How To Lease A Camera And Lenses
Every bit a photography teacher who does both in-person workshops and online coaching, I've lost count of how many photographers I've talked to who regretted at least one camera or lens buy.
Sometimes, information technology's a portrait photographer who was told by some "big name pro" that they admittedly must buy this-or-that giant, heavy portrait lens. (I've seen plenty of Rebel cameras with Canon 85mm f/ane.2 Fifty'south mounted on them!)
Other times, it's a mural or nightscape photographer who bought a highly exotic, oversized, overweight ultra-wide lens.
In each case, these photographers tell me the aforementioned thing: that they inappreciably ever attain for that lens they spent $1200 or $2400 on, and they really regret buying it in the showtime place.
The same thing happens with camera bodies. I speak to casual beginners, serious hobbyists, and aspiring pros, who were fortunate to have enough money for a loftier-finish camera, but later realized it was way more than than they really needed, or just the wrong choice for what they commonly shoot.
[Related: Your Consummate Guide To Lenses For Landscape Photography]
At commencement, I plant this to be a rather odd argument. How could someone possibly spend that much coin on something they didn't realize wasn't right for them? What I learned was this: many shoppers but buy whatever they think is "the absolute best", flow, fifty-fifty if it's just not what they really need. Many others, agape of over-spending or getting too overwhelmed by complication, purchase the most entry-level option even though it is finer a "crippled" version of something merely slightly more than expensive.
This is fine in many consumer situations, but when it comes to cameras and lenses, one tin quickly begrudge having to lug around an exotic, heavy lens, or waste money on something that'south just not right for their photography.
Now, it'south one thing if the photography you practise actually can benefit from the "extra workout" of hand-holding larger cameras and/or lenses. To those people, I would say, exist glad that y'all fabricated a cracking long-term investment! You will "grow into" the gear and information technology will assist you create wonderful imagery.
However, if you lot barely use a piece of gear because it but isn't suited to your style of photography at all, (say, you lot bought an expensive 85mm prime, and then realized you lot really prefer 35mm or 50mm, and barely use 85mm at all) …so that's an unfortunate situation and ane that I'd like to assist people avoid if I can.
[Related: How To Pick The Best Prime number Lenses For Hymeneals Photography]
[Related: Complete Guide To The Best ZOOM Lenses For Nuptials Photography]
And so, accept you ever regretted a high-dollar purchase, for whatsoever reason? You don't have to leave a comment below, but you lot won't exist judged if yous'd like to tell your story and help others spend their hard-earned money more wisely…
[NOTE: LensRentals.com is currently doing a "vii days for the price of 3" bargain, if your order arrives by July 4th. The promo code is: COOLPOP]
Everybody Buys Cameras Online Now, And That's OK, Simply…
Over the last ten-20 years, as in-store shopping has given mode to online shopping, almost everybody I know buys their cameras and lenses online. Information technology's a shame because I always liked being able to become into a store, hold a camera, and talk to a knowledgeable person nigh it earlier buying annihilation. And, commonly, the in-store price was exactly the same every bit the online price. Simply, on the other hand, I understand that this is the way things are, and it's just a affair of convenience.
For the well-nigh part, gone are the days of trying out a camera or lens before buying it. This puts buyers at a disadvantage, in my opinion, because it's easy to brand the wrong choice for your personal style of photography and other needs/preferences. This can toll y'all many hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Y'all could e'er return an item, only that's a hassle, and you often wind up paying the cost of aircraft. All I know is, I've talked to many photographers who have a lens in their bag that they merely loathe having spent so much money on, but to barely use it.
For these reasons, I strongly recommend that people try gear out earlier buying it, and renting equipment is the best way to endeavor out something!
Whether you're considering saving up for a actually nice lens, or you know your budget is smaller simply you lot but want to compare both a high-dollar and a upkeep-friendly choice at the aforementioned time, spending a few days with one or 2 lenses (or a camera or 2) is infinitely improve than getting communication from dozens of strangers on the internet.
Either manner, you will exist able to residue assured the expensive detail yous're saving upward for is worth information technology, OR, that what y'all're "missing out on" is actually Non worth it, for your particular type of photography.
I've Spent Thousands Of Dollars On Photographic camera Rentals
Ever since I beginning got into wedding photography in 2004/2005, I started renting various lenses just to meet what worked for me. Back then, in that location wasn't very much free advice on the internet nearly which f/two.8 zoom lens or f/1.four prime was perfect (on APS-C) for weddings or portraits, so I had no choice only to experiment and try things out for myself.
I've rented (or borrowed) literally every Nikon and Canon lens to come out in the last 15 years, and pretty much every Sony lens too. (Bated from the little f/3.5-4.five "kit" lenses that seem to multiply like rabbits!)
To be honest, when I add upwardly all the money I've spent over the years, I could probably buy a really dainty flagship camera body and one or two flagship lenses! Spending all that money on rentals might sound like a huge waste, simply go along in mind that a lot of it was for paid professional work, and all of it was because I only really bask trying out new camera gear.
Practice I Regret Spending And then Much Money, Or Was It All Worth It?
Of form, spending thousands is overkill. If I were only a hobbyist or part-time photographer, and not a full-fourth dimension photographer and gear reviewer, I would likely have merely spent a pocket-size fraction of that amount.
For most, renting 2-iii camera bodies and 3-5 lenses in your lifetime is not unreasonable. Information technology should only cost a few hundred dollars at most, and it could relieve you from regretting spending thousands more than on something that isn't right for you.
Also, plainly, renting is how you get admission to an extremely high-dollar lens that you lot could never afford in the beginning place, and wouldn't even want to buy because y'all merely need information technology for 1 major job.
Plus, can yous even put a price tag on having access to a certain lens or photographic camera that could assist you develop your creative style as an artist sooner than afterwards? Having to expect months or years to save up for a new piece of gear could be holding back your creative journey, your growth every bit an artist, instead of having it available correct at present.
Okay, that was also melodramatic. I don't desire to audio like I'm shilling exotic lenses. The reality is, if you already have a camera and i or two lenses, you tin experiment with virtually any type of photography. Where gear might hold y'all back in one area, inventiveness can almost always detect a way to overcome the obstacles.
However, in my own growth equally an artist, I tin can remember pivotal moments that helped me take leaps forward, such every bit buying that first f/ane.iv prime number for portraiture after owning goose egg just f/4-v.half-dozen kit lenses, or buying that first ultra-broad lens later on having nil even remotely broad-angle for my landscape photography. In these cases, getting the new lens truly did "unlock new levels" for my creativity.
I've Truly Loved Every Camera And Lens I've Ever Bought
Indeed, I might take gone a footling scrap overboard in my quest to try out all the gear e'er made, but then again gear reviewing has become my full-fourth dimension job now, so it'south difficult to regret investing in my hereafter.
And, yes, I can honestly say that after ~16 years in digital photography, and owning 12 camera bodies, (I always owned 2 or three at a time for nuptials photography) plus likely ii or three dozen lenses, …I don't regret one single purchase. Actually, a lot of gear was bought used, and only ane or ii items could be considered "exotic". I also sell off older gear after upgrading and moving on to something newer.
Rent Earlier You Purchase
The lesser line is this: If you're shopping for a new camera or lens, there is a ton of advice out in that location regarding which gear is best for what purpose, but the more than advice you read, the more you'll run across most every lens and camera get recommended for almost every type of photography. In other words, the more "research" yous practise, the more dislocated (or misled) you might exist.
If you effort gear out earlier you lot buy information technology, one manner or some other, so non only volition you know which item actually works well for you, but as well, if you compare multiple options, you'll never accept that nagging sense of, "was at that place a better selection I could accept made?" Let me tell you, it feels bully to never worry about that!
Local Camera & Lens Rental Shops
I live in Southern California, and I'm highly fortunate to have a very skillful local rental shop nearby. If you lot live within an hour of Irvine, CA, and so y'all should know about ProPhoto Connexion. I've been renting cameras and lenses from them for fifteen+ years now, and they have ever had what I needed. They mainly stock Catechism and Nikon DSLR equipment, since that'south the most tried-and-truthful gear in terms of being indestructible and professionally capable, however, they're starting time to too rent Sony total-frame mirrorless, as well.
Due to COVID-nineteen, ProPhoto had to close for a while, however, they're open again for film development & purchasing, and their rental shop will be open once more shortly.
In general, if y'all're looking to attempt a lens or camera over the course of a weekend, I strongly recommend local rental shops. They usually offer the all-time one-twenty-four hour period prices, since you pick up the gear yourself, (versus having it shipped to yous) and in the case of ProPhoto Connexion, you can get an entire weekend for the toll of one day. (Then, cheque the lens out on Friday afternoon and return it Mon forenoon, for, say, $25-35 for most pro flagship lenses.)
Simply put, if you lot're contemplating a purchase that could exist v-10X that cost, why NOT try information technology out beginning?
Online Camera & Lens Rental Shops
If you lot can't find a local store, there are a few reliable, reputable online rental shops out there. We do not have a direct affiliation with any of them, however, I personally accept the most experience with LensRentals.com, and in my overall opinion, their organization and inventory is the all-time. The gear I want is always in stock, and their prices are competitive compared to other online rental shops. You can as well check out Borrowlenses; I don't think I've rented with them before, but my colleagues have had some great experiences at that place besides.
When I first started renting gear online, I was annoyed that some online rental companies included shipping in the cost of the rental, while others didn't. LensRentals is one of the companies that charge shipping separately, notwithstanding, equally soon as you receive your first rental, you realize that they don't mess around. In fact, I dubiety fifty-fifty Ace Ventura could harm a photographic camera or lens during "transit"… (Really, unless he had steel toe boots and the leg of the Six Million Dollar Homo, he would probably suspension his toes or ankle!)
Plus, and this is REALLY cool, companies like LensRentals likewise sell their gear through LensAuthority.com afterward information technology has been in the rental system for a while. So, you lot can get a good deal on well-maintained, oft-serviced (used) gear, instead of having the fear of half-broken junk from eBay.
In most cases, you may even exist able to utilize the cost of your rental towards purchasing the verbal gear you rented, through the LensRentals "keeper" program.
[Note: LensRentals.com is currently doing a "7 days for the price of 3" deal, if your order arrives past July fourth. The promo code is: COOLPOP]
Determination | My Camera Gear Shopping Communication To All Photographers
Whether you're a beginner, a hobbyist, or an aspiring professional, hither's the best advice I can give you: Effigy out your photographic style, preferences, and habits before yous brand whatever big investments. If you lot have to go along a Facebook group and ask, "should I buy the 24-70mm f/2.8, or the 70-200mm f/2.8?" …then yous should probably NOT just listen to the advice of strangers on the internet, unless you lot both shoot exactly the aforementioned subjects, in the same creative manner.
Instead, what you should be doing is "bite the bullet" and spend a few bucks to hire both lenses, see which one suits your needs, and buy that one. Will you spend a little flake more coin in the long run? Technically, yes, just information technology will really exist far LESS coin than if you 'd bought the wrong item.
And then, on the side by side big photography gamble or job you have, you'll exist able to bask the craft of photography even more considering you accept the perfect camera and lens(es) for the task… Good luck!
Again, leave a comment below if you have your own gear shopping (or rental) success/failure story you'd like to share.
Source: https://www.slrlounge.com/why-you-should-rent-camera-gear-how-to-never-regret-a-camera-or-lens-purchase/
Posted by: williamssignitere.blogspot.com
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