am I being selfish

[ijohnson]

So I have spent a significant amount of time, energy, and money putting together a nice collection of lenses that I treat like my own children.

A friend of mine goes shooting with me and he just got a 300d with the kit lense (a black one by the way, looks real nice). More and more often, he is asking me to borrow my lenses when we are walking around shooting. I have grudgingly let him use some of them but yesterday he asked for one of my L's.

I quickly replied "NO"! I felt bad about it because I like to help people out and make them happy. I still feel like I would say no again and I probably will.

Am I being selfish? Has anyone had similar experiences? What did you do?

[MrChad]

I share lenses with buds all the time, but it's on a you break it you buy it terms.

It's gear it's meant to be used, but then agian I don't have friends that are complete tools either.

[leony]

selfish? no. if you lend the lens, you can't take a shot when opportunity arises.

now, would you let your buddy hold on to your $1500 in cash?

see - it's all about perspective.

[ijohnson]

OK, I am talking about someone that just bought their first SLR on a whim and asked me why the shutter speed on manual mode was at 1/2500 when it was night-time.

I know a few photographers that I would gladly share with. Maybe I just need to know the right way to say no.

[Mark_Cohran]

I can't think of anyone I would loan one of my L's to, even for a short time. If I knew someone really well and I knew they took good care of their equipment, I might consider it---nah, probably not. :D

Mark

[Ogrt48]

It matters how good of a friend you want to be and how long you want to have him as a friend. If you really are buds and trust him then yes. A lens is replaceable and it just a piece of glass. How does he treat the lenses you have let him use? Does he take care of them fine? If so just let him use one of the L's at a time. It's not like he's asking to borrow your wife.

[ijohnson]

It matters how good of a friend you want to be and how long you want to have him as a friend. If you really are buds and trust him then yes. A lens is replaceable and it just a piece of glass. How does he treat the lenses you have let him use? Does he take care of them fine? If so just let him use one of the L's at a time. It's not like he's asking to borrow your wife.

I don't have a wife, or a girlfriend, so it is almost like asking that.

He borrowed my 28-135 and walked around by the ocean taking pictures. The lens took some sea spray and it was returned to me with no effort to clean it or any idea that it was even there. You should see his lens.

I think I will just tell him that until I can see that he is serious about what he is doing and that he taking really good care of his equipment I can't let him borrow mine.

[DocFrankenstein]

No I wouldn't. Too personal and too expensive.

[Belmondo]

Rule #1: My friends are my friends. They can use anything I have except for my wife and my toothbrush.

The only time I would ever be reluctant to help out a friend would be if I got the sense they were trying to take advantage of my generosity. Then, they are no longer my friends, thus rule #1 no longer applies.

[Nolz]

perhaps he isnt a good a friend as u would have originally considered him to be?....

like belmondo mentioned, my friends are welcome to anything and everything i own and to belmondo's list ill add that they cant take my undies either! :lol:

if it was one of my friends then yes he would be welcome to it....i'd try to educate him at the same time....it doesnt need to be an unpleasant experience....and being my friend he'd know that if he broke it he bought it :) and he'd automatically go buy a new one :)

communication is the key!!!! no matter if its your mum your missus or your bitch....perhaps you should have mentioned to him the salt spray on the lens and why its no good...he may not have known better?...

i dunno....thats just my take on things :?

[Andy_T]

Difficult question.....

On one hand, I agree with Belmondo.

On the other...

[e borrowed my 28-135 and walked around by the ocean taking pictures. The lens took some sea spray and it was returned to me with no effort to clean it or any idea that it was even there. You should see his lens.


... it won't do any of you much good if he mistreated one of your L lenses and you would have to stop considering him being your friend. You might try to explain that to him.

Best regards,
Andy

[BearSummer]

Hi ijohnson,

I guess it depends on how much you trust him. The main problem is that it sounds like he doesn't exactly know what he's doing. This probably means that he doesn't know how to look after the equipment (to your standard) or how much it costs. If he does damage it he might not even notice and would be shocked at how much its gonna cost to fix. As he is new to the hobby he is also probably not aware of how anal photographers are about clean kit.

Personally I only lend my kit to my wife, if she uses something to often then its easier to either buy a second lens/camera or wait for the next release and give her the older kit. And while I think about it, it's not exactly lending, it's more a case of "hmmm why is there a space in my camera bag?" and disapearing over the hillside is my nearest and dearest with a big grin on her face.

If you do decide to lend it to your buddy then I would suggest that you say something along the lines of "It's perfect at the moment, new they cost around $xxxxx, if you break it you buy me a new one, still want to borrow it?", if they say yes and you think they can afford it (and will buy you a new one) then it's up to you.

Best regards

BearSummer

[Ikinaa]

Difficult question.....

On one hand, I agree with Belmondo.

On the other...

[e borrowed my 28-135 and walked around by the ocean taking pictures. The lens took some sea spray and it was returned to me with no effort to clean it or any idea that it was even there. You should see his lens.


... it won't do any of you much good if he mistreated one of your L lenses and you would have to stop considering him being your friend. You might try to explain that to him.

Best regards,
Andy

I'm with Andy in this...
If he has already proven that he doesn't care for YOUR gear, simply point that out to him next time he asks, and when he promises he'll take care, follow Bearsummer's suggestion :

...
If you do decide to lend it to your buddy then I would suggest that you say something along the lines of "It's perfect at the moment, new they cost around $xxxxx, if you break it you buy me a new one, still want to borrow it?", if they say yes and you think they can afford it (and will buy you a new one) then it's up to you.
...

[Paul_O]

I'd lend just about anything to close friends of mine but would let them know that you're a bit apprehensive and explain the ground rules from the start. You Break it, you replace it. Everyone here knows that it's expensive gear and until the borrower spends some serious $$ on their own hobby may not appreciate the costs involved. My opinion only for what it's worth.

Paul

[Cadwell]

I would let my friends borrow one of my L lenses. I've let other people use them before now. They are insured so I am not too concerned about accidental damage.

There is, of course, a difference between someone borrowing a lens for a "one off" requirement and someone permanently making use of your kit in order to avoid buying their own.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I lend my stuff all the time. Cameras with lenses, etc.

I do it based on my understanding of there expeirince.. but still, I have no trouble lending anything SO LONG AS I AM THERE...

I have NOT however lent a camera or lens to someone to take with them... only when we are shooting together.

I am not at all sure if I would do that. Probably not.

[JZaun]

I worked long and hard for all I have. I rarely see anyone take care of their stuff like I take care of mine :? I don't loan my photography, shooting, fishing, hunting, astronony,tools especially, no nothing !! The last time I loaned anything 40 years ago, (MY Car) it came back damaged and I lost a friend !! , Might loan my cat for mouse duty but thats all :D

JZ

[Scottes]

There are a number of people I'd let use my gear - all of them here and many I've never met.

But I know that:

1) They take care of their gear
2) They'd take care of mine as if it were there own
3) They'd pay for it if they broke it
4) They follow my definition of "broken"

Your friend failed #1 by your description and #2 with the sea spray issue. There's no way I'd let that guy borrow a good lens.

I *do* have a crappy 28-90 that I'd let him borrow with the hopes that he *would* break it and I'd pocket the $100. :-)

[Belmondo]

There are a number of people I'd let use my gear - all of them here and many I've never met.

But I know that:

1) They take care of their gear
2) They'd take care of mine as if it were there own
3) They'd pay for it if they broke it
4) They follow my definition of "broken"

Your friend failed #1 by your description and #2 with the sea spray issue. There's no way I'd let that guy borrow a good lens.

I *do* have a crappy 28-90 that I'd let him borrow with the hopes that he *would* break it and I'd pocket the $100. :-)

Scottes:
Nicely put. I don't think any of us would intentionally put our gear in harm's way by loaning it to someone who would not be responsible. That's a pretty broad, all-inclusive term, but you covered it very well.

Like you, I've made several friends through this forum, and even though I've only met one of them in person, I feel I can trust those friends with just about anything I own. In fact, I've already put myself in that position a few times already, and have no regrets whatsoever.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Very well put Scott.... and well.. you'll have to re-think ever lending me anything considering my track record with "Sea spray" :roll:

In truth.. I did not read the follow up post that described this instance.. (the sea spray) having re-read I have to concur that Scott says it all very well.

One point though... If I did subject someones lens to a situation where I got "stuff" of any kind on the front element... I would NOT try to clean it myself without first consulting the owner... as cleaning is a process where more damage can be done, and the owner may have a different Idea of thebest way to tackle the job... ( not evryone likes to use the lava rocks and silver nitrate to clean there lenses... :lol: :lol: )

[Scottes]

Very well put Scott.... and well.. you'll have to re-think ever lending me anything considering my track record with "Sea spray" :roll:

The concern you had over that sea spray and the effort you went through to clean it correctly confirms that I would loan you something without thought.

That other guy didn't even seem to notice!

I'd loan a lens to a bumbling klutz if they met the 4 rules above. But if they failed any one of them but were otherwise perfect they'd never get a lens of mine.

[Perfect_10]

The sea spray incident would definately make it a no.

I'm a bit anal about my kit .. I don't make much money from it so I don't treat it as a pro tool.
I expect it to last me until I can afford (or need) to update. It cost a lot of money, and I don't see other people looking after it in the manner I would .. the exception to this is my wife .. she uses some of it now and again, but she knows how particular I am .. plus she knows I would update in a heartbeat if anything got damaged :wink:

[IanD]

La mia casa è la sua casa. Same goes for photo equipment. Treat it with the same respect that I do.
Now whos got a 600 prime layin around? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: