Would you do this?

I read a news story recently about people in big cities who don't use their vehicles much renting them out for day use to tourists. (I do not have a link, sorry)

I have also read before about people doing the same type of thing and temporarily "trading" homes with people in other countries for vacations.

So, I wondered, what about photo gear? When not in use, would you rent your photo gear to someone else to make an extra few bucks?

For me, the answer is simple and succinct: Not no, but hell no!

If I needed money I'd either sell the equipment or use the equipment to make money. If I didn't *need* the money, it'd sit when not in use. I am not internally wired to be that trusting of other people with my stuff.

Same goes for vehicles, too, though the home trade thing I have to admit would be intriguing if it could help get me a week or so in Europe.

No, I don't need a few extra bucks. There are sites for home trades, give it a try.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #15292201
I read a news story recently about people in big cities who don't use their vehicles much renting them out for day use to tourists. (I do not have a link, sorry)

I have also read before about people doing the same type of thing and temporarily "trading" homes with people in other countries for vacations.

So, I wondered, what about photo gear? When not in use, would you rent your photo gear to someone else to make an extra few bucks?

For me, the answer is simple and succinct: Not no, but hell no!

If I needed money I'd either sell the equipment or use the equipment to make money. If I didn't *need* the money, it'd sit when not in use. I am not internally wired to be that trusting of other people with my stuff.

Same goes for vehicles, too, though the home trade thing I have to admit would be intriguing if it could help get me a week or so in Europe.

there is a reason that camera gear (or car rental or any other equipment rental firms) charge their rates - they pay for insurance, depreciation, credit risk, etc. I would not rent photo gear but I've lent photo gear to friends for free

photoguy6405 wrote in post #15292201
So, I wondered, what about photo gear? When not in use, would you rent your photo gear to someone else to make an extra few bucks?

Most certainly and because I work with a pool of contractors many of whom I have worked with a number of years I have no problem doing so.

The reason being professional equipment is “A” expensive and “B” has a limited lifespan, both time wise and technologically wise and having it sitting on a shelf not earning it’s keep doesn’t make sense to me, I would much rather when I am not deploying it into the field have it in the hands of another person paying me a fair price for using it rather then to have it sit idle deprecating.

Wayne

It would depend on the person and how well I knew them. But at that point I would just let them use it for free.

DavidR wrote in post #15294471
It would depend on the person and how well I knew them. But at that point I would just let them use it for free.

Oh, sure. There's a handful of friends I would loan to for free, but this is about renting to strangers. I wouldn't do that.