Renting digital camera lenses is an effective way to get that costly unique piece of glass you’ve all the time lusted after!
Perhaps you need to attempt a lens before you purchase it, or maybe you want one for a particular job or journey.
Regardless of the case, digital camera lens leases are an effective way to get your palms on some gear you don’t already personal.
To lease a lens, you often have to pre-pay for the rental interval and transport – though some providers do supply free transport over a sure sum.
On this information, you’ll uncover six standard choices for renting lenses within the US.
(Be at liberty to go away your suggestions for lens rental providers elsewhere on the planet within the feedback beneath.)
6 Well-liked Choices for Digital camera Lens Leases
1. Borrow Lenses
Borrow Lenses is without doubt one of the hottest lens rental providers as a result of you possibly can choose up and drop off the gear at any 300+ UPS areas in the USA.
You can too have cameras or lenses delivered to your handle, together with same-day supply in SNF and NYC, or do a free native pick-up at their location in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or Washington.
They’ve a big selection of lenses, each in manufacturers and in focal lengths, and so they even have extenders and adapters. If you happen to’re unsure what gear you want, they provide steerage and help.
In 99% of the instances, they don’t require a deposit, and so they solely cost your bank card after transport.
They provide two sorts of protection – one for unintended harm and one which’s extra inclusive.
If you happen to change your thoughts concerning the rental interval, you possibly can lengthen it or return the lens early and get the credit score again when you had it for greater than 4 days.
Additionally they supply nice service for shopping for used lenses and different digital camera gear.
2. Lensrentals
Regardless of the identify, at Lensrentals, you possibly can lease digital camera gear of any variety – not simply lenses. It’s nice for lenses although, as they’ve a big selection of manufacturers, mounts and adapters.
A great a part of their catalogue is out there for direct buy, so when you fall in love with the lens you rented, you possibly can hold it. You can too have a 7-day rental interval to check out a lens you need to purchase, which will probably be deducted from the ultimate value when you resolve to go forward with the acquisition.
Delivery is out there inside the USA, together with Hawaii and Alaska.
The corporate relies in Tennessee, and native pick-up is feasible in both of their areas in Nashville or Memphis. Nevertheless, solely Memphis provides same-day pickups.
You’ll get a pre-paid return label in your bundle to return the lens on the finish of the rental interval.
Two sorts of safety plans can be found as add-ons to scale back your legal responsibility, and so they have worldwide protection. There isn’t a deposit payment, and the cost is made after transport.
Reside chat is out there on the web site when you want any help earlier than, throughout or after the rental. It’s attainable to increase the leases and lease for as much as six months.
3. ProPhoto Rental
ProPhoto Rental relies in Colorado. The most effective issues about them is their pricing system – particularly when you’re desirous about lengthy intervals.
They don’t do day charges. As an alternative, they’ve a specific system the place the payment slowly will increase. You’ll be able to see the pricing for the primary few days beneath the lens you need, however you can even enter a customized interval on the reserving calendar and get a quote.
One other pricing perk is that you simply don’t get charged an additional payment if you wish to lengthen the rental interval, and also you notify earlier than the final day – you solely pay the distinction. Nevertheless, when you wait till the final day, or as soon as the rental is overdue, then it’s charged as a brand new rental – therefore, it’s costlier.
You don’t get charged till after the transport, and so they additionally settle for cancellations with out penalty charges when you cancel earlier than the lens will get shipped.
There’s a free floor transport choice on orders over $75 – nevertheless, Hawaii and Alaska are sadly not included on this supply.
ProPhoto Rental do ship to lodges, which isn’t widespread and significantly appreciated, and you can even do native pickup.
They don’t have as many lenses because the earlier choices, however it’s nicely assorted for all of the main manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, Leica and Sony, in addition to Sigma Artwork lenses. Additionally they have an array of filters and equipment.
You should buy a harm waiver for the gear – the price is identical no matter how lengthy you’re holding the lens.
4. Adorama Rental
Adorama Rental primarily caters to video gear, however in addition they carry photographic cameras, lenses, equipment and lighting.
They’ve two areas in NYC, and so they have one of many broadest ranges of apparatus obtainable for lease. Additionally they have some stricter guidelines when in comparison with different rental providers.
To lease gear from them, you might want to create an account. New clients have to e book at the least sooner or later prematurely for a verification course of. On the plus aspect, returning clients can e book with solely two hours for prep time.
Additionally they require a deposit or so that you can present a certificates of insurance coverage – please examine their necessities earlier than getting insurance coverage to verify it is going to suffice. This will depend on the entire substitute value.
You’ll want a non-debit bank card the place that may maintain the substitute worth of your rental or the deductible from the insurance coverage. After returning the gear, the rental value is charged, and the maintain is launched inside 72 hours.
They ship throughout the US and supply native pick-up, together with curbside. There’s a buyer help chat on the web site for any points and enquiries.
5. Lens Professional To Go
Lens Professional To Go relies in Massachusetts, however because of its partnership with FedEx and Hunts, you possibly can choose up or drop off your rental gear at over 4,000 areas within the US.
Additionally they ship to all the US, together with lodges (so long as you or another person is there to signal for the supply). UPS providers are additionally obtainable for transport, however not for choose up.
You’ll be able to simply lengthen the rental interval proper from the web site. When you’re achieved, put the gear again within the Pelican Case and use the pre-paid return label that got here with it.
More often than not, there’s no want for a safety deposit. You’ll be charged from one week to 2 days earlier than the transport of the gear – apart from same-day orders, in fact, if you’re charged nearly instantly.
They provide two sorts of safety plans: one primary for unintended harm and one other that’s extra inclusive. Nevertheless, you’re not obliged to buy a safety plan or current an insurance coverage coverage – the danger is on you.
If you happen to resolve to go along with third-party insurance coverage, you’ll be accountable for the communication and fee – they don’t cope with the insurance coverage firm.
If you happen to lease lenses (or different gear) typically, this can be a nice firm for you as a result of they’ve a Rental Rewards program. It lets you get credit each time you employ it – you then’ll see the credit score in your account web page, and will probably be obtainable as a fee technique at checkout.
The assortment of lens varieties and types is sort of in depth, so that you’re more likely to discover no matter you want. Additionally, when you’re unsure what you want, they can assist you out as everyone seems to be a photographer or videographer.
6. Aperturent
Aperturent is positioned in Washington, however they’ve areas in Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX. They’ve all kinds of lenses and equipment similar to filters, adapters, and teleconverters.
Most orders don’t require a deposit, however you might want to create an account and undergo the verification course of, which may take as much as three enterprise hours.
They provide native pickup or transport all throughout the US. You’ll be able to ask for same-day transport when you place your order earlier than 3:00 PM – the default supply service is the 2-day FedEx, however you possibly can order an in a single day supply for an additional value.
You’ll get a pre-paid return transport label to ship again the gear on the finish of your lease.
It’s attainable to increase or shorten the time of your order. Nevertheless, when you’re returning the lens earlier, you’ll solely get a refund for the unused time beginning on the fourth day of rental. It is because the minimal lease is three days, so even when you use it just for sooner or later, it’s a must to pay for 3.
They’ve a free cancellation coverage when you notify them earlier than they ship the gear.
They provide primary harm insurance coverage. If you happen to want a extra complete choice, you can purchase it from a third-party supplier.
Additionally they have a frequent renter low cost, which is superb if you might want to lease gear a median of 10 to twenty occasions per yr.
Digital camera Gear & Lens Rental: Closing Phrases
Renting lenses is a good answer if you don’t have the finances to purchase otherwise you need to attempt one out earlier than investing in it.
Nevertheless, when you’re renting for a particular shoot, be sure to contemplate sufficient time for them to course of your order and for any delays within the transport. Whereas most rental providers can assure their processing time, as soon as the bundle is within the courier’s palms they don’t have management over it.
So, these are the perfect lens rental providers we all know of within the US. Are there any in your space you could suggest? What about different nations? Is that this a service you’ll find? Tell us within the feedback!
