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Have Gear Acquisition Syndrome? Rent Camera Equipment!

Ahhh… some days, we all want what we can’t have. Maybe the bank account just doesn’t agree with your need to buy that EF 85mm f/1.2L of your dreams. (What? Is that just my fantasy lens purchase?) Maybe you want to test out a new lens or camera body before you invest in buying it? You wish you could buy the Canon 24mm f/1.4 L USM II Wide Angle Lens, but it is out of stock everywhere? You’re in need of backup gear for a wedding you’re going to photograph, and renting makes more sense? (Because you would *always* photograph a wedding with backup gear, right?!??!!!??)

(Ok, so I shoot with Canon — I don’t know what Nikon users are craving. I promise, I’m not brand biased!)

The reasons for needing camera equipment are long, but it doesn’t always mean you have to *buy* the equipment. Sometimes it just makes more sense to rent it instead.

I’ve rented a number of times from BorrowLenses.com and I love working with them. I can’t say enough good things about them. You pick what equipment you want them to send to you – they carry both Canon & Nikon lenses, bodies, flashes and other accessories, along with tripods, light meters, lighting equipment, and even camera bags! Once you add everything to your cart, you can then choose when you want the equipment to arrive and how fast to ship. The shipping fees include shipment in *both* directions – so when you’re ready to return the equipment, you just send it off with the pre-paid form and you’re all set. When you rent, your rental starts on the day it arrives to you, and you return it at the end of the rental period; the shipment time is not docked from the rental. How awesome is that?

Want to test them out? Need some gear to play with? I posted to Twitter recently my love of @borrowlenses and the guys there are so awesome, they made a discount code that you can use to get 5% off of your next order! Just enter “BIGPINKCOOKIE” at checkout into the code box on your order placed by September 30, 2009, and enjoy!

By Christine

Christine is an Avenger of Sexiness. Her Superpower is helping Hot Mamas grow their Confidence by rediscovering their Beauty. She lives in the Heights in Houston, Texas, works as a boudoir photographer, and writes about running a Business of Awesome. In her spare time, she loves to knit, especially when she travels. She & her husband Mike have a food blog at Spoon & Knife.

8 replies on “Have Gear Acquisition Syndrome? Rent Camera Equipment!”

Have I told you lately that I love you? I’ve just been asked to do a product shoot. I can’t really extend to buy the equipment I need, but I can afford to rent the stand and flashes I need for a temporary studio shoot. Yay!

I would have liked this article better if you would have just told us that we needed to go out and buy a whole lot of shit camera equipment…. cause really that’s what we really want to hear.

But your way is good too, and will probably not cause my husband to divorce me because we went broke buying camera gear.

Christine,

thanks for sharing your insight on this. I am certainly suffering from the Gear acquisition syndrome 🙂 Have to try out the rental market sometime. Even add some rental insurance coverage to the policy so I don’t need to have those huge charges holding on the credit card while I rent the gear.

thanks for sharing your insight on this. I am certainly suffering from the Gear acquisition syndrome 🙂 Have to try out the rental market sometime. Even add some rental insurance coverage to the policy so I don’t need to have those huge charges holding on the credit card while I rent the gear.

Renting equipments are best appreciated if you would like to use those items on a limited time. Through online test equipment rental, you can test these gadgets on a regular basis.

Those of you who have rented equipment via internet based companies (there’s no local rental where I am) have you ever had issues with the equipment not being in proper working order? You should check the equipment before an event, obviously, but if it’s not right would there be time to send it back? Which companies have been most reliable for those of you who have rented?

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