New UK-based lens hire shop

[StewartR]

Just a little announcement. As some of you know, for some while I've been working on the idea of opening a lens rental shop. Well, the good news is that

www.LensesForHire.co.uk (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/)

will be opening next week. Until then, you're welcome to browse the web site. There are still a few odds and ends to tidy up, so a few details might change - and of course I need to provide a means to let people pay!! - but it's reached the state where it's good enough to let you see what's on offer.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

UPDATE, 22nd Jan: The store is now open.
And there are some special offers for POTN members - see post #26 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4756423&postcount=26), below.

UPDATE, 8th Feb: We can now deliver to Northern Ireland and the Isle Of Man. See post #52 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4876827&postcount=52), below.
UPDATE, 2nd Mar: Our latest addition is the EF-S 10-22mm. See post #63 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5031577&postcount=63), below.

UPDATE, Tue 25th Mar: We now have a comprehensive solution for the insurance problem. See post #67 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5186674&postcount=67), below.

UPDATE, Wed 26th Mar: We have a couple of new toys - the Sigma APO 120-300mm f/2.8 and the legendary EF 200mm f/1.8 L. See post #68 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5194868&postcount=68), below.

UPDATE, 27th Mar: We've just added a Manfrotto MN393 long lens bracket to our inventory. (See post #70 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5202762&postcount=70) below). So now there's no excuse not to hire that 500mm f/4!

UPDATE, 2nd May: To filter or not to filter? We've decided to fit protective filters to all of our lenses as standard. See post #84 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5446076&postcount=84) below for details.

UPDATE, 7th May: Insurance upgrade. Our insurers have agreed to extend the insurance we can offer our customers to include cover for all risks (damage, loss or theft), at no extra cost. See post #90 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5478361&postcount=90) below for more details.

[andydajo]

Stewart,
Hats off to you, this is what the UK has needed for a long time. Good luck with the venture, I'll certainly be a customer for the 500mm sometime.

[da_nige]

Get in line!!

Yeah Stewart we have needed this and I too will be a customer once the weather improves so thanks

[dseered]

Congratulations, hope to be a customer, hope the race clubs get their dates sorted soon :)

[DarrenL]

Very reasonable prices and I wish you all the best.

BTW, where are the lenses held? Where would I collect from? Coventry or Maidenhead?

Darren

[StewartR]

BTW, where are the lenses held? Where would I collect from? Coventry or Maidenhead?If I told you where the lenses are held, I'd have to kill you. But fortunately for both of us, you don't really need to know that.

I'll be offering pickup/dropoff in Maidenhead, or that general area, and/or central London. I'm based in Maidenhead but I'm in London a lot. (All that's in Coventry is a little brass plate with the company's name on.)

[DarrenL]

I did expect it was Maidenhead to be honest, but only after I searched for it. See what I'm saying :o)

Darren

[Box Brownie]

Stewart

All the best with your venture and as I am in Maidenhead reasonably regularly on business, a collection would always be my preference.

If nothing else in the first instance your service offers the chance to try a lens under 'actual' planned usage prior to a buying decision and obviously the access to more exotic glass that could never be in the budget!

:D

[Wazza]

I'll take the 1200L ;)

[woollyback]

Website looks good - prices look great

I will definitely be a customer once the weather improves

Best of luck with the new venture

Best regards

Rob

[davem720]

Looks great! Looking forward to placing some orders :-)

[ryandavid__]

I've been waiting for something like this! Thanks Stewart.
When are you starting next week?
Will there be a chance of getting the 24 1.4 for next Friday?

[StewartR]

I've been waiting for something like this! Thanks Stewart.
When are you starting next week?
Will there be a chance of getting the 24 1.4 for next Friday?We're planning to configure and test all the payment mechanisms over the weekend, so we should be up and running on Monday. For a hire starting Friday we'd need to send the lens out on Wednesday to get to you Thursday, so that should certainly be possible.

The safest thing for you to do is to go onto the web site and order the lens. You won't be able to pay for it (we'll treat it as a non-binding pre-order), but that way we'll have your contact details so we can get in touch directly and sort something out if we have any problems configuring the web site payments.

[NSWESP]

Are these your personal lenses or are you simply a partner in the venture? Ive always been interested in one day setting something similar up. I have passed the site on to some freinds and family in the UK who are keen photographers who will likely become customers down the track.

[Swaffs]

Looks good. I'm in London so could be interested in taking you up during the summer.

[StewartR]

Are these your personal lenses or are you simply a partner in the venture? Ive always been interested in one day setting something similar up. I have passed the site on to some freinds and family in the UK who are keen photographers who will likely become customers down the track.Thanks for the interest, Angus.

Are these my personal lenses? No. My personal gear is listed in my signature. I'm just a not-particularly-good not-particularly-dedicated hobbyist, and I could neither justify nor afford gear like this. All the lenses on the web site are owned by Lenses For Hire Ltd., of which I am a director and part-owner.

[Big WIll]

A much needed venture for the UK Market. Very well done. Are you just hiring out lenses??

[StewartR]

Are you just hiring out lenses??For now, yes. However, we've noticed that other places that have started out just hiring lenses (e.g. LensRentals and BorrowLenses in the USA) have fairly quickly diversified into other related bits and pieces. Once we start to gain an understanding of who our customers are and what they want/need, it's entirely possible that we might go down the same route. Did you have anything specific in mind?

[andrewc]

Got to start somewhere and then build it up. I would expect the biggest requirement to be lenses, diversify into Nikon fit assuming it takes off. I guess the progression would be to apply the same business model to camera bodies

Best of luck with the venture and congratulations for identifying the need, but also bringing it to market.

[red hot sheep]

Prices look good as does pick-up in London!

[steved110]

I've stored your site in my favourites list - I hope everything works out well for you as this seems to be a wonderfully useful venture - there are several lenses on your list I'd love to 'borrow' for a week or two, and your prices seem exceptionally fair!

I'll be watching with keen interest!

[ogbyte]

Congratulations Stewart, Hope everythings pans out as planned.

Prices seem very good indeed - hope to be a customer shortly for the 100-400/24-105

regards
Gary

[Robert16]

Count me in! Just what we need here in the UK

[steve75]

Absolutely fantastic!!! Nice one Stewart..... i'll definately be wanting to try out a 300 f2.8 For Badminton Horse trials at the start of May.

The site looks good, and the prices seem very reasonable to me..... Good work. I look forward to seeing the business and range of lenses expand.

[GilesGuthrie]

Well done for getting this far, and I hope it translates into big sales for you. I also hope to be able to use your services in the future.

One thing about the site: selected the 500, and chose "Royal Mail One Way", at which it set the delivery charge to £999.

[StewartR]

Thanks everyone for all the kind wishes. The shop is now open.
But please bear with us the early days as our systems and processes get bedded in!

Incidentally, we'd like to thank all the POTN members who contributed their thoughts and opinions whilst we were working up the idea and the business plan. If you contributed to this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353608) or this poll (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=360360) or this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=379157) in 2007 and you're in the UK, please email us at Help@LensesForHire.co.uk, stating your POTN ID, and we'll send you a discount voucher. One good turn deserves another.

[StewartR]

One thing about the site: selected the 500, and chose "Royal Mail One Way", at which it set the delivery charge to £999.Yep. That's there to discourage you. Royal Mail Special Delivery has a weight limit of 10kg, and the 500L comes at about 11-12kg packed. Even if we could leave bits out and get it under 10kg, it would be much more economical to use the courier.

[GilesGuthrie]

Yep. That's there to discourage you. Royal Mail Special Delivery has a weight limit of 10kg, and the 500L comes at about 11-12kg packed. Even if we could leave bits out and get it under 10kg, it would be much more economical to use the courier.

Ah. It looked like a "placeholder value". I might be tempted to use programming to take RM SD out of the options list for that lens if it were me.

[markol]

Congratulations Stewart!

Hey, let me know when the 1200mm gets back in stock. I will want to try it out, since looks like we are not getting one of our own. :D

[Hogster86]

Congrats Stewart! :cool:


David :)

[bubbawillums]

Top stuff!!!! Will be hiring v soon...

[Box Brownie]

Thanks everyone for all the kind wishes. The shop is now open.
But please bear with us the early days as our systems and processes get bedded in!

Incidentally, we'd like to thank all the POTN members who contributed their thoughts and opinions whilst we were working up the idea and the business plan. If you contributed to this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353608) or this poll (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=360360) or this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=379157) in 2007 and you're in the UK, please email us at Help@LensesForHire.co.uk, stating your POTN ID, and we'll send you a discount voucher. One good turn deserves another.


Oh! discounts :cool: I cannot recall whether or not I posted but maybe it was just the Poll I 'ticked'??? Hmm, yes the poll says I voted ;)

[Albie]

Not sure if it is me being daft, but just taken a look at the rental cost of say the Canon EF 100-400mm. The cost for 7day hire is £47, ex VAT it is £40. However, when adding it to the cart, and when adding the delivery charge, of say the courier return, the VAT is actually calculated on the cost of the lens hire, and the cost of the delivery.

So therefore, with delivery charge the cost of the goods is actually more than £47 for the 7 day hire if shipped, rather than local collect.

Is this correct?

[StewartR]

Not sure if it is me being daft, but just taken a look at the rental cost of say the Canon EF 100-400mm. The cost for 7day hire is £47, ex VAT it is £40. However, when adding it to the cart, and when adding the delivery charge, of say the courier return, the VAT is actually calculated on the cost of the lens hire, and the cost of the delivery.

So therefore, with delivery charge the cost of the goods is actually more than £47 for the 7 day hire if shipped, rather than local collect.

Is this correct?Are there two questions here?

Firstly, delivery charges are subject to VAT, unfortunately. So in this case the amount payable should be £40+VAT for the lens, plus £18+VAT for the return courier, total £58+VAT which equals £68.15.

Secondly, the cost of hiring the lens is £47 for 7 days. Delivery costs extra. We could have built delivery costs into the pricing, but we thought that would be unfair on people who are able to collect locally, and it wouldn't make any difference to those who aren't.

Does that make sense?

[Albie]

Yes it does, thanks for the clarification. Suppose I did not understand that the delivery charge was also subject to a VAT charge. It kinda just made it look like the hire was more expensive being delivered than local pickup (excluding the delivery charge)

So in the end, it was me being daft.... :-)

[Col_M]

Fantastic :) Good luck and I hope your business booms.

If I was back in the UK I'd certainly rent a 100-400. Ah well maybe when I'm back home I'll see about hiring something nice :)

[ogbyte]

Hi Stewart,

One quick question for you - not sure if you picked this up from my post on one or your earlier threads, but I mentioned about purchasing lenses and including a discount if you'd rented the lense already from you. I.E. Rent a lens, like it, so purchase it pretty much straight away after renting, some of the rental cost is then taken of the purchase price?

May be something further along the way (maybe even some sort of deal with Kerso to supply the items??) etc

regards
Gary

[StewartR]

...I mentioned about purchasing lenses and including a discount if you'd rented the lense already from you. I.E. Rent a lens, like it, so purchase it pretty much straight away after renting, some of the rental cost is then taken of the purchase price?To be honest, Gary, that doesn't sound terribly attractive to me. I'd have to go out and replace the lens I'd just sold to you, so it's hard to see how I'd make a profit on the deal. I think try-before-you-buy probably makes more sense to businesses which are aiming to sell lenses than to those who are aiming to hire them.

But I try never to say never. Let's see how things go.

[red hot sheep]

To be honest, Gary, that doesn't sound terribly attractive to me. I'd have to go out and replace the lens I'd just sold to you, so it's hard to see how I'd make a profit on the deal. I think try-before-you-buy probably makes more sense to businesses which are aiming to sell lenses than to those who are aiming to hire them.

But I try never to say never. Let's see how things go.

I don't think he meant buying the rental lens, instead buying it at a specific place elsewhere fairly shortly after the rental. This way you could give traffic to the seller, and they could give you a percentage if you met a quota or something similar.

[markol]

With regards to the whole rent and keep thing. We considered doing the same thing for a while, but just could not work out the logistics. The main issue is the time needed to replace the gear if the customer decides to keep it.

Consider lens X that is currently rented out to person A, and is scheduled to go tout to person B immediately afterwards. Now at the last minute person A decides to keep the lens, and even offers to pay you MSRP or some other fair market price. Assume you even make a little bit of money on the sale, which I doubt, since person A is essentially buying a used rental house lens, and will probably not want to pay fair new lens price.

The issue now becomes of having to find a replacement copy on short notice, pay for shipping to your place, then have the lens out in time for person B. The headache that would go into such running around is simply not worth it.

[NSWESP]

I imagine he meant:
Person A rents the lens, Returns it then decides he wants to buy it. You have rented the lens say 15 times already and made a decent chunk of money you sell the lens and the going used rate, and you make a profit.

Still seems a bit hard.

[Ephemeral]

Woot!

Got my 50mm f/1.2 lens today. Cheers StewartR!

Although I picked the lens of Stuart in person, it came in a well padded box. Full lens instructions were included and a return postage address sticker was supplied too.

I now look forward to the 7 days of lens hire. :D

[dirtbiker]

Good to see something like this in the UK, may well be hiring a lens for a trip in the summer!

One little thing, on the homepage the various links all have CANON in capital letters, it might be worth changing them to Canon so that it reads a bit better.

Best of luck with your venture ;)

[ogbyte]

Doh!, didn;t really explain that very well did I, just to clarify - Red Hot Sheep had exactly what i was trying to explain :)

Didn't mean to buy the rental lens, but buy another lens from Stewart, who has sourced it (Kerso etc) for example.

Would be good as it could also help build a customer base for purchases also? Wouldn't expect this to be there form the start, but something to maybe add at a later date once business has settled down/stabalised a bit and you know in which direction business is heading.

regards
Gary

[tkoutdoor]

If I told you where the lenses are held, I'd have to kill you. But fortunately for both of us, you don't really need to know that.

I'll be offering pickup/dropoff in Maidenhead, or that general area, and/or central London. I'm based in Maidenhead but I'm in London a lot. (All that's in Coventry is a little brass plate with the company's name on.)Better hope the guy you put in charge of lens security wasn't named Johnny English...

[StewartR]

Update: Tilt-Shift, anyone?

I just bought a TS-E 24mm today, because a customer wants to hire one.
I still can't really believe I did that.

[sm1rf]

Update: Tilt-Shift, anyone?

I just bought a TS-E 24mm today, because a customer wants to hire one.
I still can't really believe I did that.

I can, supply and demand....good effort stewart and all the best in your venture!

[muscleflex]

has anyone here rented yet? i've just found out about the website and i'm excited already!

[Ephemeral]

has anyone here rented yet? i've just found out about the website and i'm excited already!

I was the first customer. W00t Go Me!!! :D

Great service and attention to detail and the lens arrived very well packaged.

I'll definitely use again...when the weather decides to behave itself. :D

[steved110]

I rented a 100mm macro lens - again, superb communication and attention to detail, well packaged and couldn't have been easier. I'll be playing with a few other special lenses over the next few months, absolutely.

Renting is like a cheap way to get lens lust out of your system - I hope so anyway, otherwise i'm going to be in seriously deep trouble!

[StewartR]

UPDATE: We have a (partial) solution for the insurance issue.

Several potential customers have asked us about insurance. If you're not covered by an existing policy such as your household contents insurance, we'd suggest looking at E & L Insurance (http://www.eandl.co.uk/camera-insurance/). They offer specialist camera insurance, and they will cover hired equipment. Their minimum policy duration is 28 days, but even so it isn't terribly expensive. For example £1,000 of all-risks cover only costs about £3 or £4. You will need to plan a bit in advance, since they will need to send you some papers to sign, but if you can cope with that it looks like a pretty cost-effective solution.

It's not a perfect solution, to be sure. We're still looking for a way to be able to offer customers insurance directly from the LensesForHire web site. But hopefully this is better than nothing.

[StewartR]

UPDATE: We can now deliver to Northern Ireland and the Isle Of Man.

Delivery costs are a bit complicated though. Full details are on the Q&A page of our website.

[Celticsun]

I can't believe I have just found this thread!! What an amazing good idea!

I am getting Married in April and I have a friend taking the photos with my equipment, The missing link is a 24-70L and I am borderlining purchasing one but now I am seriously considering having a lease :D

[muscleflex]

the matching potn discount, is that only for members who have participated in your poll? or all potn members?

[spxxxx]

What a great setup - have bookmarked the site for future use.........

[Jason@MS]

really fantastic idea!

i for one will be making plans to hire a slightly bigger L from yourselves for RIAT this year.

wish you all the best!
cheers

[StewartR]

the matching potn discount, is that only for members who have participated in your poll? or all potn members?Incidentally, we'd like to thank all the POTN members who contributed their thoughts and opinions whilst we were working up the idea and the business plan. If you contributed to this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353608) or this poll (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=360360) or this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=379157) in 2007 and you're in the UK, please email us at Help@LensesForHire.co.uk, stating your POTN ID, and we'll send you a discount voucher. One good turn deserves another.This is a special thank-you for the people who took the time to contribute their opinions, and thereby helped us get off the ground. One good turn deserves another. Sorry muscleflex, but the requests were there and you didn't contribute.

[muscleflex]

:-) i know..and sorry i didn't see that thread. i'll still definitely hire tho! with your prices, it's a crime not to. and someone just mentioned renting a big lens for RIAT - that's given me a thought now... might be worth looking into those big ones too to paid up with my 100-400L for RIAT or Biggin Hill

This is a special thank-you for the people who took the time to contribute their opinions, and thereby helped us get off the ground. One good turn deserves another. Sorry muscleflex, but the requests were there and you didn't contribute.

[Pyropeck]

Wow I have just found this thread. I'm looking at hiring a lens for a wedding in may. I'm going to need a fast lens as its very dark in the room. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
a good shout?

[Hogster86]

Depends what you use. If you use a crop body, the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 is a hard-to-beat alternative :) ... although they aren't stocking that yet .....


David :)

[Pyropeck]

I use the 400D and I have a 350D aswell

[StewartR]

Depends what you use. If you use a crop body, the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 is a hard-to-beat alternative :) ... although they aren't stocking that yet .....It's top of our shopping list. We'll definitely have some by May!

[StewartR]

UPDATE. Want to go w-i-i-i-i-i-de? Our newest addition is the Canon EF-S 10-22mm (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-s-10-22mm-f35-45-usm-34-p.asp). I've had one of these myself for a year or more and I absolutely love it, and I can't imagine why we didn't get one in our start-up stock.

This is what 10mm feels like.
http://StewartR.smugmug.com/photos/152115395_7UaCp-M.jpg

[Hogster86]

Sweet! :D :D Email sent :)


David

[Hogster86]

Just picked up the 10-22 from Stewart today. I am awe-struck by his attention to detail with the packaging! Everything is so neat and orderly .... 2 definite thumbs up! A lovely chap to do business with :)

Some shots of the lens:

http://www.pbase.com/hogster/image/93726753/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hogster/image/93727085/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hogster/image/93727057/original.jpg


David :D

[lemminglover]

I just ordered this lens plus 2x 100-400L's and a 1.4 TC to supplement our kit for a trip to South Africa. LensesForHire are an easy company to do business with :-)

[StewartR]

UPDATE: We now have a comprehensive solution for the insurance problem.

We have teamed up with a specialist insurer - Imaging Insurance (http://www.imaginginsurance.co.uk) - to allow customers to purchase insurance for their hired lenses, directly from the LensesForHire web site. This covers you against accidental damage, but not (for reasons which I hope are obvious!) against loss or theft.

Insurance costs 50p per £100 of lens value per week. (The recommended insurance value of each lens is shown on its web page.) So for example if you want to hire a 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS the recommended insurance value is £1,250 and the insurance costs £6.25 per week. There is an excess of £150 on each claim.

We've tweaked all the prices so that insurance for a week is included by default. If you're hiring for longer than a week, or if you don't want insurance, it takes two clicks to do that.

Feedback welcome.

[StewartR]

UPDATE: We have a couple of new toys to play with.

First up, the Sigma APO 120-300mm f/2.8 (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/sigma-apo-120-300mm-f28-ex-dg-hsm-37-p.asp).

http://www.ekmpowershop8.com/ekmps/shops/lensesforhire/images/apo_120-300mm_f2.8_ex_dg_hsm.jpg

And also ... the legendary EF 200mm f/1.8 L (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-200mm-f18-l-usm-35-p.asp).
As fas as I can tell, we're the only lens hire shop on the whole internet to offer this lens!

http://www.ekmpowershop8.com/ekmps/shops/lensesforhire/images/ef_200mm_f1%5Bekm%5D300x300%5Bekm%5D.8_l_usm.jpg

[NSWESP]

If i lived in the UK ide definately be renting that 200L... Come to think of it ill be there early next year so ill definately rent it for some fun.

[StewartR]

UPDATE: More new gear.

This strange beast is the Manfrotto MN393 long lens bracket. It provides an effective way to use a big telephoto lens on a monopod or tripod.

http://www.manfrotto.com/webdav/site/main/shared/products/393/D0010_8f3d8c86dfecc43278f5e3469ec7f6e0_main.jpg
(click) (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/manfrotto-mn393-long-lens-bracket-38-p.asp)

So if anyone was thinking about the 500mm f/4, we now offer a means to make it easy to use, as well as accidental damage insurance. Complete peace of mind. What are you waiting for?

[Pyropeck]

i best get registering with you. I need to sort a lens for may..

[ryandavid__]

Highly recommended, a pleasant experience.

Thanks Stuart.

[StewartR]

Highly recommended, a pleasant experience.

Thanks Stuart.
_____________________
...just kidding.Hey Ryan, did it ever occur to you that your signature might be a little inappropriate on occasions? :D

[Hogster86]

LOL :lol: :lol: Oh dear! :p

[ryandavid__]

Haha! :)

[Zilly]

hey stewart

Any chance of you guys getting a couple of Pocket wizards in and some pre release cables and the such like ?????

Thanks

[StewartR]

hey stewart

Any chance of you guys getting a couple of Pocket wizards in and some pre release cables and the such like ?????

ThanksInteresting idea, Zilly. You're the first person to mention Pocket Wizards, but if we get any other interest then they could definitely be featuring. (Just the kind of thing I'd like an excuse to be able to play with myself!)

[Zilly]

Interesting idea, Zilly. You're the first person to mention Pocket Wizards, but if we get any other interest then they could definitely be featuring. (Just the kind of thing I'd like an excuse to be able to play with myself!)

yeh i have no intrest of using them as a flash trigger but really, REALLY need a reliable long distance camera trigger.

Whats the demand like on the 500mm have a job later on in the year that I need some long glass for when should i be booking ?

[StewartR]

Whats the demand like on the 500mm have a job later on in the year that I need some long glass for when should i be booking?To be honest, we have not exactly been overwhelmed with demand for the big lenses yet.

Some hard data: when I surveyed UK POTN members last autumn, the most popular lenses in the poll were:
1. 600mm f/4 (£5,400)
2. 300mm f/2.8 (£2,800)
3. 500mm f/4 (£3,800)
4. 400mm f/2.8 (£4,700)
5=. 70-200mm f/2.8 IS
5=. 100-400mm

We have all of those lenses except the 600 and the 400, and only the 100-400 has actually proved to be popular - so much so that I'm buying more and more of them and still can't keep it in stock. I'm rather surprised at the 70-200, since I would have expected it to be popular. But I think with the 300 and 500 it's a clear case of people's eyes being bigger than their wallets, so to speak. It's so easy to say ooh, I'd like to hire that, but when faced with the prospect of parting with £200 or so - which I think is a bargain for a £3-4,000 lens) - people seem to take a different view.

Having said that, we only have the one 500mm f/4 so I'd suggest reserving it as soon as you're sure you want it. For hires of a week or longer, you can reserve upo to 6 months ahead. We've had a few enquiries about it, and I expect we'll get a lot of interest when we advertise in the RSPB magazine - and it would be a real bummer if someone beat you to it, wouldn't it?

(Interesting observation: We're just on the point of diversifying into Nikon lenses, and the big Nikons seem to be very popular. I've taken several orders for the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR and the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 already. I wonder why that is? Are Canon users just stingier?)

[Zilly]

Strange thought the big glass would be in high demand
At the moment I carnt tell you when it will be but as soon as i know dates it'll be booked.

Also what monopod do you recommend for the 500???

[ryandavid__]

hey stewart

Any chance of you guys getting a couple of Pocket wizards in and some pre release cables and the such like ?????

Thanks

Stuart, I was going to ask about lighting equipment, any chance you'll be hiring out studio gear at any point?
It would cost a fortune in postage though.

If not, you should get a bunch of 580ex's paired with PWs, I'd definately have an interest in that.

[StewartR]

Also what monopod do you recommend for the 500???I'm afraid I don't know renough about monopods to be able recommend specific ones. However I'm sure there are people elsewere on POTN who can.

We do have the Manfrotto MN393 (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/manfrotto-mn393-long-lens-bracket-38-p.asp) bracket though, and that's really useful with a big lens.

[StewartR]

Stuart, I was going to ask about lighting equipment, any chance you'll be hiring out studio gear at any point?
It would cost a fortune in postage though.

If not, you should get a bunch of 580ex's paired with PWs, I'd definately have an interest in that.Studio gear ... no. Three reasons. One, I know nothing about studio gear, what to get, who'd want it, etc. Two, it would be completely impractical with a postal-based operation. Three, there are already plently of companies doing this.

As for 580EX's and PWs ... you're the second person in two days to suggest each of them. So they have to be on the shopping list somewhere.

[StewartR]

Update: To filter or not to filter?

Ever since we opened the doors, we've ummed and ahhed about whether to supply UV/protective filters on our lenses.

On the one hand, they do offer some protection to the front element, and some people like that.

On the other hand, digital cameras aren't sensitive to UV like film is, so there's no benefit to IQ - and actually the opposite if it's not a high quality filter. Some people would really rather not use filters.

Recently we thought we might as well cater to all shades of opinion by offering decent quality protective filters as an optional extra.

But now we've decided to include them as standard. We'll also supply the little case it comes in, so that if you don't want it on the lens you've got somewhere to put it until it's time to send it back. But if you do want it, it's there and you don't have to worry about it.

Obviously this means we're buying a *lot* of filters! And it will take a little while to roll out across all our stock. Basically, what we're doing is fitting a filter each time a lens comes back in, since we have to clean it and test it then anyway. So for the next 2-3 weeks it will be a bit patchy, but after that we should have 100% fitment.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

[NSWESP]

Just a suggestion that when it comes back from each rental you take the filter off and on again, They can get pretty tight over time, mainly with lots of use i imagine your glass gets.

[StewartR]

Just a suggestion that when it comes back from each rental you take the filter off and on again, They can get pretty tight over time, mainly with lots of use i imagine your glass gets.Cheers Angus. That's pretty thoughtful of you. I imagine we'll want to inspect the front element anyway, but this is another a good reason for doing so. Thanks.

[pumbaa]

Stewart, are you considering supplementing the very extensive range of Canon glass with Sigma as well? For example, I'm thinking of buying a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 and would love to try one out before committing

[StewartR]

Stewart, are you considering supplementing the very extensive range of Canon glass with Sigma as well? For example, I'm thinking of buying a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 and would love to try one out before committingWe'll certainly buy Sigma lenses where we think there will be demand for them.
For example we have the excellent Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/sigmac-apo-120-300mm-f28-ex-dg-hsm-37-p.asp).

I'm not sure about the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 though; it's less than £300 and I don't know how much demand there would be to hire lenses of that value. (Though we'll buy one for you (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/questions-and-answers-3-w.asp#Buy) if you insist...)

[steved110]

In one of the many smokey threads about protective filters, a US based lens rental guy made a point about the cost of providing filters for all the company's lenses over a 5 year period, vs the cost of repairs to a scratched front element ( one lens, at approx US $ 250 - bit of a guess, it was a while back...)

Needless to say given the cost of good filters, his company didn't provide them. In addition, many of the big white lenses they hired the most don't take front-mounted screw-ins anyway.

I use them on all my own lenses, mainly because I find it easier to clean a filter than a lens proper. But given the fragility of a good filter and it's coatings, i'd wonder if supplying them with rental lenses would be cost effective.

I'd suggest start slowly, with the less expensive sizes, and see what happens over a few months rather than buy a whole bunch straight up - just my 2p

[StewartR]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Insurance upgrade

Our insurers have agree to extend the insurance we can offer our customers to include all risks (damage, loss or theft), at no extra cost.

Obviously there are the usual terms and conditions that apply. I've edited the 25-page policy document to extract just the relevant bits for our hire customers, and I'll post that on the web site ASAP. There's the usual stuff about not being negligent, having good physical security in your house, being very careful about leaving gear in cars, etc., etc.

This is effective immediately. Any customers who have reserved lenses and paid the premium for what they thought was damage-only insurance will get their cover automatically upgraded at no cost.

[ryandavid__]

Our insurers have agree to extend the insurance we can offer our customers to include all risks (damage, loss or theft), at no extra cost.

Very good to hear, thanks Stewart.

[mcmadkat]

I'm also pleased to hear it covers everything now! I was wondering about that last night as I was wobbling on the edge of a rather deep loch taking pictures with your 10-22mm!

Great service you do, I will be sorry to send it back ;), but no worries I am booking a 400mm for the week after! In fact I had probably better do that now.

[ryandavid__]

Stewart, any plans of getting a fisheye? For crop preferably. Toki 10-17? Sigma 10? I know they're both quite cheap lenses, but I imagine it's the kind of 'one off' lens that people would hire.

Get the Sigma when it comes out, I'll be interested in that.
-Ryan.

[mcmadkat]

According to the website there is a Sigma 8mm fisheye coming soon.

[muscleflex]

i've just sent back a:
2x extender
50 1.4
24-105 L

hired them out for 3 days (airshow weekend). the service from stewart was awesome and second to none! all emails replied to and he even made sure i knew what i was hiring and if they're right for the job!

i chose one way delivery only and have sent them back today special delivery next day insured which cost me about the same as the return couriers. i'm thinking i might just book the couriers next time i hire again from stewart.

oh, the items came very very well packed!!!
thanks again stewart! i'll be hiring again real soon!

[StewartR]

According to the website there is a Sigma 8mm fisheye coming soon.It's here now.

[andrewc]

I've just hired a 100-400L from Stewart. Hired it for 2 weekends.

Excellent service. I would have no hesitation to recommend him. At my last trip out to Rockingham a number of media photographers were interested to learn of his business.

[Box Brownie]

I also have booked a 100-400

As for renting to media pros:evil: have you seen the typical state of their kit, cynical yes and there may be a market there but I would have serious doubts because if they have little regard for their company's kit I wonder how they will treat rented??? Tarring all those guys with the same brush yes but when you have POTNers and linked contacts I hope that the viral marketing gives Stewart customers who will value the kit as their own ~ i.e. use as its intended but care for it bearing in mind it belongs to someone else who will renting it out to others.

Farnborough International here I come :lol:

[smileylaura0]

Wow I'm so glad I found this thread! I can't quite remember how I found it, but I'm glad nonetheless. I'm really interested in hiring a good walkabout lens for my holiday, or maybe just the shorter range 17-40L because I've been interested in buying this lens for ages so would find it doubles as a "try before you buy" opportunity. I have experienced so much lens envy lately that I think this hiring idea will really help satisfy my urges!

You mentioned available pick up from London - whereabouts would this be? Could we also return it to you from this location?

Thanks,

Laura

[muscleflex]

^^ you're best off emailing stewart direct from his website.. lensesforhire.co.uk - not sure he checks this thread all the time as he's probably busy with his business and work but he checks his emails all the time