A great photographer knows that it takes talent and the right gear to create a perfect shot. Photography is expensive, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur. Building up your daily bag of camera gear can take both time and several thousands of dollars. And of course, by the time you can afford a specific piece of equipment, there will be a newer and fancier model available. This is where lens rental comes in handy. If you are an amateur photographer who is new to renting camera gear, check out this guide.

Reasons to Rent

There are many benefits to renting photography gear. Renting equipment is more affordable than buying it, which is important to consider if the equipment isn't something you will use often. It also gives you the chance to try before you buy to determine if investing in a specific piece of equipment suits your photography needs. If you're planning on shooting specific events, rental camera gear can also serve as a great and affordable way to back up or supplement the gear you have.

Photographers who travel for work can also have rental camera gear shipped directly to their hotel, allowing them to travel light and avoid excess baggage fees. Plus, you can keep working when your main gear is being maintained.

Are you interested in practicing a niche style or working with a particular lens that's hard to come by? You can rent it, try it out, and return it. That way you won't have buyers' remorse because or get stuck with a piece of camera gear that doesn't suit you.

Renting Online or In-Person

Regardless of the rental period you need, there is a photography rental store to fit your needs. Renting camera gear from a camera rental store gives you the chance to ask knowledgable salespeople specific questions about gear. Physical camera rental stores have a wide variety of equipment available for pick-up, but they typically require a reservation to ensure you get what you need.

Online camera rental stores also have a wide variety of cameras, lenses, and other camera gear that can be shipped to your location of choice. There's more flexibility in renting gear online but unlike in-store rentals, there is an added cost for shipping and insurance. You could also risk your rented camera gear not arriving on time due to unforeseen circumstances (like COVID-19).

BorrowLenses is the online lensrentals company for all of your camera gear needs. Professional photographers and enthusiasts like Google reviewer Jake have given rave reviews about their quality and selection. You can rent lenses from major brands and manufacturers like Nikon, Sigma, and Canon. You can find camera lenses based on focal range, brand, and max aperture available for a rental period of up to 90 days.

This rental house also has used camera gear for sale including camcorders, tripods, camera bodies, and lenses. Your first experience with renting pro photo gear should be with a quality company that conveniently delivers a range of camera gear right to your door.

When to Rent Camera Gear

It's not practical to purchase new equipment for a specific job (unless it's a niche project that you are confident and passionate about). Renting key pieces of equipment like telephoto lenses, gimbals, or high powered flashes makes more sense than investing in something specialized that you won't use frequently. You'll want to rent camera gear for specialized projects or for large projects that demand more angles than you're able to shoot with the gear you have.

These are the basics of renting camera gear and lenses. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a professional, renting lenses is a financially savvy way to improve your craft, try new styles, and find the right fit for your needs.