Renting Lenses in VA (Hampton Roads)

[mikehsia]

any good places? I'm still kinda new to the area and super busy workin. I wanna get out and shoot more...and also want to get some nice glass sometime soon, but I want to try some out. Is it worth it to rent stuff? Thanks

[Longwatcher]

If you find a place to rent in Hampton Roads, let me know. You can skip Camera City (Hampton) and Massey's (Williamsburg) they don't rent (I have asked). A friend suggested a place in Norfolk. Nearest place I know is DC, but have also been told you can find one in Richmond.

On the flip side if you are on the pennisula, we can hook up some time and I can let you try out some of the stuff I have. Something I am willing to do for members of this forum.

[Akreager]

Yes it is worth it, but take pics under the conditions you think you will need or conditions that currently limit your existing glass. What most people do not realize is consumer glass when stopped down can be every bit as good as pro glass. For example - the Nikon 70-300F4-5.6ED makes extreamly good immages at F8-F16 between the range of 120 and 250mm - Really really hard to tell the diference between any other lens. If you have time to set up on a tripod, not be able to stop action, and then spend the time to blur the background in Photoshop (if that is what you want) You have a winner for under $400. If you are shooting the boat across the harbor and want decent depth of field use a tripod and the cheap lens. You will never notice the diference. If you are shooting indoor fast action sports, the consumer glass will not function at all.

Try buying from B&H or Adorama. You can return no charge within two weeks (you just pay shipping). They are both excellent.

[mikehsia]

Longwatcher - Thanks for the offer! thats super generous of you. Yea, I'm not too famaliar with the area's photography joints, I moved from Atlanta and I took some of the shops for granted down there.

I've been asked by some friends to shoot their weddings in the spring/summer. I havent been playin with my camera as much as i'd like to due to work. But I'm still debating wether or not it'll be worth it for me to purchase some new 'toys' for these projects. I'm still a little iffy on what I'd exactly need for a wedding. I currently have the 28-135IS, 10D, Bogen/Manfr. tripod, ooooold flash that I used with my elan IIe, and the trusty 50mm 1.8 mkII. As far as lenses go, I was thinking of the 17-40mm L or possibly the 70-200 f/4L. I got a huge list of stuff I would like to get....then again i'm sure everybody does. anyhow, I'm conflicted...but leaning towards the 17-40mm. Or just blow some money in vegas...haha..jk. We'll see.

[Longwatcher]

Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't loan you my lenses.
I have 16-35/ f2.8L, 28-70/f2.8L, and 70-200/f2.8L IS (maybe you are noticing a trend here) among other lenses.

It may end up costing you more if I let you borrow mine. 8) :D :D

I think the 70-200 should be a good lens as well as the 17-40 and a 50. But then I don't usually do weddings, the one I did I seem to remember I used the 28-70 and 16-35 because of the small area it was in and I don't think I had the 70-200 then.

You can get my address and phone # from either www.longwatcher.com (somewhere on there I think) or easier is to go to www.onemodelplace.com and look up photographer #8493.

I go out to Huntington Park (at the foot of the Pennisula end of the James River Bridge) and play with my camera for 30-45 minutes on Fridays (about once a month) or when ever I see a really good sunset happening and I can make it in time. The Crab Shack nearby has really good sea food.