Are you working in the photography and film industry? If yes, for sure, you know how important it is to have the right equipment or camera gear to create a satisfactory project. So you do a lot of research on what camera gear is the best to buy, which can really be quite stressful, especially since there are a lot of great products in the market. And in the event you actually buy one for yourself, you can only hope that you won’t regret your choice because there are instances that you may not like some of its functions or there are features that are not present in your gear that you forgot you needed—it’s then too late to regret. This is where renting a camera first comes in handy.

Read further as I lay out reasons why renting might be the best option before buying a camera—additionally, here is a comprehensive review of two camera rental companies that you can try out.

Two Main Reasons Why You Might Want to Consider Renting a Camera Before Purchasing It Full Price

A professional-grade camera can be quite expensive.

If you’ve been into photography for quite a while now, then you’re aware that top-grade camera, lenses, and photography gear doesn’t come cheap. I mean, there is really no problem in getting one if you have the means to and are willing to invest in those—but not everyone is afforded that luxury. Renting cameras and gear is ideal for those who want to pursue film or photography professionally but want to try out different products on the market before purchasing. It is also cost-efficient if you cannot fully expense and store all the equipment you need for a shoot or in the process of building out your camera kit.

As for me, I have been into videography for as long as I can remember. It was once a hobby that turned into something I’m passionate about. However, I am among those who, in the beginning, couldn’t afford professional-grade equipment. When I first graduated college, I did not have a couple extra thousand lying around to buy a camera. And the thought of buying one with a credit card—on top of student loan debt—was not even an option. That is why renting camera gear was my temporary solution.

It allows you to test out all the options out there before deciding on purchasing a professional-grade camera.

No one ever wants to purchase something and regret it afterward, right? Especially if the product is something that costs quite a lot. Through renting, you can test out camera gears first and see if it suits your needs and style. Because honestly, if this is something you want to do professionally and get a return on your investment, you will want to make sure that you’re comfortable with using it in all aspects, such as its convenience when you’re moving around, its built-in features, its usability for a variety of different settings, etc.

Moreover, by renting camera gear first, you will be allowed to experiment with pieces of equipment that are outside your comfort zone. Renting allows you to try it before you buy it. If you don’t like it, you can always return it.

Borrow Lenses vs. Lens Rentals Review

Over the years, I have been renting camera gear from these two camera rental companies. And I thought, why not give you a comprehensive review of the two in order to guide you on where to rent one for yourself? Listed below is my in-depth assessment in terms of customer services and overall experience, shipping, and pricing between Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals.

Customer Service and Overall Experience

I am pleasantly surprised that the two rental companies have excellent customer service. I enjoy and really appreciate how I can talk to a real person each time I have an inquiry and how their representatives are really knowledgeable about camera gear. Can you relate to me when you try to speak with someone from their customer service department, only to be directed back to their website, or sometimes you even end up talking to an automated system?

Good thing that both Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals gave much importance to customer service, which means they really care for the overall experience of their customers.

Shipping

Shipping from both companies is pretty fast and reliable.

In the case of Lens Rentals, they have a solid insurance policy for their items. Their gears are insured, and you can sign damage waivers — which is the best thing to do, especially if you’re renting high-ticket items. This way, you don’t have to worry about your rented gear should anything bad happen.

Also, in the event that you might have left your SD cards in their cameras, you can assure that they will just return them to you. I personally have experienced that I left my SD card case in the camera bag, and they immediately informed me of the situation and mailed it to me as soon as possible (of course, I was charged the cost of shipping to return it). I was so happy that they shipped back my memory cards, as it would’ve cost me a lot to replace those, plus the headache I would’ve gotten if I told my clients that I had lost their footage.

Pricing

There is not much of a difference between the two camera rental companies in terms of pricing. However, Lens Rentals is relatively cheaper by a couple of bucks if I base it on the camera that I frequently rent (Sony A7S3). But Borrow Lenses, on the other hand, often offers promotional rates and discounts. So, considering that, both companies are still neck-and-neck in this aspect.

Conclusion

When renting camera gear, the factors I really consider are customer service, shipping, pricing, and overall experience. But for the most part, since I am already familiar and satisfied with how Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals offer their service, I just decide on where I’m renting based on product availability and wherever I can get the gear from the fastest and the cheapest.

At this point in my career, I have finally taken that leap to purchase myself a professional camera. Nonetheless, I’ll still continue to rent lenses or other gear and supplies from either of the companies because of their superb customer service, and it just makes the most sense to me at the moment. Meanwhile, you can watch my full review of Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals here.

Borrow Lenses VS. Lens Rentals Review and Reasons to Rent Camera Gear First Before Purchasing