Renting lenses?

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
I would like to rent a lens at some point this summer. Where would I rent it from, how much would it cost, and do I need to be a certain age?
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
You have a credit card?

lensrentals.com
borrowlenses.com
lensprotogo.com


Cameta camera also rents lenses if you have one by you. Try giving local photography stores a call.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
I personally rent mine locally at Penn Camera in Washington, DC.

When I rent on a Friday, I pay for one day ($25) but get it for the entire weekend. It's a good deal. They have a wide selection and no shipping back and forth to deal with.

Just watch out. Renting often leads to buying!
 

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
Originally posted by: Xanis
I would like to rent a lens at some point this summer. Where would I rent it from, how much would it cost, and do I need to be a certain age?

I rent from the local shops. I don't recall seeing an age requirement on the forms, but a credit card is required (they put a hold on the card in the full amount of the lens).
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I personally rent mine locally at Penn Camera in Washington, DC.

When I rent on a Friday, I pay for one day ($25) but get it for the entire weekend. It's a good deal. They have a wide selection and no shipping back and forth to deal with.

Just watch out. Renting often leads to buying!

wait, what?!?! I didn't know that would work... but what lens do you get for $25? I was thinking of renting the canon 70-200 2.8 (which I'm glad I didn't, would have been useless for me, heh) and I recall it being more... or maybe that was because I calculated each day.

That and I'm too lazy too go into DC to get it, heh.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I personally rent mine locally at Penn Camera in Washington, DC.

When I rent on a Friday, I pay for one day ($25) but get it for the entire weekend. It's a good deal. They have a wide selection and no shipping back and forth to deal with.

Just watch out. Renting often leads to buying!

wait, what?!?! I didn't know that would work... but what lens do you get for $25? I was thinking of renting the canon 70-200 2.8 (which I'm glad I didn't, would have been useless for me, heh) and I recall it being more... or maybe that was because I calculated each day.

That and I'm too lazy too go into DC to get it, heh.

There are other Penn Camera locations that rent, such as the one near Tyson's Corner I think.

$25 will get you an EF 35 F1.4L for the weekend. Not sure what they charge for their 70-200 F2.8L IS, but I know you can rent it. You rent bodies too. Maybe I should rent a 5D/35 1.4L combo one day just to experience FF?
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I personally rent mine locally at Penn Camera in Washington, DC.

When I rent on a Friday, I pay for one day ($25) but get it for the entire weekend. It's a good deal. They have a wide selection and no shipping back and forth to deal with.

Just watch out. Renting often leads to buying!

wait, what?!?! I didn't know that would work... but what lens do you get for $25? I was thinking of renting the canon 70-200 2.8 (which I'm glad I didn't, would have been useless for me, heh) and I recall it being more... or maybe that was because I calculated each day.

That and I'm too lazy too go into DC to get it, heh.

There are other Penn Camera locations that rent, such as the one near Tyson's Corner I think.

$25 will get you an EF 35 F1.4L for the weekend. Not sure what they charge for their 70-200 F2.8L IS, but I know you can rent it. You rent bodies too. Maybe I should rent a 5D/35 1.4L combo one day just to experience FF?
again, I'm a lazy SOB :) That and I'm glad I opted to just buy something and play with it for a couple of months and sell it if it doesn't work for me. And no, don't rent that combo. You might lose a bunch of money by never going back to crop....
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
The problem is that the only camera store near me is a Ritz. I don't know of any other ones.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
8,595
126
philly is big enough that there are probably a couple real camera stores there. they'll rent to you.
 

chucky2

Lifer
Dec 9, 1999
10,018
37
91
Here in the Chicagoland area the only one I've found is Calumet Photo...and coincidentally, they have a location in Philly: Calumet Photo Locations

Very reasonable prices and a pretty good selection of Nikon and Canon, not sure about the other brands...may vary location by location.

I like renting after 2/3 PM on Friday, and returning by 9 AM on Monday. The Calumet Photo in Chicagoland (not sure about the rest) will only charge you for one day then I believe...pretty good deal for a weekend.

Good Luck!

Chuck
 

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
Originally posted by: chucky2
Here in the Chicagoland area the only one I've found is Calumet Photo...and coincidentally, they have a location in Philly: Calumet Photo Locations

Very reasonable prices and a pretty good selection of Nikon and Canon, not sure about the other brands...may vary location by location.

I like renting after 2/3 PM on Friday, and returning by 9 AM on Monday. The Calumet Photo in Chicagoland (not sure about the rest) will only charge you for one day then I believe...pretty good deal for a weekend.

Good Luck!

Chuck

Chicago is considered a commercial market. There should be more rental choices than just Calumet.