A while back I got a Canon lens 50mm 1.4. I had gotten a little money together to purchase it here locally on a Sunday afternoon, then drove to LA for a church service to try out my new lens. I was stoked to get it. It was he first piece of “new” camera equipment I have ever gotten. Everything I have bought in the past was used. On my way to LA, I got a ticket for being in the carpool lane. Yes, it was totally my fault. I have lived in CA for a little over a couple of years now, but I didn’t notice the carpool lanes were all the time even on weekends. Everywhere else I have been they are just for the weekdays. Live and learn, I guess that’s what tickets are for. Anyway the ticket was more then the lens I had gotten a few hours earlier. Yes, I had to take the lens back as to pay this ticket, but I did use it like crazy to two weeks. No big deal, I’ll be getting another in the not to distant future, but that kit lens just looks different to me now. Ha!
I’ve always hear some Pros say “don’t buy something you can rent.” When I told the salesman the reason I was returning the lens, he said they rent the lens also if I ever get tight on cash. The thing that no one mentioned about renting equipment was you have to have the same amount of money to rent as to buy. I get why this is done, but if I had the money to rent the camera or lens, I would probably just buy it.
Anyway, That’s my lens drama.

That's too bad about the ticket! I know I've driven a little more aggressively in Seattle traffic (and used the carpool lane at times) when I'm working a wedding than I would otherwise....

If you have a credit card they'll usually let you use that to secure your rentals. renting or borrowing equipment for a day or two before you buy it is a great idea.

~Bill

Bummer on the ticket. It seems silly to enforce the carpool rules on the weekends. A while back I was going to rent a Canon 400mm f/2.8 for some sports stuff and realized that I had to cover the full amount on my card. So I decided to save and wait. My wife says If I sell our '65 Mustang I can get it... hmmm!

I rent from lensrentals.com all the time & never have to pay anything above the rental fee unless I purchase the insurance. I agree, if I had to put up that kind of money, I'd just buy the lens.

Man that's a bummer. What's even carzier is that the ticket was more than the lens. Talk about government cash cows.

That is a great lens. I use it for portraits alot.

ON the issue of renting, I have never rented ANY camera equip. Not that it's a bad thing all the time, but in general I tend to think that if it's cool enough that I want to rent it, I'd be better to put the cash toward bying it since I'll probably want it around more that one time.

Gav

Also borrowlenses.com - same deal- just a rental fee and insurance if you want it

Buying an L lense = 1000.00 to 2000.00
Renting it for a week = 30.00 to 120.00 on average. And it goes down the more weeks you rent it.
Seeing if you really need and like the lense = a great business decision.
If you are just starting out this is really a smart way to go.

wow for a week? We'd pay that for a day.
I was looking at $99 for a day's hire of the 85L - dont ask about the 400:2.8L - luckily my friend has it and lets me borrow it whenever I want

Jonathan

Thanks for the info. Some of those I have hear for before.