New UK-based lens hire shop

[StewartR]

www.LensesForHire.co.uk is now open.

• Want a specialised lens for a special occasion such as a safari, wedding, track day, air show, holiday, ....?
• Starting out as a pro but don't yet have all the gear you'll need?
• Want to try a lens before you buy (or don't buy!) it?
• Want to enjoy the opportunity of using a wide variety of equipment without the burden of ownership?

That's what we're here for.

If you have any questions about the service that aren't covered on our Q&A page, or any comments, feel free to leave them here and I'll address them.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

UPDATE, 22nd Jan: The store is now open. And there are some special offers for POTN members - see post #26, below.

UPDATE, 8th Feb: We can now deliver to Northern Ireland and the Isle Of Man. See post #52, below.

UPDATE, 2nd Mar: Our latest addition is the EF-S 10-22mm. See post #63, below.

UPDATE, Tue 25th Mar: We now have a comprehensive solution for the insurance problem. See post #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, below.

UPDATE, 27th Mar: We've just added a Manfrotto MN393 long lens bracket to our inventory. (See post #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 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 below for more details.

UPDATE, 24th Nov: We've added several more lenses to our range. See post #101 below for details.

UPDATE, 24th Nov: We've also reviewed our price structure and have been able to make some significant price reductions for our larger lenses. Details in post #102 below.

UPDATE, Nov 28th: We reached a huge milestone this week - our 1000th order! And at the suggestion of a customer we've instituted a discount scheme when you're hiring several lenses at once. Details in post #105 below.

UPDATE, Dec 1st: VAT comes down from 17.5% to 15% today, and so do our prices. Details in post #107 below.

UPDATE, Dec 3rd: We've added another new lens to our range. Details in post #108 below.

UPDATE, Dec 16th: We've added yet another new lens to our range. Details in post #117 below. This brings our stock to 150 lenses. (And number 151 is on the way!)

UPDATE, Jan 29th: Fancy having a bash at extreme macro? Our newest toy should interest you then. Details in post 122 below.

[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]

Originally Posted by DarrenL

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 )

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!

[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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

[ANGUS]

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.