

The ad you saw was from a new place called Kingdom Camera Rentals, which would deliver it to your resort for you (kind of like Owner's Locker does).

I have not used them yet. I've only used Borrowlenses.com so far and their service / selection was awesome. Only problem was I have to pay for the rental days before the trip as I have to get the gear delivered to my home.

You can have Borrowlenses do the same thing. However, they charge a full-value deposit to do it! The do still offer that FedEx/Kinko's option. Then the only issue would be getting a taxi to take you to the nearest such location to pick them up. I presume you could mail the equipment back to Borrowlenses from pretty much anywhere, though.

SSB

 

[2Tiggies]

The main reason would be to limit what we take on the plane. Between all of the kids' stuff and then my stuff...it just seems like this might be the way to go. I like the idea about the Sony Nex. I still have a little time to consider my options. Originally we were going to drive, so there wasn't an issue. Thanks for the opinions!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Is it the volume of stuff you are taking on the plane that you are concerned about, or is there a cost factor involved here? Is it not cheaper to pay for a checked bag for some of your non photo gear luggage than to pay for rental?

 

[redboxcar]

I used lensrentals.com for my WDW trip just a few weeks ago - it was amazing! I price-compared with borrowlenses.com and a local shop, and lensrentals.com was the lowest.

I didn't have to rent any extra days to have it arrive at my home. I had it shipped to Old Key West (my resort) for arrival on the same day we arrived (when you rent online, you specify what day you want it to arrive at the location, and they guarantee that arrival date) and when we checked in at 6pm, we just asked the front desk if it had arrived and they brought it out from the back. I had it arranged to be sent back on the day we checked out. It came with a prepaid shipping label, so we kept the box and stuffing it came in. On the day before checkout, we called FedEx to schedule a pickup for the following morning, told them we were leaving the package at the front desk. Then the morning of checkout, we took the box to the front desk, asked for some packing tape, packaged everything back up and slapped the label on. Everything went smooth!

Just to comment on what others are saying - I have a Sony NEX 5 and the reason I rented was because I wanted to try out a telephoto lens. It cost me a little over $60, inclusive of both-way shipping to rent the lens for a week. This lens retails for $349, but it was just not an option for me to purchase it. I paid the $60 and don't regret it at all - got some great photos! I think it really depends on the photographer, camera, and lens, but you don't always need to tinker with the equipment before hand to "get used to it" before your trip.

Good luck!